Acts 25

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

Three days after Festus entered his province, he 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 priest and the Jewish leaders laid charges against Paul before him.

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

They urged him, asking it as a favor, to send for him to Jerusalem. They meant to lay in wait for him and 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.

But Festus answered that Paul was in custody at Caesarea, and that he himself was going there 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."

"Let those then," he said, "who are in authority among you, go down with me, and if there is anything amiss in the 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.

After staying not more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea, and the next day, after taking his seat upon the tribunal, he ordered 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,

When he came in, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him and brought a number of serious charges against him, which 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."

Paul said in his defense, "I have committed no crime against the Law of the Jews, against the Temple, or against Caesar."

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?"

But Festus, wishing to ingratiate himself with the Jews, answered Paul and said, "Will you go up to Jerusalem and be tried there by me upon 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," answered Paul, "where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you very well know.

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 I am a criminal and have done anything for which I ought to die, I do not object to die. But if none of their charges is true, no man can give me up 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 will go."

Then Festus, after conferring with the council, 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.

A short time after this King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to pay their respects 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 while they tarried many days, 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.

"The chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me about him, when I was at Jerusalem, demanding a sentence 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.

I told them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give any man up for punishment, before the accused had his accusers face to face, and had opportunity of defending himself against the charges that had 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.

"So when a number of them came together here, I made no delay, but the next day took my seat in 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;

"But when his accusers stood up, they did not begin charging him with any of the crimes that I was expecting,

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 kept quarreling with him about certain matters connected with their own religion, and about one Jesus who had died, but whom Paul affirmed over and over was 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 perplexed how to investigate such questions, and asked Paul whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of 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 reviewed for the decision of the Emperor, I ordered him to be detained 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 Festus. Festus answered, "You shall hear him tomorrow."

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 Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and took their places in the hall of audience, accompanied by the tribunes and men of high rank in the city. 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.

"King Agrippa," said Festus, "and all men who are present with us, you see here the man about whom the entire body of the Jews at Jerusalem, and here also, sent to me, 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 find that he had done anything for which he ought to die; but as he himself has appealed to the Emperor, 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.

"Now I have nothing very definite to tell our sovereign about him. So I have brought the man before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, in order that, after 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."

"For it does seem to me unreasonable to send a person without signifying the charges against him."