Acts 25

1 Festus, therefore, having come upon the province, after three days, went up unto Jerusalem from Caesarea;

Now upon assuming the province, after three days Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem.

2 and the High-priest and chiefs of the Jews laid information before him against Paul, and began to beseech him

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

3 asking for themselves as a favour against him, that he would send for him unto Jerusalem, —making, an ambush, 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 Festus, therefore, answered, that Paul should be kept in Caesarea, and that, he himself, was about, shortly, to be going out [thither].

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

5 They, therefore, among you (saith he) who are in power, let them go down with me; and, if there is in the man, anything amiss, 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 And, spending among them, not more than eight or ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and, on the morrow, taking his place upon the judgment-seat, ordered 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 And, when he presented himself, the Jews who, from Jerusalem, had come down, stood round about him, many and grievous charges, bringing against [him], which they were not able to 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 Paul saying in defence—Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I in anything sinned.

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, wishing, with the Jews, to gain, favour, answered Paul, and said—Art thou willing, unto Jerusalem, to go up, and, there, concerning these things, be judged before me?

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—Standing before the judgment-seat of Caesar, am I, where, I, ought to be judged. Unto the Jews, have I done no wrong, as, even thou, right well, art discovering.

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 If then, on the one hand, I am doing wrong, and, anything worthy of death, have committed, I excuse not myself from dying; but, on the other hand, if there is, nothing, in the things whereof these are accusing me, no man, hath power to give, me, unto them as a favour: —Unto Caesar, I appeal!

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, having conversed with the council, answered—Unto Caesar, hast thou appealed? Unto Caesar, shalt thou go.

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

13 And, some days having gone by, Agrippa the king and Bernice came down to Caesarea, to salute Festus.

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

14 And, as they were spending more days there, Festus, repeated, unto the king, the things relating to Paul, saying—A certain man, hath been left behind by Felix, as a prisoner;

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 concerning whom, when I happened to be in Jerusalem, the High-priests and the Elders of the Jews laid information, claiming against him a condemnation:

about whom, when I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, asking for punishment against him;

16 unto whom made answer—That it is not a custom with Romans, to grant as a favour any man, before the accused, face to face, should have his accusers, and, opportunity of defence, should receive, concerning 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, no delay whatever, making, on the next day, taking my place upon the judgment-seat, I ordered 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, taking their stand, his accusers, no accusation at all, were bringing, of the evil things which, I, had been suspecting;

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

19 but, certain questions concerning their own demon-worship, had they against him, and concerning one Jesus, who had died, whom Paul was affirming 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 And, I, being at a loss as to the inquiry into these things, was asking—whether he might be minded to go unto Jerusalem, and, there, be judged concerning these things.

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, Paul, having appealed to be kept for the decision of the Emperor, I ordered him to be kept, until I could send him up unto 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 And, Agrippa, [said] unto Festus—I could wish, myself also, to hear, the man. To-morrow, (saith he) thou shalt 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 On the morrow, therefore, when Agrippa had come, and Bernice, with great display, and they had entered into the audience-chamber, with the captains of thousands and men of distinction of the city, —and Festus had given orders, Paul was brought.

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 saith—King Agrippa! and all ye men, here present with us: Ye observe this person, concerning whom, one and all the throng of the Jews, have interceded with me, both in Jerusalem and here, crying aloud that he ought not to be living 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, I, gathered, that, nothing worthy of death, had he committed; and, this man himself, having appealed unto the Emperor, I decided 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 Concerning whom, anything certain to write unto my lord, I have not; wherefore, I have brought him forth before you, —and especially before thee, King Agrippa! in order that, after examination had, I might have something I could 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, unreasonable, unto me, it seemeth, when sending a prisoner, not also, the accusations against him, to signify.

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