< Acts 25 >

1 Festus, therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea,
When Festus, therefore, was come into the province, after three days, he went up from Cesarea 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,
and the high priest, and the chief among the Jews, appeared before him against Paul, and entreated 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.
that he would send for him to Jerusalem; laying an ambush to kill him by the way.
4 Then, indeed, Festus answered that Paul is kept in Caesarea, and is himself about to go forth speedily,
But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Cesarea, and that he himself would shortly set out for that place:
5 “Therefore those able among you,” he says, “having come down together, if there be anything in this man—let them accuse him”;
therefore, said he, Let those of you who are able, go down with me; and if there be anything criminal in 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;
And, having continued among them more than ten days, he went down to Cesarea; and the next day, sitting down on the tribunal, he 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,
And when he appeared, the Jews, who came down from Jerusalem, stood round about, bringing many heavy accusations against Paul, which they were not able to 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 answered for himself--Neither against the laws of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Cesar, have I committed any offense at all.
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, willing to ingratiate himself with the Jews, answered Paul, and said, Will you go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged before me, 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;
But Paul said, I am standing at Cesar's tribunal, where I ought to be judged. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you know perfectly 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!”
For, if, indeed, I have done wrong, or have committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die; but if there is no fact of which they accuse me, no man can give me up to gratify them! I appeal to Cesar.
12 Then Festus, having communed with the council, answered, “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you will go.”
Then Festus, having spoken with the council, answered, Have you appealed to Cesar? To Cesar you shall go.
13 And certain days having passed, Agrippa the king, and Bernice, came down to Caesarea greeting Festus,
And when some days were passed, King Agrippa, and Bernice, came to Cesarea, to pay their respects to 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,
And as they continued there many days, Festus laid before the king the case of Paul, saying, There is a certain man, left in bonds 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,
concerning whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews, informed me, desiring judgment 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 the custom of the Romans to give up any man, till he that is accused have the accusers face to face, and be allowed an opportunity of making his defense, as to the crime laid to his charge.
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,
When, therefore, they were come hither, I, without any delay, sat down on the tribunal next day, and commanded the man to be brought forth.
18 concerning whom the accusers, having stood up, were bringing against [him] no accusation of the things I was thinking of,
Against whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no charge 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 questions against him, relating to their own religion, and about one Jesus, that was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
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—
But as I was dubious of the question relating to him, I said, that if he were willing, he should go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of 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 Paul, appealing to be kept to the hearing of his majesty, I commanded him to be kept till I could send him to Cesar.
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 also would willingly hear the man myself. And he said, To-morrow 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.
The next day, therefore, Agrippa and Bernice, coming with great pomp, and entering into the place of audience, with the commanders and principal men of the city; at the command of Festus, Paul was brought forth.
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 who are present with us! you see this man, concerning whom all the multitude of the Jews have pleaded with me, both at Jerusalem, and here, crying out that he ought not 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 I could not apprehend him to have done anything worthy of death; yet, as he himself has appealed to his majesty, I have determined 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;
Concerning whom I have nothing certain to write to my master: wherefore, I have brought him out before you all; and especially before you, King Agrippa! that, after examination taken, I may have something to write:
27 for it seems to me irrational, sending a prisoner, not to also signify the charges against him.”
for it seems to me absurd, to send a prisoner, and not to signify the crimes alleged against him.

< Acts 25 >