Acts 25

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

Festus therefore, having come into the province, 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 principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul; and they besought 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.

asking favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem; laying wait to kill him on the way.

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

Howbeit Festus answered, that Paul was kept in charge at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to depart [thither] shortly.

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

Let them therefore, saith he, which are of power among you, go down with me, and if there is anything amiss in the 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.

And when he had tarried among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and on the morrow 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.

And when he was come, the Jews which had come down from Jerusalem stood round about him, bringing against him many and grievous charges, which 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 Paul said in his defence, Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I sinned at all.

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 gain favour with the Jews, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?

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.

But Paul said, I am standing before Caesar’s judgment-seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou also very well knowest.

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 wrong-doer, and have committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if none of those things is [true], whereof these accuse me, no man can give me up unto them. I appeal unto 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 the council, answered, Thou hast appealed unto Caesar: unto Caesar shalt thou go.

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

Now when certain days were passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea, and saluted 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 tarried there many days, 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 at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed [me], asking for sentence 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 the custom of the Romans to give up any man, before that the accused have the accusers face to face, and have had opportunity to make his defence concerning the matter laid 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.

When therefore they were come together here, I made no delay, but on the next day sat down 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.

Concerning whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no charge of such evil 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 questions against him of their own religion, and of one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

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 I, being perplexed how to inquire concerning these things, asked whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters.

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 had appealed to be kept for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be kept till I should 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] unto Festus, I also could wish to hear the man myself. Tomorrow, saith he, thou shalt 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 on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and they were entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and the principal men of the city, at the command of Festus 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 saith, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ye behold this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews made suit to me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying that he ought not 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 I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death: and as he himself appealed to the emperor I determined 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.

Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I may have somewhat to write.

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

For it seemeth to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not withal to signify the charges against him.