Acts 25

1 Three days after his arrival in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem,

So Festus, having come into that part of the country which was under his rule, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.

2 where the chief priests and Jewish leaders presented their case against Paul. They urged Festus

And the chief priests and the chief men of the Jews made statements against Paul,

3 to grant them a concession against Paul by summoning him to Jerusalem, because they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way.

Requesting Festus to give effect to their design against him, and send him to Jerusalem, when they would be waiting to put him to death on the way.

4 But Festus replied, “Paul is being held in Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon.

But Festus, in answer, said that Paul was being kept in prison at Caesarea, and that in a short time he himself was going there.

5 So if this man has done anything wrong, let some of your leaders come down with me and accuse him there.”

So, he said, let those who have authority among you go with me, and if there is any wrong in the man, let them make a statement against him.

6 After spending no more than eight or ten days with them, Festus went down to Caesarea. The next day he sat on the judgment seat and ordered that Paul be brought in.

And when he had been with them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea; and on the day after, he took his place on the judge's seat, and sent for Paul.

7 When Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges that they could not prove.

And when he came, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem came round him, and made all sorts of serious statements against him, which were not supported by the facts.

8 Then Paul made his defense: “I have committed no offense against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.”

Then Paul, in his answer to them, said, I have done no wrong against the law of the Jews, or against the Temple, or against Caesar.

9 But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to stand trial before me on these charges?”

But Festus, desiring to get the approval of the Jews, said to Paul, Will you go up to Jerusalem, and be judged before me there in connection with these things?

10 Paul replied, “I am standing before the judgment seat of Caesar, where I ought to be tried. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well.

And Paul said, I am before the seat of Caesar's authority where it is right for me to be judged: I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you are well able to see.

11 If, however, I am guilty of anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is no truth to their accusations against me, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”

If, then, I am a wrongdoer and there is a cause of death in me, I am ready for death: if it is not as they say against me, no man may give me up to them. Let my cause come before Caesar.

12 Then Festus conferred with his council and replied, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”

Then Festus, having had a discussion with the Jews, made answer, You have said, Let my cause come before Caesar; to Caesar you will go.

13 After several days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice came down to Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus.

Now when some days had gone by, King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea and went to see Festus.

14 Since they were staying several days, Festus laid out Paul’s case before the king: “There is a certain man whom Felix left in prison.

And as they were there for some days, Festus gave them Paul's story, saying, There is a certain man here who was put in prison by Felix:

15 While I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and elders of the Jews presented their case and requested a judgment against him.

Against whom the chief priests and the rulers of the Jews made a statement when I was at Jerusalem, requesting me to give a decision against him.

16 I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand a man over before he has had an opportunity to face his accusers and defend himself against their charges.

To whom I gave answer that it is not the Roman way to give a man up, till he has been face to face with those who are attacking him, and has had a chance to give an answer to the statements made against him.

17 So when they came here with me, I did not delay. The next day I sat on the judgment seat and ordered that the man be brought in.

So, when they had come together here, straight away, on the day after, I took my place on the judge's seat and sent for the man.

18 But when his accusers rose to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected.

But when they got up they said nothing about such crimes as I had in mind:

19 They only had some contentions with him regarding their own religion and a certain Jesus who had died, but whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

But had certain questions against him in connection with their religion, and about one Jesus, now dead, who, Paul said, was living.

20 Since I was at a loss as to how to investigate these matters, I asked if he was willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried there on these charges.

And as I had not enough knowledge for the discussion of these things, I made the suggestion to him to go to Jerusalem and be judged there.

21 But when Paul appealed to be held over for the decision of the Emperor, I ordered that he be held until I could send him to Caesar.”

But when Paul made a request that he might be judged by Caesar, I gave orders for him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar.

22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man myself.” “Tomorrow you will hear him,” Festus declared.

And Agrippa said to Festus, I have a desire to give the man a hearing myself. Tomorrow, he said, you may give him a hearing.

23 The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the auditorium, along with the commanders and leading men of the city. And Festus ordered that Paul be brought in.

So on the day after, when Agrippa and Bernice in great glory had come into the public place of hearing, with the chief of the army and the chief men of the town, at the order of Festus, Paul was sent for.

24 Then Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man. The whole Jewish community has petitioned me about him, both here and in Jerusalem, crying out that he ought not to live any longer.

And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all those who are present here with us, you see this man, about whom all the Jews have made protests to me, at Jerusalem and in this place, saying that it is not right for him to be living any longer.

25 But I found he had done nothing worthy of death, and since he has now appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.

But, in my opinion, there is no cause of death in him, and as he himself has made a request to be judged by Caesar, I have said that I would send him.

26 I have nothing definite to write to our sovereign one about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after this inquiry I may have something to write.

But I have no certain account of him to send to Caesar. So I have sent for him to come before you, and specially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the business has been gone into, I may have something to put in writing.

27 For it seems unreasonable to me to send on a prisoner without specifying the charges against him.”

For it seems to me against reason to send a prisoner without making clear what there is against him.