Acts 25
1 Festus therefore having entered into the province, after three days he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.
Festus, having entered on his duties as governor of the province, two days later went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem.
2 And the high priest and the principal men of the Jews appeared to him against Paul, and urged him,
The High Priests and the leading men among the Jews immediately made representations to him against Paul, and begged him--
3 asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem, making an ambush to kill him on the way.
asking it as a favour, to Paul's prejudice--to have him brought to Jerusalem. They were planning an ambush 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.
Festus, however, replied that Paul was in custody in Caesarea, and that he was himself going there very soon.
5 Therefore he says, Let the able men among you, after coming down together, accuse him if there is anything in this man.
"Therefore let those of you," he said, "who can come, go down with me, and impeach the man, if there is anything amiss in 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.
After a stay of eight or ten days in Jerusalem--not more--he went down to Caesarea; and the next day, taking his seat on the tribunal, he ordered Paul to be brought in.
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,
Upon Paul's arrival, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood round him, and brought many grave charges against him which they were unable to substantiate.
8 while he was defending, Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I transgressed anything.
But, in reply, Paul said, "Neither against the Jewish Law, nor against the Temple, nor against Caesar, have I committed any offence whatever."
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?
Then Festus, being anxious to gratify the Jews, asked Paul, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem, and there stand your trial before me on these charges?"
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.
"I am standing before Caesar's tribunal," replied Paul, "where alone I ought to be tried. The Jews have no real ground of complaint against me, as in fact you yourself are beginning to see more clearly.
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.
If, however, I have done wrong and have committed any offence for which I deserve to die, I do not ask to be excused that penalty. But if there is no truth in what these men allege against me, no one has the right to give me up to them as a favour. I appeal to Caesar."
12 Then Festus, when he conferred with the council, answered, Thou have appealed Caesar, to Caesar thou will go.
Then, after conferring with the Council, Festus replied, "To Caesar you have appealed: to Caesar you shall go."
13 Now some days having passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea, greeting Festus.
A short time after this, Agrippa the king and Bernice came to Caesarea to pay a complimentary visit to 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,
and, during their rather long stay, Festus laid Paul's case before the king. "There is a man here," he said, "whom Felix left a prisoner,
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 went to Jerusalem, the High Priests and the Elders of the Jews made representations to me, begging that sentence might be pronounced 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.
My reply was that it is not the custom among the Romans to give up any one for punishment before the accused has had his accusers face to face, and has had an opportunity of defending himself against the charge which has been brought against him.
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, a number of them came here, the next day I took my seat on the tribunal, without any loss of time, and ordered the man to be brought in.
18 About whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought not one cause of what I supposed,
But, when his accusers stood up, they did not charge him with the misdemeanours of which I had been suspecting him.
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 they quarrelled with him about certain matters connected with their own religion, and about one Jesus who had died, but--so Paul persistently maintained--is now 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.
I was at a loss how to investigate such questions, and asked Paul whether he would care to go to Jerusalem and there stand his trial on 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 appealed to have his case kept for the Emperor's decision, I ordered him to be kept in prison until I could send him up to Caesar."
22 And Agrippa said to Festus, I also want to hear the man myself. And tomorrow, he says, thou will hear him.
"I should like to hear the man myself," said Agrippa. "to-morrow," replied Festus, "you shall." Accordingly, the next day, Agrippa and Bernice came in state
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.
and took their seats in the Judgement Hall, attended by the Tribunes and the men of high rank in the city; and, 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.
Then Festus said, "King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see here the man about whom the whole nation of the Jews made suit to me, both in Jerusalem and here, crying out 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.
I could not discover that he had done anything for which he deserved to die; but as he has himself appealed to the Emperor, I have decided to send him to Rome.
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.
I have nothing very definite, however, to tell our Sovereign about him. So I have brought the man before you all--and especially before you, King Agrippa--that after he has been examined I may find something which I can put into writing.
27 For it seems to me unreasonable, sending a prisoner, and not to specify the causes against him.
For, when sending a prisoner to Rome, it seems to me to be absurd not to state the charges against him."
