Acts 24:4-19
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 24
4But, that I may not weary you further, I beg you to grant us a brief hearing, by your kindness. 5For we have found this man a public menace and one who stirs up dissensions among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6And he even tried to desecrate the temple, so indeed we arrested him. 7 8By interrogating him yourself concerning all these matters, you will be able to ascertain the things of which we are accusing him.' 9The Jews also joined in the attack, asserting that these things were so.
10And when the governor had nodded for him to speak, Paul responded: 'Knowing that for many years you have been a judge to this nation, I cheerfully make my defense,
11since you can take note of the fact that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship.
12And neither in the temple did they find me carrying on a discussion with anyone or causing a riot, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city itself.
13Nor can they prove to you the things of which they now accuse me.
14But I confess this to you, that in accordance with the Way, which they call a sect, I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and is written in the Prophets;
15having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.
16In view of this I also do my best to maintain a blameless conscience both before God and before other people, always.
17Now after several years I came to bring charitable gifts to my nation and to present offerings,
18in which they found me occupied in the temple, having been purified, without any crowd or uproar. But there were some Jews from Asia—
19who ought to have been present before you and to have been bringing charges, if they should have anything against me.
King James Version
Chapter 24
4Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words. 5For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes: 6Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law. 7But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands,
8Commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him.
9And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so.
10Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself:
11Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship.
12And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city:
13Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me.
14But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
15And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
16And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.
17Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings.
18Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult.
19Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against me.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 24
4But, so that I will not burden you any further, I request that you would be kind enough to give us a brief hearing. 5For we have found this man to be a plague, an agitator among all the Jews throughout the Roman world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6He even tried to desecrate the temple, and so we apprehended him. By examining him yourself you will be able to discern the truth about these charges we are bringing against him." 7 8 9The Jews also joined in the attack, alleging that these things were true.
10When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: "Because I know you have been a judge of this nation for many years, I am glad to offer my defense in what concerns me.
11You can verify for yourself that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem.
12They didn’t find me arguing with anyone or causing a disturbance among the crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or anywhere in the city.
13Neither can they prove the charges they are now making against me.
14But I admit this to you: I worship the God of my ancestors according to the Way, which they call a sect, believing everything that is in accordance with the law and written in the prophets.
15I have a hope in God, which these men themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection, both of the righteous and the unrighteous.
16I always strive to have a clear conscience toward God and men.
17After many years, I came to bring charitable gifts and offerings to my people.
18While I was doing this, some Jews from Asia found me ritually purified in the temple, without a crowd and without any uproar.
19It is they who ought to be here before you to bring charges, if they have anything against me.
New Living Translation
Chapter 24
4But I don’t want to bore you, so please give me your attention for only a moment. 5We have found this man to be a troublemaker who is constantly stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the cult known as the Nazarenes. 6Furthermore, he was trying to desecrate the Temple when we arrested him. 7 8You can find out the truth of our accusations by examining him yourself.' 9Then the other Jews chimed in, declaring that everything Tertullus said was true.
10The governor then motioned for Paul to speak. Paul said, 'I know, sir, that you have been a judge of Jewish affairs for many years, so I gladly present my defense before you.
11You can quickly discover that I arrived in Jerusalem no more than twelve days ago to worship at the Temple.
12My accusers never found me arguing with anyone in the Temple, nor stirring up a riot in any synagogue or on the streets of the city.
13These men cannot prove the things they accuse me of doing.
14But I admit that I follow the Way, which they call a cult. I worship the God of our ancestors, and I firmly believe the Jewish law and everything written in the prophets.
15I have the same hope in God that these men have, that he will raise both the righteous and the unrighteous.
16Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people.
17After several years away, I returned to Jerusalem with money to aid my people and to offer sacrifices to God.
18My accusers saw me in the Temple as I was completing a purification ceremony. There was no crowd around me and no rioting.
19But some Jews from the province of Asia were there — and they ought to be here to bring charges if they have anything against me!
English Standard Version
Chapter 24
4But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. 5For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him. 7 8By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him."
11You can verify 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.
13Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against 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 men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.
16So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.
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 —
19they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me.
New International Version
Chapter 24
4But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly.
5"We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect
6and even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him.
7
8By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him."
10When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: "I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense.
11You can easily verify that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship.
12My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city.
13And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me.
14However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets,
15and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.
16So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.
17"After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings.
18I was ceremonially clean when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance.
19But there are some Jews from the province of Asia, who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me.
New King James Version
Chapter 24
4Nevertheless, not to be tedious to you any further, I beg you to hear, by your courtesy, a few words from us. 5For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, and wanted to judge him according to our law. 7But the commander Lysias came by and with great violence took him out of our hands, 8commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.” 9And the Jews also assented, maintaining that these things were so.
10Then Paul, after the governor had nodded to him to speak, answered: “Inasmuch as I know that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself,
11because you may ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship.
12And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city.
13Nor 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, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.
15I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.
16This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.
