Acts 25
1 Festus, having entered on his duties as governor of the province, two days later went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem.
Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.
2 The High Priests and the leading men among the Jews immediately made representations to him against Paul, and begged him--
Then the cohen hagadol and the principal men of the Judeans informed him against Paul, and they urged him,
3 asking it as a favour, to Paul's prejudice--to have him brought to Jerusalem. They were planning an ambush to kill him on the way.
asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem; plotting to kill him on the way.
4 Festus, however, replied that Paul was in custody in Caesarea, and that he was himself going there very soon.
However Festus answered that Paul should be kept in custody at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to depart shortly.
5 "Therefore let those of you," he said, "who can come, go down with me, and impeach the man, if there is anything amiss in him."
"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."
6 After a stay of eight or ten days in Jerusalem--not more--he went down to Caesarea; and the next day, taking his seat on the tribunal, he ordered Paul to be brought in.
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.
7 Upon Paul's arrival, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood round him, and brought many grave charges against him which they were unable to substantiate.
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,
8 But, in reply, Paul said, "Neither against the Jewish Law, nor against the Temple, nor against Caesar, have I committed any offence whatever."
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."
9 Then Festus, being anxious to gratify the Jews, asked Paul, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem, and there stand your trial before me on these charges?"
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?"
10 "I am standing before Caesar's tribunal," replied Paul, "where alone I ought to be tried. The Jews have no real ground of complaint against me, as in fact you yourself are beginning to see more clearly.
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.
11 If, however, I have done wrong and have committed any offence for which I deserve to die, I do not ask to be excused that penalty. But if there is no truth in what these men allege against me, no one has the right to give me up to them as a favour. I appeal to Caesar."
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."
12 Then, after conferring with the Council, Festus replied, "To Caesar you have appealed: to Caesar you shall go."
Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, "You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you shall go."
13 A short time after this, Agrippa the king and Bernice came to Caesarea to pay a complimentary visit to Festus;
Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the King and Bernice arrived at Caesarea, and greeted Festus.
14 and, during their rather long stay, Festus laid Paul's case before the king. "There is a man here," he said, "whom Felix left a prisoner,
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;
15 about whom, when I went to Jerusalem, the High Priests and the Elders of the Jews made representations to me, begging that sentence might be pronounced against him.
about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief cohanim and the Jewish elders informed me, asking for a sentence against him.
16 My reply was that it is not the custom among the Romans to give up any one for punishment before the accused has had his accusers face to face, and has had an opportunity of defending himself against the charge which has been brought against him.
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.
17 "When, therefore, a number of them came here, the next day I took my seat on the tribunal, without any loss of time, and ordered the man to be brought in.
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.
18 But, when his accusers stood up, they did not charge him with the misdemeanours of which I had been suspecting him.
Concerning whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no charge of such things as I supposed;
19 But they quarrelled with him about certain matters connected with their own religion, and about one Jesus who had died, but--so Paul persistently maintained--is now alive.
but had certain questions against him about their own religion, and about one Yeshua, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
20 I was at a loss how to investigate such questions, and asked Paul whether he would care to go to Jerusalem and there stand his trial on these matters.
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.
21 But when Paul appealed to have his case kept for the Emperor's decision, I ordered him to be kept in prison until I could send him up to Caesar."
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."
22 "I should like to hear the man myself," said Agrippa. "to-morrow," replied Festus, "you shall." Accordingly, the next day, Agrippa and Bernice came in state
Agrippa said to Festus, "I also would like to hear the man myself." "Tomorrow," he said, "you shall hear him."
23 and took their seats in the Judgement Hall, attended by the Tribunes and the men of high rank in the city; and, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.
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.
24 Then Festus said, "King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see here the man about whom the whole nation of the Jews made suit to me, both in Jerusalem and here, crying out that he ought not to live any longer.
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.
25 I could not discover that he had done anything for which he deserved to die; but as he has himself appealed to the Emperor, I have decided to send him to Rome.
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.
26 I have nothing very definite, however, to tell our Sovereign about him. So I have brought the man before you all--and especially before you, King Agrippa--that after he has been examined I may find something which I can put into writing.
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.
27 For, when sending a prisoner to Rome, it seems to me to be absurd not to state the charges against him."
For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to also specify the charges against him."
