Felix had sufficient penetration to read the disposition and character of Paul’s accusers. He perceived the motives of their flattery, and saw also that they had failed to substantiate their charges. Turning to the accused, he beckoned to him to answer for himself. Paul wasted no words in fulsome compliments, but simply stated that he could the more cheerfully defend himself before Felix, since the latter had been so long a procurator, and therefore had so good an understanding of the laws and customs of the Jews. Step by step he then refuted the charges brought against him. He declared that he had caused no disturbance in any part of Jerusalem, nor had he profaned the sanctuary: “They neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city; neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me.” {LP 237.2}

Feliks havde tilstrækkelig skarpsindighed til at læse naturen og karakteren i Paulus’ anklagere. Han indså motiverne i deres smiger, og så også at de ikke beviste deres anklager. Idet han vendte sig til den anklagede, vinkede han ad ham, at svare for sig selv. Paulus spildte ingen ord på så overdrevne en høflighed, men sagde blot at han med glæde vil forsvare sig selv over for Feliks, eftersom den sidstnævnte længe havde været fuldmægtig, og derfor havde god forståelse over for jødernes love og skikke. Trin for trin modbeviste han anklagerne imod ham. Han erklærede at han ikke havde skabt forstyrrelser i nogen dele af Jerusalem, eller han havde vanhelliget helligdommen: "Ingen har set mig i ordskifte med nogen eller i færd med at samle folkeopløb, hverken i helligdommen eller i synagogerne eller omkring i staden. De kan heller ikke over for dig bevise det, som de nu anklager mig for."