11. It was no more than twelve days ago that I went to worship in Jerusalem. You can find this out easily enough.
12. Never once did the Jews find me arguing with anyone in the temple. I didn't cause trouble in the Jewish meeting places or in the city itself.
13. There is no way that they can prove these charges that they are now bringing against me.
14. I admit that their leaders think that the Lord's Way which I follow is based on wrong beliefs. But I still worship the same God that my ancestors worshipped. And I believe everything written in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets.
15. I am just as sure as these people are that God will raise from death everyone who is good or evil.
16. And because I am sure, I try my best to have a clear conscience in whatever I do for God or for people.
17. After being away for several years, I returned here to bring gifts for the poor people of my nation and to offer sacrifices.
18. This is what I was doing when I was found going through a ceremony in the temple. I wasn't with a crowd, and there was no uproar.
19. Some Jews from Asia were there at that time, and if they have anything to say against me, they should be here now.
20. Or ask the ones who are here. They can tell you that they didn't find me guilty of anything when I was tried by their own council.
21. The only charge they can bring against me is what I shouted out in court, when I said, “I am on trial today because I believe that the dead will be raised to life!”
22. Felix knew a lot about the Lord's Way. But he brought the trial to an end and said, “I will make my decision after Lysias the commander arrives.”
23. He then ordered the army officer to keep Paul under guard, but not to lock him up or to stop his friends from helping him.
24. Several days later Felix and his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, went to the place where Paul was kept under guard. They sent for Paul and listened while he spoke to them about having faith in Christ Jesus.