Paul's Defense before Felix

241 After five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders , with an attorney named Tertullus , and they brought charges to the governor against Paul . 2 After Paul had been summoned , Tertullus began to accuse him, saying to the governor, "S ince we have through you attained much peace , and since by your providence reforms are being carried out for this nation , 3 we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere , most excellent Felix , with all thankfulness . 4 "But, that I may not weary you any further e , I beg you to grant us, by your kindness , a brief hearing . 5 "For we have found this man a real pest and a fellow who stirs up dissension among all the Jews throughout the world , and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes . 6 "And he even tried to desecrate the temple ; and then we arrested him. [We wanted to judge him according to our own Law . 7 "But Lysias the commander came along , and with much violence took him out of our hands , 8 ordering his accusers to come before you.] By examining him yourself concerning all these matters you will be able to ascertain the things of which we accuse him." 9 The Jews also joined in the attack , asserting that these things were so .

10 When the governor had nodded for him to speak , Paul responded : "K nowing that for many years you have been a judge to this nation , I cheerfully make my defense , 11 since you can take note of the fact that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship . 12 " Neither in the temple , nor in the synagogues , nor in the city itself did they find me carrying on a discussion with anyone or causing a riot . 13 " Nor can they prove to you the charges of which they now accuse me. 14 "But this I admit to you, that according to 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 that is written in the Prophets ; 15 having a hope in God , which these men cherish themselves , that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked . 16 "In view of this , I also do my best to maintain always e a blameless conscience both before God and before men . 17 "Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings ; 18 in which they found me occupied in the temple , having been purified , without e any crowd or uproar . But there were some Jews from Asia - 19 who ought to have been present before you and to make accusation , if they should have anything against me. 20 "Or else let these men themselves tell what misdeed they found when I stood before the Council , 21 other than for this one statement which I shouted out while standing among them, 'For the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you today .' "

22 But Felix , having a more exact knowledge about the Way , put them off , saying , "When Lysias the commander comes down , I will decide your case e ." 23 Then he gave orders to the centurion for him to be kept in custody and yet have some freedom , and not to prevent any of his friends from ministering to him. 24 But some days later Felix arrived with Drusilla , his wife who was a Jewess , and sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus . 25 But as he was discussing righteousness , self-control and the judgment to come , Felix became frightened and said , "Go away for the present , and when I find time I will summon you." 26 At the same time too , he was hoping that money would be given him by Paul ; therefore he also used to send for him quite often and converse with him. 27 But after two years had passed , Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus , and wishing to do the Jews a favor , Felix left Paul imprisoned .

A Lame Man Healed at the Gate of the Temple

31 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer . 2 And a man who had been lame from his mother's womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful , in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple . 3 When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple , he began asking to receive alms . 4 But Peter , along with John , fixed his gaze on him and said , "Look at us!" 5 And he began to give them his attention , expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said , "I do not possess silver and gold , but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene -walk !" 7 And seizing him by the right hand , he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened . 8 With a leap he stood upright and began to walk ; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God . 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God ; 10 and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms , and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Peter's Address in Solomon's Porch

11 While he was clinging to Peter and John , all the people ran together to them at the so-called portico of Solomon , full of amazement .

12 But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people , "Men of Israel , why are you amazed at this , or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk ? 13 " The God of Abraham , Isaac and Jacob , the God of our fathers , has glorified His servant Jesus , the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate , when he had decided to release Him. 14 "But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 but put to death the Prince of life , the one whom God raised from the dead , a fact to which we are witnesses . 16 "And on the basis of faith in His name , it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know ; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all . 17 "And now , brethren , I know that you acted in ignorance , just as your rulers did also . 18 "But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets , that His Christ would suffer , He has thus fulfilled . 19 "Therefore repent and return , so that your sins may be wiped away , in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord ; 20 and that He may send Jesus , the Christ appointed for you, 21 whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time . 22 "Moses said , ' THE Lord GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN ; TO HIM YOU SHALL GIVE HEED to everything He says to you. 23 ' And it will be that every soul that does not heed that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people .' 24 "And likewise , all the prophets who have spoken , from Samuel and his successors onward , also announced these days . 25 "It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with your fathers , saying to Abraham , ' AND IN YOUR SEED ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED .' 26 "For you first , God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways ."