Acts 25
1 When Festus was then come into the prouince, after three dayes he went vp from Caesarea vnto Hierusalem.
Three days after Festus entered his province, he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem.
2 Then the high Priest, and the chiefe of the Iewes appeared before him against Paul: and they besought him,
The high priest and the Jewish leaders laid charges against Paul before him.
3 And desired fauour against him, that hee would send for him to Hierusalem: and they layd waite to kill him by the way.
They urged him, asking it as a favor, to send for him to Jerusalem. They meant to lay in wait for him and kill him on the way.
4 But Festus answered, that Paul should bee kept at Caesarea, and that he himselfe would shortly depart thither.
But Festus answered that Paul was in custody at Caesarea, and that he himself was going there soon.
5 Let them therefore, saide he, which among you are able, come downe with vs: and if there be any wickednes in the man, let them accuse him.
"Let those then," he said, "who are in authority among you, go down with me, and if there is anything amiss in the man, let them accuse him."
6 Now when he had taried among them no more then ten dayes, hee went downe to Caesarea, and the next day sate in the iudgement seat, and commanded Paul to be brought.
After staying not more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea, and the next day, after taking his seat upon the tribunal, he ordered Paul to be brought.
7 And when hee was come, the Iewes which were come from Hierusalem, stoode about him and layd many and grieuous complaints against Paul, whereof they could make no plaine proofe,
When he came in, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him and brought a number of serious charges against him, which they could not prove.
8 Forasmuch as he answered, that he had neither offended any thing against the lawe of the Iewes, neither against ye temple, nor against Caesar.
Paul said in his defense, "I have committed no crime against the Law of the Jews, against the Temple, or against Caesar."
9 Yet Festus willing to get fauour of the Iewes, answered Paul and saide, Wilt thou goe vp to Hierusalem, and there be iudged of these things before mee?
But Festus, wishing to ingratiate himself with the Jews, answered Paul and said, "Will you go up to Jerusalem and be tried there by me upon these charges?"
10 Then said Paul, I stand at Caesars iudgment seate, where I ought to be iudged: to the Iewes I haue done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.
"I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal," answered Paul, "where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you very well know.
11 For if I haue done wrong, or committed any thing worthie of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof they accuse me, no man, to pleasure them, can deliuer me to them: I appeale vnto Caesar.
"If I am a criminal and have done anything for which I ought to die, I do not object to die. But if none of their charges is true, no man can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar."
12 Then when Festus had spoken with the Council, hee answered, Hast thou appealed vnto Caesar? vnto Caesar shalt thou goe.
Then Festus, after conferring with the council, answered. "You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you shall go."
13 And after certaine dayes, King Agrippa and Bernice came downe to Caesarea to salute Festus.
A short time after this King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus.
14 And when they had remained there many dayes, Festus declared Pauls cause vnto the King, saying, There is a certaine man left in prison by Felix,
And while they tarried many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king. "There is a man here," he said, "whom Felix left a prisoner.
15 Of whom when I came to Hierusalem, the high Priestes and Elders of the Iewes informed me, and desired to haue iudgement against him.
"The chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me about him, when I was at Jerusalem, demanding a sentence against him.
16 To whome I answered, that it is not the maner of the Romanes for fauour to deliuer any man to the death, before that hee which is accused, haue the accusers before him, and haue place to defend himselfe, concerning the crime.
I told them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give any man up for punishment, before the accused had his accusers face to face, and had opportunity of defending himself against the charges that had been brought against him.
17 Therefore when they were come hither, without delay the day following I sate on the iudgement seate, and commanded the man to be brought foorth.
"So when a number of them came together here, I made no delay, but the next day took my seat in the tribunal, and commanded the man to be brought.
18 Against whom when the accusers stood vp, they brought no crime of such things as I supposed:
"But when his accusers stood up, they did not begin charging him with any of the crimes that I was expecting,
19 But had certaine questions against him of their owne superstition, and of one Iesus which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be aliue.
but they kept quarreling with him about certain matters connected with their own religion, and about one Jesus who had died, but whom Paul affirmed over and over was alive.
20 And because I doubted of such maner of question, I asked him whether he would goe to Hierusalem, and there be iudged of these things.
I was perplexed how to investigate such questions, and asked Paul whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters.
21 But because he appealed to be reserued to the examination of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept, till I mght send him to Cesar.
But when Paul appealed to have his case reviewed for the decision of the Emperor, I ordered him to be detained until I could send him up to Caesar."
22 Then Agrippa sayd vnto Festus, I would also heare the man my selfe. To morowe, sayd he, thou shalt heare him.
"I should like to hear the man, myself," said Agrippa to Festus. Festus answered, "You shall hear him tomorrow."
23 And on the morowe when Agrippa was come and Bernice with great pompe, and were entred into the Common hall with the chiefe captaines and chiefe men of the citie, at Festus commandement Paul was brought forth.
So the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and took their places in the hall of audience, accompanied by the tribunes and men of high rank in the city. At the command of Festus Paul was brought in.
24 And Festus sayd, King Agrippa, and all men which are present with vs, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Iewes haue called vpon me, both at Hierusalem, and here, crying, that he ought not to liue any longer.
"King Agrippa," said Festus, "and all men who are present with us, you see here the man about whom the entire body of the Jews at Jerusalem, and here also, sent to me, crying out that he ought not to live any longer.
25 Yet haue I found nothing worthy of death, that he hath committed: neuertheles, seeing that he hath appealed to Augustus, I haue determined to send him.
"I could not find that he had done anything for which he ought to die; but as he himself has appealed to the Emperor, I have determined to send him.
26 Of whome I haue no certaine thing to write vnto my Lord: wherefore I haue brought him forth vnto you, and specially vnto thee, King Agrippa, that after examination had, I might haue somewhat to write.
"Now I have nothing very definite to tell our sovereign about him. So I have brought the man before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, in order that, after examination, I may have something to write.
27 For me thinketh it vnreasonable to send a prisoner, and not to shewe the causes which are layde against him.
"For it does seem to me unreasonable to send a person without signifying the charges against him."
