Acts 25
1 Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.
Three days after Festus had arrived in his province, he left Caesarea and went up to Jerusalem.
2 And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul; and they besought him,
There the chief priests and the leading men among the Jews laid an information before him against Paul,
3 asking favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem; laying wait to kill him on the way.
and asked a favor of him, to Paul’s injury – to have Paul brought to Jerusalem. All the while they were plotting to make away with him on the road.
4 Howbeit Festus answered, that Paul was kept in charge at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to depart [thither] shortly.
But Festus answered that Paul was in prison at Caesarea, and that he himself would be leaving for that place shortly.
5 Let them therefore, saith he, which are of power among you, go down with me, and if there is anything amiss in the man, let them accuse him.
“So let the influential men among you,” he said, “go down with me, and if there is anything amiss in the man, charge him formally with it.”
6 And when he had tarried among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and on the morrow he sat on the judgment-seat, and commanded Paul to be brought.
After staying among them some eight or ten days, Festus went down to Caesarea. The next day he took his seat on the Bench, and ordered Paul to be brought before him.
7 And when he was come, the Jews which had come down from Jerusalem stood round about him, bringing against him many and grievous charges, which they could not prove;
On Paul’s appearance, the Jewish leaders who had come down from Jerusalem surrounded him, and made many serious charges, which they failed to establish.
8 while Paul said in his defence, Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I sinned at all.
Paul’s answer to the charge was – ‘I have not committed any offense against the Jewish Law, or the Temple, or the Emperor.’
9 But Festus, desiring to gain favour with the Jews, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?
But, as Festus wished to gain popularity with the Jews, he interrupted Paul with the question, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and be tried on these charges before me there?”
10 But Paul said, I am standing before Caesar’s judgment-seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou also very well knowest.
“No,” replied Paul, “I am standing at the Emperor’s court, where I ought to be tried. I have not wronged the Jews, as you yourself are well aware.
11 If then I am a wrong-doer, and have committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if none of those things is [true], whereof these accuse me, no man can give me up unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.
If, however, I am breaking the law and have committed any offense deserving death, I do not ask to escape the penalty; but, if there is nothing in the accusations of these people, no one has the power to give me up to them. I appeal to the Emperor.”
12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Thou hast appealed unto Caesar: unto Caesar shalt thou go.
Festus, after conferring with his Council, answered, “You have appealed to the Emperor; to the Emperor you will go.”
13 Now when certain days were passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea, and saluted Festus.
Some days later King Agrippa and Bernice came down to Caesarea, and paid a visit of congratulation to Festus;
14 And as they tarried there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix:
and, as they were staying there for several days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king. “There is a man here,” he said, “left a prisoner by Felix,
15 about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed [me], asking for sentence against him.
about whom, when I came to Jerusalem, the Jewish chief priest and the elders laid an information, demanding judgment against him.
16 To whom I answered, that it is not the custom of the Romans to give up any man, before that the accused have the accusers face to face, and have had opportunity to make his defence concerning the matter laid against him.
My answer to them was, that it was not the practice of Romans to give up anyone to their accusers until the accused had met them face to face, and had also had an opportunity of answering the charges brought against them.
17 When therefore they were come together here, I made no delay, but on the next day sat down on the judgment-seat, and commanded the man to be brought.
So they met here, and without loss of time I took my seat on the Bench the very next day, and ordered the man to be brought before me.
18 Concerning whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no charge of such evil things as I supposed;
But, when his accusers came forward, they brought no charge of wrongdoing such as I had expected;
19 but had certain questions against him of their own religion, and of one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
but I found that there were certain questions in dispute between them about their own religion, and about some dead man called Jesus, whom Paul declared to be alive.
20 And I, being perplexed how to inquire concerning these things, asked whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters.
And, as I was at a loss how to enquire into questions of this kind, I asked Paul if he were willing to go up to Jerusalem, and be put on trial there.
21 But when Paul had appealed to be kept for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be kept till I should send him to Caesar.
Paul, however, appealed to have his case reserved for the consideration of his August Majesty, so I ordered him to be detained in custody, until I could send him to the Emperor.”
22 And Agrippa [said] unto Festus, I also could wish to hear the man myself. Tomorrow, saith he, thou shalt hear him.
“I should like to hear this man myself,” Agrippa said to Festus. “You will hear him tomorrow,” Festus answered.
23 So on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and they were entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and the principal men of the city, at the command of Festus Paul was brought in.
So the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come in full state and had entered the Audience Chamber, with the superior officers and the principal people of the city, by the order of Festus Paul was brought before them.
24 And Festus saith, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ye behold this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews made suit to me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.
Then Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all here present, you see before you the man about whom the whole Jewish people have applied to me, both at Jerusalem and here, loudly asserting that he ought not to be allowed to live.
25 But I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death: and as he himself appealed to the emperor I determined to send him.
I found, however, that he had not done anything deserving death; so, as he had himself appealed to his August Majesty, I decided to send him.
26 Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I may have somewhat to write.
But I have nothing definite to write about him to my Imperial Master; and for that reason I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, that, after examining him, I may have something to write.
27 For it seemeth to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not withal to signify the charges against him.
For it seems to me absurd to send a prisoner, without at the same time stating the charges made against him.”
