Acts 25
1 Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.
Festus, having entered on his duties as governor of the province, two days later went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem.
2 Then the high priest and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul, and they urged him,
The High Priests and the leading men among the Jews immediately made representations to him against Paul, and begged him--
3 asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem; plotting to kill him on the way.
asking it as a favour, to Paul's prejudice--to have him brought to Jerusalem. They were planning an ambush to kill him on the way.
4 However Festus answered that Paul should be kept in custody at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to depart shortly.
Festus, however, replied that Paul was in custody in Caesarea, and that he was himself going there very soon.
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."
"Therefore let those of you," he said, "who can come, go down with me, and impeach the man, if there is anything amiss in him."
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.
After a stay of eight or ten days in Jerusalem--not more--he went down to Caesarea; and the next day, taking his seat on the tribunal, he ordered Paul to be brought in.
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,
Upon Paul's arrival, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood round him, and brought many grave charges against him which they were unable to substantiate.
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, in reply, Paul said, "Neither against the Jewish Law, nor against the Temple, nor against Caesar, have I committed any offence whatever."
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, being anxious to gratify the Jews, asked Paul, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem, and there stand your trial before me on these charges?"
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.
"I am standing before Caesar's tribunal," replied Paul, "where alone I ought to be tried. The Jews have no real ground of complaint against me, as in fact you yourself are beginning to see more clearly.
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."
If, however, I have done wrong and have committed any offence for which I deserve to die, I do not ask to be excused that penalty. But if there is no truth in what these men allege against me, no one has the right to give me up to them as a favour. I appeal to Caesar."
12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, "You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go."
Then, after conferring with the Council, Festus replied, "To Caesar you have appealed: to Caesar you shall go."
13 Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the King and Bernice arrived at Caesarea, and greeted Festus.
A short time after this, Agrippa the king and Bernice came to Caesarea to pay a complimentary visit to 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, during their rather long stay, Festus laid Paul's case before the king. "There is a man here," he said, "whom Felix left 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.
about whom, when I went to Jerusalem, the High Priests and the Elders of the Jews made representations to me, begging that sentence might be pronounced 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.
My reply was that it is not the custom among the Romans to give up any one for punishment before the accused has had his accusers face to face, and has had an opportunity of defending himself against the charge which has been brought against him.
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, a number of them came here, the next day I took my seat on the tribunal, without any loss of time, and ordered the man to be brought in.
18 Concerning whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no charge of such things as I supposed;
But, when his accusers stood up, they did not charge him with the misdemeanours of which I had been suspecting him.
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 they quarrelled with him about certain matters connected with their own religion, and about one Jesus who had died, but--so Paul persistently maintained--is now 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.
I was at a loss how to investigate such questions, and asked Paul whether he would care to go to Jerusalem and there stand his trial on these matters.
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 when Paul appealed to have his case kept for the Emperor's decision, I ordered him to be kept in prison until I could send him up to Caesar."
22 Agrippa said to Festus, "I also would like to hear the man myself." "Tomorrow," he said, "you will hear him."
"I should like to hear the man myself," said Agrippa. "to-morrow," replied Festus, "you shall." Accordingly, the next day, Agrippa and Bernice came in state
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.
and took their seats in the Judgement Hall, attended by the Tribunes and the men of high rank in the city; and, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.
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.
Then Festus said, "King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see here the man about whom the whole nation of the Jews made suit to me, both in Jerusalem and here, crying out that he ought not to live any 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.
I could not discover that he had done anything for which he deserved to die; but as he has himself appealed to the Emperor, I have decided to send him to Rome.
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.
I have nothing very definite, however, to tell our Sovereign about him. So I have brought the man before you all--and especially before you, King Agrippa--that after he has been examined I may find something which I can put into writing.
27 For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to also specify the charges against him."
For, when sending a prisoner to Rome, it seems to me to be absurd not to state the charges against him."
