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 Then the cohen hagadol and the principal men of the Judeans informed him against Paul, and they urged him,

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

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

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

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

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

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 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.

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 When he had come, the Judeans who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing against him many and grievous charges which they could not 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 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."

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

9 But Festus, desiring to gain favor with the Judeans, answered Paul and said, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem, and be judged by 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 But Paul said, "I am standing before Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Judeans, as you also know very well.

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 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."

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, when he had conferred with the council, answered, "You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you shall go."

Then Festus, when he had conferred with his counsel, answered: “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you shall go!”

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

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

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, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief cohanim and the Jewish elders informed me, asking for a sentence 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 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 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 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.

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

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

19 but had certain questions against him about their own religion, and about one Yeshua, 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 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.

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 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 be reserved for the decision of the Emperor, I commanded him to be kept until I can send him to Caesar.”

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

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 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 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 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 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 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.

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 unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to also specify the charges against him."

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