Acts 25

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

Now upon assuming the province, after three days Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem.

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

Then the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul and started importuning him,

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.

begging a favor from him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem—preparing an ambush to kill him along the way.

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

However Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, he himself being about to go there shortly.

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

He said, “So let those who are competent among you go down with me; if there is anything against this man, let them accuse 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.

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

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

When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem made a circle, bringing against Paul many serious charges that they could not prove,

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

while he defended himself, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar did I commit any sin.”

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, wanting to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul by saying, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to be judged by me there concerning 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.

So Paul said: “I am standing before Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as even you know very well.

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!”

Now if I really am in the wrong and have perpetrated anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die; but if there is nothing to the things of which these are accusing me, no one has the right to give me to them. I appeal to Caesar!”

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

Then Festus, when he had conferred with his counsel, answered: “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you shall 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 passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived in Caesarea to congratulate 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.

Since they were spending many days there, Festus laid Paul's case before the king, saying: “There is a certain man left a prisoner 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.

about whom, when I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, asking for punishment 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 answered that it is not a custom with Romans to deliver any man to destruction before the accused has his accusers face to face and has opportunity for defense against the accusation.

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 assembled here, without any delay, the next day I sat on the judgment seat and commanded the man to be brought.

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

When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge against him of such things as I supposed,

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 issues against him about their religion, and about a certain dead Jesus whom Paul affirmed to be 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 since I was at a loss how to investigate such matters, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and be judged there concerning these things.

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 appealed to be reserved for the decision of the Emperor, I commanded him to be kept until I can 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.

Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I myself would also like to hear the man.” So he said, “Tomorrow you shall hear him.”

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 the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp and entered the auditorium, with the commanding officers and the more prominent men of the city, at Festus' command Paul was brought in.

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 you men who are here with us: consider this man, about whom the whole Jewish community petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, vociferating that it was not fitting for him to live 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 when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, besides he himself having appealed to the Emperor, I decided to 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 nothing certain to write to my lord concerning him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the examination I may have something to write.

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

Because it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner and not to specify the charges against him.”