Acts 25
1 Now, Festus entered the province, and after three days, he went from Caesarea up to Jerusalem.
Festus therefore, being come into the province, after three days went up from Cesarea to Jerusalem.
2 The chief priest and the prominent Jews brought accusations against Paul, and they urged him
And the high-priest and principal men among the Jews, appeared before him against Paul, and made application to him,
3 and asked him for a favor that would put Paul in danger—that Festus might summon Paul to Jerusalem so that they could kill him along the way.
begging the favor of him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem; for they were preparing an ambush to kill him by the way.
4 Festus answered that Paul was being held at Caesarea, and that he himself was going there soon.
But Festus answered, that Paul was in custody at Cesarea, and that he himself should go thither soon.
5 “Therefore, those who can,” he said, “should go there with us. If there is something wrong with the man, you should accuse him.”
Therefore, said he, let those of you who are able, go down with me, and if there be any thing bad in this man, let them accuse him.
6 Festus stayed not more than eight or ten days and then he went down to Caesarea, and on the next day he sat in the judgment seat and commanded Paul to be brought to him.
And when he had staid among them more than ten days, he went down to Cesarea, and the next day sitting on the tribunal, he commanded Paul to be brought before him.
7 When he arrived, the Jews from Jerusalem stood nearby, and they brought many serious charges which they could not prove.
And when he was come, the Jews that came down from Jerusalem, stood round about, bringing many heavy charges against Paul, which they were not able to prove:
8 Paul defended himself and said, “I have done nothing wrong against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.”
he answering in his own defence, Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Cesar have I committed any offence.
9 But Festus wanted to gain the favor of the Jews, and so he answered Paul and said, “Do you want to go up to Jerusalem and to be judged by me about these things there?”
But Festus, being desirous to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, Art thou willing to go up to Jerusalem, and there to be tried concerning these things before me?
10 Paul said, “I stand before the judgment seat of Caesar where I must be judged. I have wronged no Jews, just as you also very well know.
Then said Paul, I stand at Cesar's tribunal, where I ought to be tried: I have done no wrong to the Jews, as thou very well knowest.
11 Though if I have done wrong and if I have done what is worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if their accusations are nothing, no one may hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar.”
For if I am indeed doing them wrong, and have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be nothing in what these men accuse me of, no one can give me up to them.
12 After Festus talked with the council, he answered, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”
I appeal to Cesar. Then Festus, conferring with his council, answered, Hast thou appealed to Cesar? to Cesar thou shalt go.
13 Now after some days, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay an official visit to Festus.
And some days after king Agrippa and Bernice came to Cesarea to salute Festus.
14 After he had been there for many days, Festus presented Paul's case to the king; he said, “A certain man was left behind here by Felix as a prisoner.
And as they spent several days there, Festus related Paul's case to the king, saying, There is a man left in custody by Felix: concerning whom,
15 When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against this man to me, and they asked for a sentence of condemnation against him.
when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews appeared in court, desiring judgement against him.
16 I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to hand over anyone before the accused had faced his accusers and had an opportunity to defend himself against the charges.
To whom I answered, it is not the custom of the Romans to give up any man to destruction, till he that is accused have the accusers face to face, and have an opportunity of making his defence concerning the accusation.
17 Therefore, when they came together here, I did not wait, but the next day I sat in the judgment seat and I ordered the man to be brought in.
Therefore when they were come hither, making no delay, I sat on the tribunal the next day, and ordered the man to be brought before me.
18 When the accusers stood up and accused him, I thought that none of the charges that they brought against him were serious.
Against whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no charge of such things as I supposed they would:
19 Instead, they had certain disputes with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus who was dead, whom Paul claims to be alive.
but had certain questions against him concerning their own religion; and of one Jesus that was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
20 I was not certain about how to investigate this matter, and so I asked him if he was willing to go to Jerusalem to stand trial there about these charges.
But I being in doubt as to the dispute concerning these matters, asked him, if he would go to Jerusalem, and there be tried concerning these things.
21 But when Paul appealed to be kept in custody while awaiting the decision of the emperor, I ordered him to be held in custody until I could send him to Caesar.”
But when Paul appealed, to be reserved to the hearing of our sovereign, I ordered him to be kept till I could send him to Cesar.
22 Agrippa spoke to Festus, “I would also like to listen to this man.” “Tomorrow,” Festus said, “you will hear him.”
Then Agrippa said to Festus, I should be willing to hear the man myself. And he said, thou shalt hear him to-morrow.
23 So on the next day, Agrippa and Bernice came with much ceremony; they came into the hall with the military officers and with the prominent men of the city. When Festus spoke the command, Paul was brought to them.
The next day therefore, Agrippa and Bernice coming with much pomp, and entering into the court, together with the chief officers, and men of greatest eminence in the city, at the command of Festus Paul was brought in.
24 Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all you men who are here with us, you see this man; all the multitude of Jews consulted with me in Jerusalem and here also, and they shouted to me that he should no longer live.
And Festus said, "King Agrippa and all that are here present with us, ye see this man, concerning whom all the Jews have applied to me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying out, that he ought not to live.
25 I learned that he had done nothing worthy of death; but because he appealed to the emperor, I decided to send him.
But when I found that he had done nothing worthy of death, and as he himself has appealed to the emperor, I have determined to send him.
26 But I do not have something definite to write to the emperor. For this reason, I have brought him to you, especially to you, King Agrippa, so that I might have something more to write about the case.
Concerning whom I have nothing certain to write to our sovereign: wherefore I have brought him out before you, and especially before thee, O king Agrippa, that after examination is made I may have somewhat to write.
27 For it seems unreasonable for me to send a prisoner and to not also state the charges against him.”
For it seems to me absurd, to send a prisoner and not to signify the crimes laid against him."
