Veritable King James Version
1And after five days, the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before the governor their case against Paul.
2And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: “Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation,”
3“in every way and everywhere we accept it with all gratitude.
4But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly.
5For we have found this person a pestilent individual, a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.”
6“He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him.
8By examining him yourself, you will be able to learn from him about everything of which we accuse him.”
9The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that these things were so.
10And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied: “Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense.
11You can ascertain that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem,
12and they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city.”
13“Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me.
14But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets,
15having a hope in God, which these people themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.”
16“So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward God and toward people.
17Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings.
18While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia—”
19“who ought to be here before you and to make accusation, if they have anything against me.
20Or else let these people themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council,
21other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: ‘It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.’”
22But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.”
23Then he gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept in custody but have some liberty, and that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs.
24After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.
25And as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity, I will summon you.”
26At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him.
27When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.
Translation notes
The NA28 Greek text uses “ἀρχιερεὺς” and “πρεσβύτεροι” in verse 1, translated as “high priest” and “elders,” gender-neutral as unspecified. “Spokesman” renders “ῥήτορος” for Tertullus, per the NA28, echoing the KJV’s “orator.” “Most excellent Felix” translates “κράτιστε Φῆλιξ,” preserving the KJV’s formal address. “Enjoy much peace” renders “πολλῆς εἰρήνης τυγχάνοντες,” echoing the KJV’s flattery, per the NA28.
“We” and “person” translate “ἡμεῖς” and “ἄνδρα” gender-neutrally, referring to Tertullus’s group and Paul. “Pestilent individual” renders “λοιμὸν,” echoing the KJV’s “pestilent fellow.” “Sect of the Nazarenes” translates “αἱρέσεως τῶν Ναζωραίων,” per the NA28, preserving the KJV’s term for early Christianity (cf. Acts 24:14). “Mover of sedition” modernizes the KJV’s “mover of sedition,” reflecting Roman concerns.
Verse 6 omits the disputed clause “and would have judged him according to our law” (per some manuscripts), following the NA28’s shorter text. “Jews” and “we” translate “Ἰουδαῖοι” and “ἡμεῖς” gender-neutrally. “Profane the temple” renders “βεβηλῶσαι τὸ ἱερόν,” echoing Acts 21:28 and the KJV’s accusation. “Joined in the charge” translates “συνεπέθεντο,” preserving the KJV’s unified accusation, per the NA28.
“Anyone” and “they” translate “τινά” and “αὐτοί” gender-neutrally. “Make my defense” renders “ἀπολογοῦμαι,” echoing the KJV’s legal term, per the NA28. “Twelve days” translates “δωδεκαήμερος,” aligning with the timeline from Acts 21:15–27. “Worship in Jerusalem” reflects Paul’s temple actions (Acts 21:26), preserving the KJV’s religious context.
“They” and “people” translate “οὗτοι” and “αὐτοί” gender-neutrally, referring to the accusers. Capitalized “God” follows instructions. “The Way” renders “τὴν Ὁδὸν,” per Acts 19:9, 23, echoing the KJV’s term for Christianity. “Law and the Prophets” translates “νόμῳ καὶ προφήταις,” echoing the KJV’s scriptural scope. “Resurrection of both the just and unjust” renders “ἀνάστασιν δικαίων τε καὶ ἀδίκων,” per the NA28, preserving the KJV’s theology.
“People” and “Jews” translate “ἀνθρώπους” and “Ἰουδαῖοι” gender-neutrally. Capitalized “God” follows instructions. “Clear conscience” renders “ἀπρόσκοπον συνείδησιν,” echoing Acts 23:1 and the KJV. “Alms” and “offerings” translate “ἐλεημοσύνας” and “προσφοράς,” per Acts 21:26, preserving the KJV’s charitable and ritual context. “Purified in the temple” aligns with Acts 21:26, per the NA28.
“People” and “they” translate “οὗτοι” and “αὐτοί” gender-neutrally, referring to the accusers and Jews from Asia. “Council” renders “συνέδριον,” per Acts 23:1, 6. “Resurrection of the dead” repeats Acts 23:6, translating “ἀνάστασιν νεκρῶν,” echoing the KJV’s central issue, per the NA28. “Wrongdoing” renders “ἀδίκημα,” preserving the KJV’s legal defense.
“Them” and “friends” translate “αὐτοὺς” and “τῶν ἰδίων” gender-neutrally. “The Way” renders “τὴν Ὁδὸν,” consistent with verse 14, per the NA28. “Accurate knowledge” translates “ἀκριβέστερον γνοὺς,” echoing the KJV’s “more perfect knowledge.” “Lysias the tribune” refers to Acts 23:26, and “some liberty” renders “ἄνεσιν,” preserving the KJV’s leniency, per the NA28.
“Wife” renders “γυνὴ” for Drusilla, gender-specific, and “Jewish” translates “Ἰουδαία,” per the NA28. Capitalized “Christ Jesus” follows instructions. “Righteousness, self-control, and the judgment” renders “δικαιοσύνης, ἐγκρατείας, καὶ τοῦ κρίματος,” echoing the KJV’s moral themes. “Alarmed” translates “ἔμφοβος γενόμενος,” preserving the KJV’s emotional response. The dialogue reflects Paul’s evangelistic boldness, per the NA28.
“Jews” translates “Ἰουδαίοις” gender-neutrally. “Hoped that money would be given” renders “ἐλπίζων ὅτι χρήματα δοθήσεται,” echoing the KJV’s implication of bribery. “Two years” translates “διετίας,” per the NA28, marking the duration of Paul’s custody. “Porcius Festus” introduces the new governor, preserving the KJV’s historical detail. “Left Paul in prison” maintains the KJV’s narrative continuity.
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