Paul’s Trial Before Felix

24 Five days later the high priest Ananias^(A) went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges^(B) against Paul before the governor.^{(C) 2} When 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. ³ Everywhere and in every way, most excellent^(D) Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude. ⁴ But 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^(E) among the Jews^(F) all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene^(G) sect^{(H) 6} and even tried to desecrate the temple;^(I) so we seized him. ^{[7] [a] 8} By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him.”

⁹ The other Jews joined in the accusation,^(J) asserting that these things were true.

¹⁰ When the governor^(K) 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. ¹¹ You can easily verify that no more than twelve days^(L) ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. ¹² My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple,^(M) or stirring up a crowd^(N) in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. ¹³ And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me.^{(O) 14} However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors^(P) as a follower of the Way,^(Q) which they call a sect.^(R) I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets,^{(S) 15} and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection^(T) of both the righteous and the wicked.^{(U) 16} So I strive always to keep my conscience clear^(V) before God and man.

¹⁷ “After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor^(W) and to present offerings. ¹⁸ I was ceremonially clean^(X) when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance.^{(Y) 19} But there are some Jews from the province of Asia,^(Z) who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me.^{(AA) 20} Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin— ²¹ unless 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.’”^(AB)

²² Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way,^(AC) adjourned the proceedings. “When Lysias the commander comes,” he said, “I will decide your case.” ²³ He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard^(AD) but to give him some freedom^(AE) and permit his friends to take care of his needs.^(AF)

²⁴ Several 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.^{(AG) 25} As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control^(AH) and the judgment^(AI) to come, Felix was afraid^(AJ) and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” ²⁶ At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.

²⁷ When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus,^(AK) but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews,^(AL) he left Paul in prison.^(AM)

5 “‘If anyone sins because they do not speak up when they hear a public charge to testify^(A) regarding something they have seen or learned about, they will be held responsible.^(B)

² “‘If anyone becomes aware that they are guilty—if they unwittingly touch anything ceremonially unclean (whether the carcass of an unclean animal, wild or domestic, or of any unclean creature that moves along the ground)^(C) and they are unaware that they have become unclean,^(D) but then they come to realize their guilt; ³ or if they touch human uncleanness^(E) (anything that would make them unclean)^(F) even though they are unaware of it, but then they learn of it and realize their guilt; ⁴ or if anyone thoughtlessly takes an oath^(G) to do anything, whether good or evil^(H) (in any matter one might carelessly swear about) even though they are unaware of it, but then they learn of it and realize their guilt— ⁵ when anyone becomes aware that they are guilty in any of these matters, they must confess^(I) in what way they have sinned. ⁶ As a penalty for the sin they have committed, they must bring to the Lord a female lamb or goat^(J) from the flock as a sin offering^[a];^(K) and the priest shall make atonement^(L) for them for their sin.

⁷ “‘Anyone who cannot afford^(M) a lamb^(N) is to bring two doves or two young pigeons^(O) to the Lord as a penalty for their sin—one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. ⁸ They are to bring them to the priest, who shall first offer the one for the sin offering. He is to wring its head from its neck,^(P) not dividing it completely,^{(Q) 9} and is to splash^(R) some of the blood of the sin offering against the side of the altar;^(S) the rest of the blood must be drained out at the base of the altar.^(T) It is a sin offering. ¹⁰ The priest shall then offer the other as a burnt offering in the prescribed way^(U) and make atonement^(V) for them for the sin they have committed, and they will be forgiven.^(W)

¹¹ “‘If, however, they cannot afford^(X) two doves or two young pigeons,^(Y) they are to bring as an offering for their sin a tenth of an ephah^[b](Z) of the finest flour^(AA) for a sin offering. They must not put olive oil or incense on it, because it is a sin offering. ¹² They are to bring it to the priest, who shall take a handful of it as a memorial^[c] portion^(AB) and burn it on the altar^(AC) on top of the food offerings presented to the Lord. It is a sin offering. ¹³ In this way the priest will make atonement^(AD) for them for any of these sins they have committed, and they will be forgiven. The rest of the offering will belong to the priest,^(AE) as in the case of the grain offering.^(AF)’”

The Guilt Offering

¹⁴ The Lord said to Moses: ¹⁵ “When anyone is unfaithful to the Lord by sinning unintentionally^(AG) in regard to any of the Lord’s holy things, they are to bring to the Lord as a penalty^(AH) a ram^(AI) from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value in silver, according to the sanctuary shekel.^[d](AJ) It is a guilt offering.^{(AK) 16} They must make restitution^(AL) for what they have failed to do in regard to the holy things, pay an additional penalty of a fifth of its value^(AM) and give it all to the priest. The priest will make atonement for them with the ram as a guilt offering, and they will be forgiven.

¹⁷ “If anyone sins and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands, even though they do not know it,^(AN) they are guilty and will be held responsible.^{(AO) 18} They are to bring to the priest as a guilt offering^(AP) a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value. In this way the priest will make atonement for them for the wrong they have committed unintentionally, and they will be forgiven.^{(AQ) 19} It is a guilt offering; they have been guilty of^[e] wrongdoing against the Lord.”^(AR)

6 ^[f]The Lord said to Moses: ² “If anyone sins and is unfaithful to the Lord^(AS) by deceiving a neighbor^(AT) about something entrusted to them or left in their care^(AU) or about something stolen, or if they cheat^(AV) their neighbor, ³ or if they find lost property and lie about it,^(AW) or if they swear falsely^(AX) about any such sin that people may commit— ⁴ when they sin in any of these ways and realize their guilt, they must return^(AY) what they have stolen or taken by extortion, or what was entrusted to them, or the lost property they found, ⁵ or whatever it was they swore falsely about. They must make restitution^(AZ) in full, add a fifth of the value to it and give it all to the owner on the day they present their guilt offering.^{(BA) 6} And as a penalty they must bring to the priest, that is, to the Lord, their guilt offering,^(BB) a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value.^{(BC) 7} In this way the priest will make atonement^(BD) for them before the Lord, and they will be forgiven for any of the things they did that made them guilty.”

The Burnt Offering

⁸ The Lord said to Moses: ⁹ “Give Aaron and his sons this command: ‘These are the regulations for the burnt offering^(BE): The burnt offering is to remain on the altar hearth throughout the night, till morning, and the fire must be kept burning on the altar.^{(BF) 10} The priest shall then put on his linen clothes,^(BG) with linen undergarments next to his body,^(BH) and shall remove the ashes^(BI) of the burnt offering that the fire has consumed on the altar and place them beside the altar. ¹¹ Then he is to take off these clothes and put on others, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a place that is ceremonially clean.^{(BJ) 12} The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest is to add firewood^(BK) and arrange the burnt offering on the fire and burn the fat^(BL) of the fellowship offerings^(BM) on it. ¹³ The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out.

The Grain Offering

¹⁴ “‘These are the regulations for the grain offering:^(BN) Aaron’s sons are to bring it before the Lord, in front of the altar. ¹⁵ The priest is to take a handful of the finest flour and some olive oil, together with all the incense^(BO) on the grain offering,^(BP) and burn the memorial^[g] portion^(BQ) on the altar as an aroma pleasing to the Lord. ¹⁶ Aaron and his sons^(BR) shall eat the rest^(BS) of it, but it is to be eaten without yeast^(BT) in the sanctuary area;^(BU) they are to eat it in the courtyard^(BV) of the tent of meeting.^{(BW) 17} It must not be baked with yeast; I have given it as their share^(BX) of the food offerings presented to me.^(BY) Like the sin offering^[h] and the guilt offering, it is most holy.^{(BZ) 18} Any male descendant of Aaron may eat it.^(CA) For all generations to come^(CB) it is his perpetual share^(CC) of the food offerings presented to the Lord. Whatever touches them will become holy.^[i](CD)’”

¹⁹ The Lord also said to Moses, ²⁰ “This is the offering Aaron and his sons are to bring to the Lord on the day he^[j] is anointed:^(CE) a tenth of an ephah^[k](CF) of the finest flour^(CG) as a regular grain offering,^(CH) half of it in the morning and half in the evening. ²¹ It must be prepared with oil on a griddle;^(CI) bring it well-mixed and present the grain offering broken^[l] in pieces as an aroma pleasing to the Lord. ²² The son who is to succeed him as anointed priest^(CJ) shall prepare it. It is the Lord’s perpetual share and is to be burned completely.^{(CK) 23} Every grain offering of a priest shall be burned completely; it must not be eaten.”

The Sin Offering

²⁴ The Lord said to Moses, ²⁵ “Say to Aaron and his sons: ‘These are the regulations for the sin offering:^(CL) The sin offering is to be slaughtered before the Lord^(CM) in the place^(CN) the burnt offering is slaughtered; it is most holy. ²⁶ The priest who offers it shall eat it; it is to be eaten in the sanctuary area,^(CO) in the courtyard^(CP) of the tent of meeting.^{(CQ) 27} Whatever touches any of the flesh will become holy,^(CR) and if any of the blood is spattered on a garment, you must wash it in the sanctuary area. ²⁸ The clay pot^(CS) the meat is cooked in must be broken; but if it is cooked in a bronze pot, the pot is to be scoured and rinsed with water. ²⁹ Any male in a priest’s family may eat it;^(CT) it is most holy.^{(CU) 30} But any sin offering whose blood is brought into the tent of meeting to make atonement^(CV) in the Holy Place^(CW) must not be eaten; it must be burned up.^(CX)

The Guilt Offering

7 “‘These are the regulations for the guilt offering,^(CY) which is most holy: ² The guilt offering is to be slaughtered in the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered, and its blood is to be splashed against the sides of the altar. ³ All its fat^(CZ) shall be offered: the fat tail and the fat that covers the internal organs, ⁴ both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which is to be removed with the kidneys.^{(DA) 5} The priest shall burn them on the altar^(DB) as a food offering presented to the Lord. It is a guilt offering. ⁶ Any male in a priest’s family may eat it,^(DC) but it must be eaten in the sanctuary area; it is most holy.^(DD)

⁷ “‘The same law applies to both the sin offering^[m](DE) and the guilt offering:^(DF) They belong to the priest^(DG) who makes atonement with them.^{(DH) 8} The priest who offers a burnt offering for anyone may keep its hide^(DI) for himself. ⁹ Every grain offering baked in an oven^(DJ) or cooked in a pan^(DK) or on a griddle^(DL) belongs to the priest who offers it, ¹⁰ and every grain offering, whether mixed with olive oil or dry, belongs equally to all the sons of Aaron.

The Fellowship Offering

¹¹ “‘These are the regulations for the fellowship offering anyone may present to the Lord:

¹² “‘If they offer it as an expression of thankfulness, then along with this thank offering^(DM) they are to offer thick loaves^(DN) made without yeast^(DO) and with olive oil mixed in, thin loaves^(DP) made without yeast and brushed with oil,^(DQ) and thick loaves of the finest flour well-kneaded and with oil mixed in. ¹³ Along with their fellowship offering of thanksgiving^(DR) they are to present an offering with thick loaves of bread made with yeast.^{(DS) 14} They are to bring one of each kind as an offering, a contribution to the Lord; it belongs to the priest who splashes the blood of the fellowship offering against the altar. ¹⁵ The meat of their fellowship offering of thanksgiving must be eaten on the day it is offered; they must leave none of it till morning.^(DT)

¹⁶ “‘If, however, their offering is the result of a vow^(DU) or is a freewill offering,^(DV) the sacrifice shall be eaten on the day they offer it, but anything left over may be eaten on the next day.^{(DW) 17} Any meat of the sacrifice left over till the third day must be burned up.^{(DX) 18} If any meat of the fellowship offering^(DY) is eaten on the third day, the one who offered it will not be accepted.^(DZ) It will not be reckoned^(EA) to their credit, for it has become impure; the person who eats any of it will be held responsible.^(EB)

¹⁹ “‘Meat that touches anything ceremonially unclean must not be eaten; it must be burned up. As for other meat, anyone ceremonially clean may eat it. ²⁰ But if anyone who is unclean^(EC) eats any meat of the fellowship offering belonging to the Lord, they must be cut off from their people.^{(ED) 21} Anyone who touches something unclean^(EE)—whether human uncleanness or an unclean animal or any unclean creature that moves along the ground^[n]—and then eats any of the meat of the fellowship offering belonging to the Lord must be cut off from their people.’”

Eating Fat and Blood Forbidden

²² The Lord said to Moses, ²³ “Say to the Israelites: ‘Do not eat any of the fat of cattle, sheep or goats.^{(EF) 24} The fat of an animal found dead or torn by wild animals^(EG) may be used for any other purpose, but you must not eat it. ²⁵ Anyone who eats the fat of an animal from which a food offering may be^[o] presented to the Lord must be cut off from their people. ²⁶ And wherever you live, you must not eat the blood^(EH) of any bird or animal. ²⁷ Anyone who eats blood^(EI) must be cut off from their people.’”

The Priests’ Share

²⁸ The Lord said to Moses, ²⁹ “Say to the Israelites: ‘Anyone who brings a fellowship offering to the Lord is to bring part of it as their sacrifice to the Lord. ³⁰ With their own hands they are to present the food offering to the Lord; they are to bring the fat, together with the breast, and wave the breast before the Lord as a wave offering.^{(EJ) 31} The priest shall burn the fat on the altar,^(EK) but the breast belongs to Aaron and his sons.^{(EL) 32} You are to give the right thigh of your fellowship offerings to the priest as a contribution.^{(EM) 33} The son of Aaron who offers the blood and the fat of the fellowship offering shall have the right thigh as his share. ³⁴ From the fellowship offerings of the Israelites, I have taken the breast that is waved and the thigh^(EN) that is presented and have given them to Aaron the priest and his sons^(EO) as their perpetual share from the Israelites.’”

³⁵ This is the portion of the food offerings presented to the Lord that were allotted to Aaron and his sons on the day they were presented to serve the Lord as priests. ³⁶ On the day they were anointed,^(EP) the Lord commanded that the Israelites give this to them as their perpetual share for the generations to come.

³⁷ These, then, are the regulations for the burnt offering,^(EQ) the grain offering,^(ER) the sin offering, the guilt offering, the ordination offering^(ES) and the fellowship offering, ³⁸ which the Lord gave Moses^(ET) at Mount Sinai^(EU) in the Desert of Sinai on the day he commanded the Israelites to bring their offerings to the Lord.^(EV)