Acts 25

1 Festus therefore having entered into the province, after three days he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.

Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.

2 And the high priest and the principal men of the Jews appeared to him against Paul, and urged him,

Then the high priest and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul, and they urged him,

3 asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem, making an ambush to kill him on the way.

asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem; plotting to kill him on the way.

4 Indeed therefore Festus answered to keep Paul in Caesarea, and he himself was going to go out quickly.

However Festus answered that Paul should be kept in custody at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to depart shortly.

5 Therefore he says, Let the able men among you, after coming down together, accuse him if there is anything in this man.

"Let them therefore," he said, "that are in power among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong in the man, let them accuse him."

6 And after remaining among them more than ten days, having gone down to Caesarea, on the morrow having sat on the judgment seat, he commanded Paul to be brought.

When he had stayed among them more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea, and on the next day he sat on the judgment seat, and commanded Paul to be brought.

7 And when he arrived, the Jews who came down from Jerusalem stood around, bringing many and serious accusations against Paul, which they could not prove,

When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing against him many and grievous charges which they could not prove,

8 while he was defending, Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I transgressed anything.

while he said in his defense, "Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I sinned at all."

9 But Festus, wanting to lay down a favor to the Jews, having answered Paul, said, Are thou willing, after going up to Jerusalem, to be judged there about these things before me?

But Festus, desiring to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem, and be judged by me there concerning these things?"

10 But Paul said, I am standing at the judgment seat of Caesar, where I ought to be judged. I did nothing wrong Jewish, as thou also very well know.

But Paul said, "I am standing before Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also know very well.

11 For if I am indeed wrong, and have done anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die, but if there is nothing of what these men accuse me, no man can give me to them freely. I appeal Caesar.

For if I have done wrong, and have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die; but if none of those things is true that they accuse me of, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar."

12 Then Festus, when he conferred with the council, answered, Thou have appealed Caesar, to Caesar thou will go.

Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, "You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go."

13 Now some days having passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea, greeting Festus.

Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the King and Bernice arrived at Caesarea, and greeted Festus.

14 And as he was remaining there more days, Festus declared to the king the things concerning Paul, saying, There is a certain man who was left behind a prisoner by Felix,

As they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king, saying, "There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix;

15 about whom, when I became in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews revealed, asking judgment against him.

about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the Jewish elders informed me, asking for a sentence against him.

16 To whom I answered, that it is not a custom by Romans to give any man freely for destruction, before the man being accused has the accusers in person, and receives an occasion of defense about the accusation.

To whom I answered that it is not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone before the accused has met the accusers face to face, and has had opportunity to make his defense against the charge.

17 When therefore they assembled here, not having made one delay, next in order, having sat on the judgment seat, I commanded the man to be brought.

When therefore they had come together here, I did not delay, but on the next day sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought.

18 About whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought not one cause of what I supposed,

Concerning whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no charge of such things as I supposed;

19 but had certain issues against him about his own religion, and about a certain Jesus, who has died, whom Paul was claiming to be alive.

but had certain questions against him about their own religion, and about one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

20 And I, being uncertain of the controversy about this man, asked whether he wants to go to Jerusalem and be judged there about these things.

Being perplexed how to inquire concerning these things, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there be judged concerning these matters.

21 But when Paul appealed to be kept for the decision of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept until I might send him to Caesar.

But when Paul had appealed to be kept for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be kept until I could send him to Caesar."

22 And Agrippa said to Festus, I also want to hear the man myself. And tomorrow, he says, thou will hear him.

Agrippa said to Festus, "I also would like to hear the man myself." "Tomorrow," he said, "you will hear him."

23 Therefore on the morrow, Agrippa and Bernice having come with great pomp, and having entered into the courtroom, and with the chief captains and the men of prominence who were of the city, and Festus who commanded, Paul was brought in.

So on the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp, and they had entered into the place of hearing with the commanding officers and principal men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.

24 And Festus says, King Agrippa, and all who are present with us, ye see this man about whom all the multitude of the Jews appealed to me, both at Jerusalem and here, shouting he ought not to live any longer.

And Festus said, "King Agrippa, and all people who are here present with us, you see this man, about whom the whole assembly of the Jews petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.

25 But I, having understood him to have done nothing worthy of death, and also him, this man, having appealed Augustus I decided to send him.

But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and as he himself appealed to the emperor I determined to send him.

26 About whom I do not have anything certain to write to the lord. Therefore I brought him before you, and especially before thee, King Agrippa, so that, an examination having occurred, I may have something to write.

Of whom I have no certain thing to write to my lord. Therefore I have brought him forth before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, that, after examination, I may have something to write.

27 For it seems to me unreasonable, sending a prisoner, and not to specify the causes against him.

For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to also specify the charges against him."