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Acts Chapter 24 | Faith Through Delay and Misunderstanding

Now after five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain orator named Tertullus. These gave evidence to the governor against Paul.

2 And when he was called upon, Tertullus began his accusation, saying: “Seeing that through you we enjoy great peace, and prosperity is being brought to this nation by your foresight, 3 we accept it always and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. 4 Nevertheless, not to be tedious to you any further, I beg you to hear, by your courtesy, a few words from us. 5 For 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. 6 He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, and wanted to judge him according to our law. 7 But the commander Lysias came by and with great violence took him out of our hands, 8 commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.” 9 And the Jews also assented, maintaining that these things were so.

10 Then 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, 11 because you may ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city. 13 Nor can they prove 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 worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. 15 I 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. 16 This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.

17 “Now after many years I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation, 18 in the midst of which some Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with a mob nor with tumult. 19 They ought to have been here before you to object if they had anything against me. 20 Or else let those who are here themselves say if they found any wrongdoing in me while I stood before the council, 21 unless it is for this one statement which I cried out, standing among them, ‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged by you this day.’ ”

22 But when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the Way, he adjourned the proceedings and said, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case.” 23 So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and told him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit him.

24 And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25 Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.” 26 Meanwhile he also hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him.

27 But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound.

使徒行傳 24章｜信心面對等待與誤解

過了五天，大祭司亞拿尼亞同幾個長老和一個辯士帖土羅下來，向巡撫控告保羅。 2 保羅被提了來，帖土羅就告他說： 3 「腓力斯大人，我們因你得以大享太平，並且這一國的弊病因著你的先見得以更正了，我們隨時隨地滿心感謝不盡。 4 唯恐多說，你嫌煩絮，只求你寬容聽我們說幾句話。 5 我們看這個人如同瘟疫一般，是鼓動普天下眾猶太人生亂的，又是拿撒勒教黨裡的一個頭目。 6 連聖殿他也想要汙穢，我們把他捉住了。 8 你自己究問他，就可以知道我們告他的一切事了。」 9 眾猶太人也隨著告他說：「事情誠然是這樣。」

10 巡撫點頭叫保羅說話，他就說：「我知道你在這國裡斷事多年，所以我樂意為自己分訴。 11 你查問就可以知道，從我上耶路撒冷禮拜到今日，不過有十二天。 12 他們並沒有看見我在殿裡或是在會堂裡，或是在城裡，和人辯論，聳動眾人。 13 他們現在所告我的事並不能對你證實了。 14 但有一件事，我向你承認，就是他們所稱為異端的道，我正按著那道侍奉我祖宗的神，又信合乎律法的和先知書上一切所記載的； 15 並且靠著神，盼望死人無論善惡都要復活，就是他們自己也有這個盼望。 16 我因此自己勉勵，對神、對人常存無虧的良心。 17 過了幾年，我帶著賙濟本國的捐項和供獻的物上去。 18 正獻的時候，他們看見我在殿裡已經潔淨了，並沒有聚眾，也沒有吵嚷，唯有幾個從亞細亞來的猶太人。 19 他們若有告我的事，就應當到你面前來告我。 20 即或不然，這些人若看出我站在公會前有妄為的地方，他們自己也可以說明。 21 縱然有，也不過一句話，就是我站在他們中間大聲說：『我今日在你們面前受審，是為死人復活的道理。』」

22 腓力斯本是詳細曉得這道，就支吾他們，說：「且等千夫長呂西亞下來，我要審斷你們的事。」 23 於是吩咐百夫長看守保羅，並且寬待他，也不攔阻他的親友來供給他。

24 過了幾天，腓力斯和他夫人猶太的女子土西拉一同來到，就叫了保羅來，聽他講論信基督耶穌的道。 25 保羅講論公義、節制和將來的審判，腓力斯甚覺恐懼，說：「你暫且去吧，等我得便再叫你來。」 26 腓力斯又指望保羅送他銀錢，所以屢次叫他來，和他談論。 27 過了兩年，波求‧非斯都接了腓力斯的任；腓力斯要討猶太人的喜歡，就留保羅在監裡。