< Acts 25 >

1 When Festus, having entered upon his government, after three days went up from Cæsarea to Jerusalem.
Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Urishlim from Qesarya.
2 And the chief priest and first men of the Jews informed him against Paul,
Then the high priest and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul, and they urged him,
3 and, asking a favor against him, besought him that he would send and have him brought to Jerusalem, laying a plot to kill him on the road.
asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Urishlim; plotting to kill him on the way.
4 Then Festus answered, that Paul was under guard in Cæsarea, and that he himself would soon depart thither.
However Festus answered that Paul should be kept in custody at Qesarya, and that he himself was about to depart shortly.
5 Therefore, said he, let those among you who are men of influence, go down with me, and accuse this man, if there is any wickedness in him.
"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 he remained among them not more than eight or ten days, and then went down to Cæsarea And, on the next day, he sat upon the judgment-seat, and commanded Paul to be brought.
When he had stayed among them more than eight or ten days, he went down to Qesarya, and on the next day he sat on the judgment seat, and commanded Paul to be brought.
7 And when he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around, and brought many and heavy accusations against Paul, which they were not able to prove,
When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Urishlim stood around him, bringing against him many and grievous charges which they could not prove,
8 he answering for himself: Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Cæsar, have I committed any offense.
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, willing to confer a favor on the Jews, answered Paul, and said: Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged before me concerning these things?
But Festus, desiring to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, "Are you willing to go up to Urishlim, and be judged by me there concerning these things?"
10 And Paul answered: I am standing at the judgment-seat of Cæsar, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you 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 If, however, I be an offender, and have done any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die. But if the things of which these men accuse me are nothing, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Cæsar.
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, after conferring with the council, answered: To Cæsar have you appealed? To Cæsar you shall go.
Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, "You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you shall go."
13 And after some days, King Agrippa and Bernice came down to Cæsarea, to salute Festus.
Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the King and Bernice arrived at Qesarya, and greeted Festus.
14 And as they remained there many days, Festus made known to the king the facts concerning Paul, saying: There is a certain man, who was left in bonds 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 concerning whom, when I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and elders of the Jews informed me, asking for judgment against him.
about whom, when I was at Urishlim, the chief priests and the Jewish elders informed me, asking for a sentence against him.
16 I replied to them, that it is not the custom of the Romans to deliver any man up to death, before the accused has had his accusers face to face, and has had an opportunity to answer concerning the charge that is against him.
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 Therefore, when they had come hither with me, I made no delay; but, on the next day, sat on the judgment-seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth.
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 And when his accusers stood up, they brought no such charge against him as I expected;
Concerning whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no charge of such things as I supposed;
19 but they had certain questions against him, about their own religion, and about a certain Jesus that had died, who, Paul affirmed, was alive.
but had certain questions against him about their own religion, and about one Yeshua, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
20 But, being in doubt about the question concerning this man, I asked him if he would go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged with respect to these matters.
Being perplexed how to inquire concerning these things, I asked whether he was willing to go to Urishlim and there be judged concerning these matters.
21 But when Paul made his appeal, that he should be kept for the judgment of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept, till I could send him to Cæsar
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 could wish to have heard the man myself. He replied: To-morrow you shall hear him.
Agrippa said to Festus, "I also would like to hear the man myself." "Tomorrow," he said, "you shall hear him."
23 Therefore, on the morrow, when Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and entered the place of audience, with the officers and principal men of the city, Paul, at the command of Festus, was brought forth.
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 said: King Agrippa, and all men here present, you see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews, both in Jerusalem and in this place, have entreated me, crying out, that he ought to live no 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 Urishlim and here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.
25 But finding that he had done nothing worthy of death, and as he himself has appealed to Augustus, I have determined 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 Concerning him I have nothing certain to write to my Lord. For this reason, I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, that, after the examination has been held, 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 to send a prisoner, and not to make known the charges that are against him.
For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to also specify the charges against him."

< Acts 25 >