Acts Chapter 24

1 And when the townclerk had quieted the multitude, he saith, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there who knoweth not that the city of the Ephesians is temple-keeper of the great Diana, and of the

2 image which fell down from Jupiter?

3 Seeing then that these things cannot be gainsaid, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rash.

4 For ye have brought

5 hither these men, who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess.

6 If therefore Demetrius, and the craftsmen that are with him, have a matter against any man, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls: let them accuse one another.

7 But if ye seek anything about other matters, it shall be settled in the regular assembly.

8 For indeed we are in danger to be accused concerning this day’s riot, there being no cause

9 for it: and as touching it we shall not be able to give account of this concourse.

10 And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.

11 And after the uproar ceased, Paul having sent for the disciples and exhorted them, took leave of them, and departed to go into Macedonia.

12 And when he had gone through those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece.

13 And when he had spent three months

14 there, and a plot was laid against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he determined to return through Macedonia.

15 And there accompanied him as far as Asia, Sopater of Beroea,

16 the son of Pyrrhus; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.

17 But these had gone before, and were waiting for us at Troas.

18 And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we tarried seven days.

19 And upon the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul discoursed with them, intending to depart on the morrow; and prolonged his speech until midnight.

20 And there were many lights in the upper chamber where we were gathered together.

21 And there sat in the window a certain young man named Eutychus, borne down with deep sleep; and as Paul discoursed yet longer, being borne down by his sleep he fell down from the third story, and was taken up dead.

22 And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Make ye no ado; for his life is in him.

23 And when he was gone up, and had broken the bread, and eaten, and had talked with them a long while, even till break of day, so he departed.

24 And they brought the lad alive, and were not a little comforted.

25 But we, going before to the ship, set sail for Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, intending himself to go by land.

26 And when he met us at Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene.

27 And sailing from thence, we came the following day over against Chios; and the next day we touched at Samos; and the day after we came to Miletus.

darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext

1 And after five days came down the high priest Ananias, with the elders, and a certain orator called Tertullus, and laid their informations against Paul before the governor.

2 And he having been called, Tertullus began to accuse, saying, Seeing we enjoy great peace through thee, and that excellent measures are executed for this nation by thy forethought,

3 we receive [it] always and everywhere, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness.

4 But that I may not too much intrude on thy time, I beseech thee to hear us briefly in thy kindness.

5 For finding this man a pest, and moving sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a leader of the sect of the Nazaraeans;

6 who also attempted to profane the temple; whom we also had seized, [and would have judged according to our law;

7 but Lysias, the chiliarch, coming up, took [him] away with great force out of our hands,

8 having commanded his accusers to come to thee;] of whom thou canst thyself, in examining [him], know the certainty of all these things of which we accuse him.

9 And the Jews also joined in pressing the matter against [Paul], saying that these things were so.

10 But Paul, the governor having beckoned to him to speak, answered, Knowing that for many years thou hast been judge to this nation, I answer readily as to the things which concern myself.

11 As thou mayest know that there are not more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem,

12 and neither in the temple did they find me discoursing to any one, or making any tumultuous gathering together of the crowd, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city;

13 neither can they make good the things of which they now accuse me.

14 But this I avow to thee, that in the way which they call sect, so I serve my fathers'God, believing all things which are written throughout the law, and in the prophets;

15 having hope towardsGod, which they themselves also receive, that there is to be a resurrection both of just and unjust.

16 For this cause I also exercise [myself] to have in everything a conscience without offence towardsGod and men.

17 And after a lapse of many years I arrived, bringing alms to my nation, and offerings.

18 Whereupon they found me purified in the temple, with neither crowd nor tumult. But it was certain Jews from Asia,

19 who ought to appear before thee and accuse, if they have anything against me;

20 or let these themselves say what wrong they found in me when I stood before the council,

21 [other] than concerning this one voice which I cried standing amongst them: I am judged this day by you touching [the] resurrection of [the] dead.

22 And Felix, knowing accurately the things concerning the way, adjourned them, saying, When Lysias the chiliarch is come down I will determine your affair;

23 ordering the centurion to keep him, and that he should have freedom, and to hinder none of his friends to minister to him.

24 And after certain days, Felix having arrived with Drusilla his wife, who was a Jewess, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.

25 And as he reasoned concerning righteousness, and temperance, and the judgment about to come, Felix, being filled with fear, answered, Go for the present, and when I get an opportunity I will send for thee;

26 hoping at the same time that money would be given him by Paul: wherefore also he sent for him the oftener and communed with him.

27 But when two years were completed, Felix was relieved by Porcius Festus as his successor; and Felix, desirous to oblige the Jews, to acquire their favour, left Paul bound.

vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)

1 Post quinque autem dies descendit princeps sacerdotum, Ananias, cum senioribus quibusdam, et Tertullo quodam oratore, qui adierunt præsidem adversus Paulum.

2 Et citato Paulo cœpit accusare Tertullus, dicens: Cum in multa pace agamus per te, et multa corrigantur per tuam providentiam;

3 semper et ubique suscipimus, optime Felix, cum omni gratiarum actione.

4 Ne diutius autem te protraham, oro, breviter audias nos pro tua clementia.

5 Invenimus hunc hominem pestiferum, et concitantem seditiones omnibus Iudæis in universo orbe, et auctorem seditionis sectæ Nazarenorum:

6 qui etiam templum violare conatus est, quem et apprehensum voluimus secundum legem nostram iudicare.

7 Superveniens autem tribunus Lysias, cum vi magna eripuit eum de manibus nostris,

8 iubens accusatores eius ad te venire: a quo poteris ipse iudicans, de omnibus istis cognoscere, de quibus nos accusamus eum.

9 Adiecerunt autem et Iudæi, dicentes hæc ita se habere.

10 Respondit autem Paulus, (annuente sibi Præside dicere) Ex multis annis te esse iudicem genti huic sciens, bono animo pro me satisfaciam.

11 Potes enim cognoscere quia non plus sunt mihi dies quam duodecim, ex quo ascendi adorare in Ierusalem:

12 et neque in templo invenerunt me cum aliquo disputantem, aut concursum facientem turbæ, neque in synagogis, neque in civitate:

13 neque probare possunt tibi de quibus nunc me accusant.

14 Confiteor autem hoc tibi, quod secundum sectam, quam dicunt hæresim, sic deservio Patri, et Deo meo, credens omnibus, quæ in Lege, et Prophetis scripta sunt:

15 spem habens in Deum, quam et hi ipsi expectant, resurrectionem futuram iustorum, et iniquorum.

16 In hoc et ipse studeo sine offendiculo conscientiam habere ad Deum, et ad homines semper.

17 Post annos autem plures eleemosynas facturus in gentem meam, veni, et oblationes, et vota,

18 in quibus invenerunt me purificatum in templo: non cum turba, neque cum tumultu.

19 Quidam autem ex Asia Iudæi, quos oportebat apud te præsto esse, et accusare siquid haberent adversum me:

20 aut hi ipsi dicant siquid invenerunt in me iniquitatis cum stem in concilio,

21 nisi de una hac solummodo voce, qua clamavi inter eos stans: Quoniam de resurrectione mortuorum ego iudicor hodie a vobis.

22 Distulit autem illos Felix, certissime sciens de via hac, dicens: Cum Tribunus Lysias descenderit, audiam vos.

23 Iussitque Centurioni custodire eum, et habere requiem, nec quemquam de suis prohibere ministrare ei.

24 Post aliquot autem dies veniens Felix cum Drusilla uxore sua, quæ erat Iudæa, vocavit Paulum, et audivit ab eo fidem, quæ est in Christum Iesum.

25 Disputante autem illo de iustitia, et castitate, et de iudicio futuro, tremefactus Felix respondit: Quod nunc attinet, vade: tempore autem opportuno accersam te:

26 simul et sperans, quod pecunia ei daretur a Paulo, propter quod et frequenter accersens eum, loquebatur cum eo.

27 Biennio autem expleto, accepit successorem Felix Portium Festum. Volens autem gratiam præstare Iudæis Felix, reliquit Paulum vinctum.

web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV

1 After five days, the high priest, Ananias, came down with certain elders and an orator, one Tertullus. They informed the governor against Paul.

2 When he was called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, “Seeing that by you we enjoy much peace, and that prosperity is coming to this nation by your foresight,

3 we accept it in all ways and in all places, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness.

4 But that I don’t delay you, I entreat you to bear with us and hear a few words.

5 For we have found this man to be a plague, an instigator of insurrections among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.

6 He even tried to profane the temple, and we arrested him.

8 By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.”

9 The Jews also joined in the attack, affirming that these things were so.

10 When the governor had beckoned to him to speak, Paul answered, “Because I know that you have been a judge of this nation for many years, I cheerfully make my defense,

11 seeing that you can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem.

12 In the temple they didn’t find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city.

13 Nor can they prove to you the things of which they now accuse me.

14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, so I serve the God of our fathers, believing all things which are according to the law, and which are written in the prophets;

15 having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

16 In this I also practice always having a conscience void of offense toward God and men.

17 Now after some years, I came to bring gifts for the needy to my nation, and offerings;

18 amid which certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, not with a mob, nor with turmoil.

19 They ought to have been here before you and to make accusation if they had anything against me.

20 Or else let these men themselves say what injustice they found in me when I stood before the council,

21 unless it is for this one thing that I cried standing among them, ‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged before you today!’”

22 But Felix, having more exact knowledge concerning the Way, deferred them, saying, “When Lysias, the commanding officer, comes down, I will decide your case.”

23 He ordered the centurion that Paul should be kept in custody and should have some privileges, and not to forbid any of his friends to serve him or to visit him.

24 After some days, Felix came with Drusilla his wife, who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ Jesus.

25 As he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified, and answered, “Go your way for this time, and when it is convenient for me, I will summon you.”

26 Meanwhile, he also hoped that money would be given to him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore also he sent for him more often and talked with him.

27 But when two years were fulfilled, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and desiring to gain favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul in bonds.

wh1881 (wh1881) - Westcott-Hort Greek NT 1881 eBible USFM

1 μετα δε πεντε ημερας κατεβη ο αρχιερευς ανανιας μετα πρεσβυτερων τινων και ρητορος τερτυλλου τινος οιτινες ενεφανισαν τω ηγεμονι κατα του παυλου

2 κληθεντος δε [αυτου] ηρξατο κατηγορειν ο τερτυλλος λεγων (24:3) πολλης ειρηνης τυγχανοντες δια σου και διορθωματων γινομενων τω εθνει τουτω δια της σης προνοιας

3 παντη τε και πανταχου αποδεχομεθα κρατιστε φηλιξ μετα πασης ευχαριστιας

4 ινα δε μη επι πλειον σε εγκοπτω παρακαλω ακουσαι σε ημων συντομως τη ση επιεικεια

5 ευροντες γαρ τον ανδρα τουτον λοιμον και κινουντα στασεις πασιν τοις ιουδαιοις τοις κατα την οικουμενην πρωτοστατην τε της των ναζωραιων αιρεσεως

6 ος και το ιερον επειρασεν βεβηλωσαι ον και εκρατησαμεν

8 παρ ου δυνηση αυτος ανακρινας περι παντων τουτων επιγνωναι ων ημεις κατηγορουμεν αυτου

9 συνεπεθεντο δε και οι ιουδαιοι φασκοντες ταυτα ουτως εχειν

10 απεκριθη τε ο παυλος νευσαντος αυτω του ηγεμονος λεγειν εκ πολλων ετων οντα σε κριτην τω εθνει τουτω επισταμενος ευθυμως τα περι εμαυτου απολογουμαι

11 δυναμενου σου επιγνωναι οτι ου πλειους εισιν μοι ημεραι δωδεκα αφ ης ανεβην προσκυνησων εις ιερουσαλημ

12 και ουτε εν τω ιερω ευρον με προς τινα διαλεγομενον η επιστασιν ποιουντα οχλου ουτε εν ταις συναγωγαις ουτε κατα την πολιν

13 ουδε παραστησαι δυνανται σοι περι ων νυνι κατηγορουσιν μου

14 ομολογω δε τουτο σοι οτι κατα την οδον ην λεγουσιν αιρεσιν ουτως λατρευω τω πατρωω θεω πιστευων πασιν τοις κατα τον νομον και τοις εν τοις προφηταις γεγραμμενοις

15 ελπιδα εχων εις τον θεον ην και αυτοι ουτοι προσδεχονται αναστασιν μελλειν εσεσθαι δικαιων τε και αδικων

16 εν τουτω και αυτος ασκω απροσκοπον συνειδησιν εχειν προς τον θεον και τους ανθρωπους δια παντος

17 δι ετων δε πλειονων ελεημοσυνας ποιησων εις το εθνος μου παρεγενομην και προσφορας

18 εν αις ευρον με ηγνισμενον εν τω ιερω ου μετα οχλου ουδε μετα θορυβου τινες δε απο της ασιας ιουδαιοι

19 ους εδει επι σου παρειναι και κατηγορειν ει τι εχοιεν προς εμε

20 η αυτοι ουτοι ειπατωσαν τι ευρον αδικημα σταντος μου επι του συνεδριου

21 η περι μιας ταυτης φωνης ης εκεκραξα εν αυτοις εστως οτι περι αναστασεως νεκρων εγω κρινομαι σημερον εφ υμων

22 ανεβαλετο δε αυτους ο φηλιξ ακριβεστερον ειδως τα περι της οδου ειπας οταν λυσιας ο χιλιαρχος καταβη διαγνωσομαι τα καθ υμας

23 διαταξαμενος τω εκατονταρχη τηρεισθαι αυτον εχειν τε ανεσιν και μηδενα κωλυειν των ιδιων αυτου υπηρετειν αυτω

24 μετα δε ημερας τινας παραγενομενος ο φηλιξ συν δρουσιλλη τη ιδια γυναικι ουση ιουδαια μετεπεμψατο τον παυλον και ηκουσεν αυτου περι της εις χριστον ιησουν πιστεως

25 διαλεγομενου δε αυτου περι δικαιοσυνης και εγκρατειας και του κριματος του μελλοντος εμφοβος γενομενος ο φηλιξ απεκριθη το νυν εχον πορευου καιρον δε μεταλαβων μετακαλεσομαι σε

26 αμα και ελπιζων οτι χρηματα δοθησεται [αυτω] υπο του παυλου διο και πυκνοτερον αυτον μεταπεμπομενος ωμιλει αυτω

27 διετιας δε πληρωθεισης ελαβεν διαδοχον ο φηλιξ πορκιον φηστον θελων τε χαριτα καταθεσθαι τοις ιουδαιοις ο φηλιξ κατελιπεν τον παυλον δεδεμενον

ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8

1 And after five days came down the chief priest Ananias, with the elders, and a certain orator--Tertullus, and they made manifest to the governor <FI>the things<Fi> against Paul;

2 and he having been called, Tertullus began to accuse <FI>him<Fi> , saying, `Much peace enjoying through thee, and worthy deeds being done to this nation through thy forethought,

3 always, also, and everywhere we receive it, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness;

4 and that I may not be further tedious to thee, I pray thee to hear us concisely in thy gentleness;

5 for having found this man a pestilence, and moving a dissension to all the Jews through the world--a ringleader also of the sect of the Nazarenes--

6 who also the temple did try to profane, whom also we took, and according to our law did wish to judge,

7 and Lysias the chief captain having come near, with much violence, out of our hands did take away,

8 having commanded his accusers to come to thee, from whom thou mayest be able, thyself having examined, to know concerning all these things of which we accuse him;'

9 and the Jews also agreed, professing these things to be so.

10 And Paul answered--the governor having beckoned to him to speak--`Knowing <FI>that<Fi> for many years thou hast been a judge to this nation, the more cheerfully the things concerning myself I do answer;

11 thou being able to know that it is not more than twelve days to me since I went up to worship in Jerusalem,

12 and neither in the temple did they find me reasoning with any one, or making a dissension of the multitude, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city;

13 nor are they able to prove against me the things concerning which they now accuse me.

14 `And I confess this to thee, that, according to the way that they call a sect, so serve I the God of the fathers, believing all things that in the law and the prophets have been written,

15 having hope toward God, which they themselves also wait for, <FI>that<Fi> there is about to be a rising again of the dead, both of righteous and unrighteous;

16 and in this I do exercise myself, to have a conscience void of offence toward God and men always.

17 `And after many years I came, about to do kind acts to my nation, and offerings,

18 in which certain Jews from Asia did find me purified in the temple, not with multitude, nor with tumult,

19 whom it behoveth to be present before thee, and to accuse, if they had anything against me,

20 or let these same say if they found any unrighteousness in me in my standing before the sanhedrim,

21 except concerning this one voice, in which I cried, standing among them--Concerning a rising again of the dead I am judged to-day by you.'

22 And having heard these things, Felix delayed them--having known more exactly of the things concerning the way--saying, `When Lysias the chief captain may come down, I will know fully the things concerning you;'

23 having given also a direction to the centurion to keep Paul, to let <FI>him<Fi> also have liberty, and to forbid none of his own friends to minister or to come near to him.

24 And after certain days, Felix having come with Drusilla his wife, being a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith toward Christ,

25 and he reasoning concerning righteousness, and temperance, and the judgment that is about to be, Felix, having become afraid, answered, `For the present be going, and having got time, I will call for thee;'

26 and at the same time also hoping that money shall be given to him by Paul, that he may release him, therefore, also sending for him the oftener, he was conversing with him;

27 and two years having been fulfilled, Felix received a successor, Porcius Festus; Felix also willing to lay a favour on the Jews, left Paul bound.

Explanations by Age Level

Explain Like I'm 5

A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!

Explain Like I'm 10

Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.

Explain Like I'm 15

Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).