Acts 25

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

WHEN Festus then was come into the province, after three days he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.

2 Then the high priest and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul, and they urged him,

And the high-priest and the principal persons among the Jews informed him against Paul, and entreated him,

3 asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem; plotting to kill him on the way.

begging it as a favour from him, that he would send him back to Jerusalem, lying in wait for him to kill him on the road.

4 However Festus answered that Paul should be kept in custody at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to depart shortly.

Then Festus answered, that Paul should be kept in custody at Caesarea, and that he himself was going thither shortly.

5 "Let them therefore," he said, "that are in power among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong in the man, let them accuse him."

Let therefore, said he, those among you who are able, go down with me, and accuse him, if there be anything criminal in this man.

6 When he had stayed among them more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea, and on the next day he sat on the judgment seat, and commanded Paul to be brought.

And after staying with them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea; and on the morrow seated on the bench, commanded Paul to be brought.

7 When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing against him many and grievous charges which they could not prove,

And on his appearing, the Jews who came down from Jerusalem surrounded him, and laid many and heavy accusations against Paul, which they were not able to prove.

8 while he said in his defense, "Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I sinned at all."

But he pleaded in his defence, That neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I committed the least offence.

9 But Festus, desiring to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem, and be judged by me there concerning these things?"

Then Festus, desirous of ingratiating himself with the Jews, replying to Paul, said, Wilt thou go up unto Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?

10 But Paul said, "I am standing before Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also know very well.

Then said Paul, I am standing before the tribunal of Caesar, where I have a right to be judged: against the Jews I have committed no offence, as thou also clearly perceivest.

11 For if I have done wrong, and have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die; but if none of those things is true that they accuse me of, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar."

For indeed if I have committed any crime, or done aught worthy of death, I object not to be put to death: but if there is nothing in those things whereof they accuse me, no man dare gratify them by abandoning me to them.

12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, "You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go."

I appeal unto Caesar. Then Festus, after conferring with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed to Caesar? to Caesar shalt thou go.

13 Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the King and Bernice arrived at Caesarea, and greeted Festus.

Now when some days were passed, Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to salute Festus.

14 As they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king, saying, "There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix;

And as their stay there was extended to a considerable time, Festus communicated to the king Paul’s affairs, saying, There is a certain man left by Felix, a prisoner:

15 about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the Jewish elders informed me, asking for a sentence against him.

against whom when I was at Jerusalem, the high-priest and the elders of the Jews appeared, desiring judgment against him.

16 To whom I answered that it is not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone before the accused has met the accusers face to face, and has had opportunity to make his defense against the charge.

To whom I replied, That it was not customary for Romans to give up any man gratuitously to destruction, before that the person accused should have his accusers produced face to face, and be allowed opportunity to defend himself against the charge.

17 When therefore they had come together here, I did not delay, but on the next day sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought.

When therefore they were come here together, making no demur, the very next day I sat on the tribunal, and commanded the man to be brought.

18 Concerning whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no charge of such things as I supposed;

Against whom his accusers standing forth, brought no charge of such things as I expected:

19 but had certain questions against him about their own religion, and about one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

but only pleaded against him certain disputes about their own mode of religious worship, and about one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

20 Being perplexed how to inquire concerning these things, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there be judged concerning these matters.

But being in doubt respecting a question of this sort, I demanded if he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things.

21 But when Paul had appealed to be kept for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be kept until I could send him to Caesar."

But Paul appealing that he should be reserved for the cognizance of Augustus, I ordered him to be kept in custody until I should send him to Caesar.

22 Agrippa said to Festus, "I also would like to hear the man myself." "Tomorrow," he said, "you will hear him."

Then Agrippa said to Festus, I wish also myself to hear the man. He said, To-morrow thou shalt hear him.

23 So on the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp, and they had entered into the place of hearing with the commanding officers and principal men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.

On the morrow therefore, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with a very splendid retinue, and were entered into the place of audience, with the military tribunes, and the men of superior eminence in the city, then at the order of Festus Paul was produced.

24 And Festus said, "King Agrippa, and all people who are here present with us, you see this man, about whom the whole assembly of the Jews petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.

And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all you, sirs, who are present with us, behold the man, concerning whom the whole multitude of the Jews have set upon me, both at Jerusalem and in this place, clamouring that he ought not to live a moment longer.

25 But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and as he himself appealed to the emperor I determined to send him.

But finding on inquiry that he had done nothing worthy of death, and he himself indeed having appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.

26 Of whom I have no certain thing to write to my lord. Therefore I have brought him forth before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, that, after examination, I may have something to write.

Respecting whom I have nothing determinate to write to my sovereign. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and especially before thee, king Agrippa, that on a fresh examination taken, I might have something to write.

27 For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to also specify the charges against him."

For it appears to me highly unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not also signify the charges against him.