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 priest and the principal men of the Jews made manifest to him [the things] against Paul, and were calling on 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 may send for him to Jerusalem, making an ambush to put him to death in the way.

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

Then, indeed, Festus answered that Paul is kept in Caesarea, and himself is about speedily to go on thither,

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

'Therefore those able among you — saith he — having come down together, if there be anything in 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.

and having tarried among them more than ten days, having gone down to Caesarea, on the morrow having sat upon the tribunal, he 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 he having come, there stood round about the Jews who have come down from Jerusalem — many and weighty charges they are bringing against Paul, which they were not able to 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.”

he making defence — 'Neither in regard to the law of the Jews, nor in regard to the temple, nor in regard to 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?”

And Festus willing to lay on the Jews a favour, answering Paul, said, 'Art thou willing, to Jerusalem having gone up, there concerning these things to be judged 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.

and Paul said, 'At the tribunal of Caesar I am standing, where it behoveth me to be judged; to Jews I did no unrighteousness, as thou dost also very well know;

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!”

for if indeed I am unrighteous, and anything worthy of death have done, I deprecate not to die; and if there is none of the things of which these accuse me, no one is able to make a favour of me to them; to Caesar I appeal!'

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

then Festus, having communed with the council, answered, 'To Caesar thou hast appealed; to Caesar thou shalt go.'

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

And certain days having passed, Agrippa the king, and Bernice, came down to Caesarea saluting 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 continuing there more days, Festus submitted to the king the things concerning Paul, saying, 'There is a certain man, left by Felix, a prisoner,

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, in my being at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews laid information, asking 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.

unto whom I answered, that it is not a custom of Romans to make a favour of any man to die, before that he who is accused may have the accusers face to face, and may receive place of defence in regard to the charge 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.

'They, therefore, having come together — I, making no delay, on the succeeding [day] having sat upon the tribunal, did command 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 the accusers, having stood up, were bringing against [him] no accusation of the things I was thinking of,

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 certain questions concerning their own religion they had against him, and concerning a certain 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, doubting in regard to the question concerning this, said, If he would wish to go on to Jerusalem, and there to be judged 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 Paul having appealed to be kept to the hearing of Sebastus, I did command him to be kept till I might send him unto 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 was wishing also myself to hear the man;' and he said, 'To-morrow 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.

on the morrow, therefore — on the coming of Agrippa and Bernice with much display, and they having entered into the audience chamber, with the chief captains also, and the principal men of the city, and Festus having ordered — Paul was brought forth.

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 men who are present with us, ye see this one, about whom all the multitude of the Jews did deal with me, both in Jerusalem and here, crying out, 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.

and I, having found him to have done nothing worthy of death, and he also himself having appealed to Sebastus, 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.

concerning whom I have no certain thing to write to [my] lord, wherefore I brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, king Agrippa, that the examination having been made, I may have something to write;

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

for it doth seem to me irrational, sending a prisoner, not also to signify the charges against him.'