Acts 25

1 Festus, therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea,

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

2 and the chief priest and the principal men of the Jews disclosed to him [the things] against Paul, and were calling on him,

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

3 asking favor against him, that he may send for him to Jerusalem, making an ambush to put him to death in the way.

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

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

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

5 “Therefore those able among you,” he says, “having come down together, if there be anything in this man—let them accuse him”;

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 and having tarried among them more than ten days, having gone down to Caesarea, on the next day having sat on the judgment seat, he commanded Paul to be brought;

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 and he having come, there stood around the Jews who have come down from Jerusalem—many and weighty charges they are bringing against Paul, which they were not able to 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 he making defense, [said, ] “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.”

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

9 And Festus willing to lay on the Jews a favor, answering Paul, said, “Are you willing, having gone up to Jerusalem, to be judged before me there concerning these things?”

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 And Paul said, “At the judgment seat of Caesar I am standing, where it is necessary for me to be judged; I did no unrighteousness to Jews, as you also very well know;

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 for if I am indeed unrighteous, and have done anything worthy of death, I do not deprecate to die; and if there is none of the things of which these accuse me, no one is able to make a favor of me 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, having communed with the council, answered, “To Caesar you have appealed; 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 And certain days having passed, Agrippa the king, and Bernice, came down to Caesarea greeting Festus,

Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived in Caesarea to congratulate Festus.

14 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,

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 about whom, in my being at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews laid information, asking a decision 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 to whom I answered, that it is not a custom of Romans to make a favor of any man to die, before that he who is accused may have the accusers face to face, and may receive place of defense in regard to the charge laid against [him].

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 They, therefore, having come together—I, making no delay, on the succeeding [day] having sat on the judgment seat, commanded the man to be brought,

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 concerning whom the accusers, having stood up, were bringing against [him] no accusation of the things I was thinking of,

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

19 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;

but had certain issues against him about their religion, and about a certain dead Jesus whom Paul affirmed to be living.

20 and I, doubting in regard to the question concerning this, asked if he was willing to go on to Jerusalem, and to be judged there concerning these things—

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 Paul having appealed to be kept to the hearing of Sebastus, I commanded him to be kept until I might 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 And Agrippa said to Festus, “I was also intending to hear the man myself”; and he said, “Tomorrow you will hear him”;

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

23 on the next day, 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.

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 And Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all men who are present with us, you see this one, about whom all the multitude of the Jews dealt with me, both in Jerusalem and here, crying out, 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 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,

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 concerning whom I have no certain thing to write to [my] lord, for what reason I brought him forth before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, that the examination having been made, 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 to me irrational, sending a prisoner, not to also signify the charges against him.”

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