Paul’s Trial Before Felix
1Five days later the high priest Ananias went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges against Paul before the governor. 2When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: “We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation. 3Everywhere and in every way, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude. 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. 724:6-7 Some manuscripts include here him, and we would have judged him in accordance with our law. 7 But the commander Lysias came and took him from us with much violence, 8 ordering his accusers to come before you. 8By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him.”
9The other Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true.
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. 20Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin— 21unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’ ”
22Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. “When Lysias the commander comes,” he said, “I will decide your case.” 23He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.
24Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. 25As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” 26At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.
27When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.
Wodi Paulo Asɛm Wɔ Felike Anim
1Nnaanum akyi no, Ɔsɔfopanyin Anania ne mpanyimfo bi ne mmaranimfo bi a ne din de Tertulo kɔɔ Kaesarea. Woduu hɔ no, wɔkɔɔ Amrado Felike nkyɛn de nsɛm a wɔwɔ tia Paulo no too nʼanim. 2Wɔfrɛɛ Tertulo ma ɔbɔɔ ne nkuro se, “Onuonyamfo! Esiane wo nimdeɛ ne wʼakwankyerɛ pa nti efi bere a wobaa yi, nsakrae pa pii aba yɛn man yi mu ama yɛn ho atɔ yɛn. 3Baabiara a yɛwɔ no yɛka eyi ho asɛm na yɛn ani sɔ nea woayɛ ama yɛn no da wo ase papaapa. 4Mempɛ sɛ mesɛe wo bere enti mesrɛ wo sɛ nya bere tiaa bi ma me na tie asɛm a merebɛka afa saa ɔbarima yi ho no.
5“Yɛahu sɛ saa ɔbarima yi yɛ ɔmammɔfo a ɔde basabasayɛ ba Yudafo nyinaa mu. Ɔyɛ Nasarefo fekuw no mu panyin. 6Ɔpɛɛ sɛ ogu asɔredan no ho fi. Ɛno nti yɛkyeree no yɛɛ yɛn adwene sɛ anka yɛbɛfa yɛn mmara so abu no atɛn. 7Nanso Ɔsahene Lisia begyee no fii yɛn nsam abran so, 8hyɛɛ sɛ wommedi nʼasɛm wɔ wʼanim. Sɛ wubisa no a, wo ara ankasa wubehu sɛ nsɛm a yɛreka afa ne ho no nyinaa yɛ nokware.”
9Yudafo no nso foaa nsɛm a wɔkaa no so se ɛyɛ nokware.
Paulo Yi Ne Ho Ano
10Amrado no maa Paulo kwan sɛ onyi ne ho ano no, Paulo buae se, “Minim sɛ woyɛɛ ɔman yi so otemmufo akyɛ, ɛno nti sɛ migyina wʼanim reyi me ho ano a, minsuro. 11Sɛnea ebia woate no bɛyɛ nnafua dumien ni na mekɔɔ Yerusalem asɔredan mu sɛ merekɔsom. 12Yudafo a wɔde me baa ha yi anhu me sɛ me ne obi regye akyinnye wɔ asɔredan mu hɔ anaasɛ meretu nnipa aso wɔ hyiadan mu anaa ɔman no mu baabiara. 13Saa ara nso na wɔrentumi nkyerɛ sɛ, nsɛm a wɔreka ato me so yi nyinaa yɛ nokware. 14Nanso migye to mu sɛ menam Awurade asɛm a Yudafo yi kasa tia no so som yɛn Agyanom Nyankopɔn. Na migye nsɛm a wɔakyerɛw wɔ Mose mmara no ne adiyifo nhoma no mu no nso di. 15Mewɔ anidaso a saa nnipa yi nso wɔ wɔ Onyankopɔn mu sɛ da bi, nnipa pa ne nnipa bɔne nyinaa bɛsɔre afi owu mu no nso bi. 16Eyi nti, da biara mebɔ mmɔden sɛ mede ahonim pa bɛbɔ me bra wɔ Onyankopɔn ne nnipa anim.
17“Mfe bebree akyi a mifii Yerusalem no, mesan baa hɔ sɛ mede ayɛyɛde rebrɛ me nuanom na mabɔ afɔre. 18Bere a madwira me ho awie na migu so rebɔ aseda afɔre wɔ asɔredan no mu no, na nnipa a wɔde me baa ha yi huu me. Na matwitwa me tinwi sɛnea mmara no kyerɛ no. Saa bere no nso na dɔm biara nka me ho na basabasayɛ bi aba. 19Saa bere no, na Yudafo bi a wofi Asiaman mu wɔ hɔ. Wɔn na sɛ anka wɔwɔ asɛm bi ka tia me a ɛsɛ sɛ wɔka. 20Sɛ saa nnipa a wɔwɔ ha yi nso nim asɛm bi a wogyina so buu me fɔ wɔ agyinatufo no anim a wɔnka. 21Asɛm baako pɛ na migyina wɔn anim no mekae. Saa asɛm no ne sɛ, ‘Gyidi a mewɔ wɔ awufosɔre no mu nti na migye di sɛ morebu me atɛn nnɛ.’ ”
22Felike a na onim saa Awurade asɛm no yiye no tuu asɛm no hyɛɛ da, kae se, “Sɛ Ɔsahene Lisia ba a na medi wʼasɛm no.” 23Ɔhyɛɛ ɔsraani panyin a na ɔhwɛ Paulo so no sɛ ɔmma wɔnwɛn no, nanso wɔmma no ahotɔ kakra. Na sɛ ne nnamfonom de biribiara a ɛho hia no no rebrɛ no a, wɔmma ho kwan.
Paulo Gyina Felike Ne Drusila Anim
24Nna bi akyi no, Felike ne ne yere Drusila a ɔyɛ Yudani no bae. Ɔsoma ma wɔkɔfrɛɛ Paulo brɛɛ no ma ɔbɛkaa gyidi a ɔwɔ wɔ Kristo Yesu mu no kyerɛɛ wɔn. 25Paulo reka trenee, ahohyɛso ne atemmuda ho asɛm no, Felike suroe, enti ɔkae se, “Kɔ! Akyiri no, sɛ minya adagyew a, mɛsoma abɛfrɛ wo.” 26Na Felike ani da so sɛ Paulo bɛma no sika na wagyaa no, ɛno nti na ɔma wɔtaa kɔfrɛ no ntiantia mu ba ne nkyɛn ne no bɔ nkɔmmɔ no.
27Mfe abien akyi no Porkio Festo besii Felike anan mu sɛ amrado. Esiane sɛ na Felike pɛ sɛ ɔsɔ Yudafo no ani no nti, ogyaw Paulo wɔ afiase hɔ.
