Acts 25

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

Now when Festus had come into the province, after three days he ascended from Cesarea to Jerusalem.

2 and the chief priest and the principal men of the Jews made manifest to him [the things] against Paul, and were calling on him,

Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him,

3 asking favour against him, that he may send for him to Jerusalem, making an ambush to put him to death in the way.

And desired favor against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.

4 Then, indeed, Festus answered that Paul is kept in Caesarea, and himself is about speedily to go on thither,

But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Cesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly [thither].

5 'Therefore those able among you — saith he — having come down together, if there be anything in this man — let them accuse him;'

Let them therefore, said he, who among you are able, go down with [me], and accuse this man, if there is any wickedness in him.

6 and having tarried among them more than ten days, having gone down to Caesarea, on the morrow having sat upon the tribunal, he commanded Paul to be brought;

And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down to Cesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment-seat, commanded Paul to be brought.

7 and he having come, there stood round about the Jews who have come down from Jerusalem — many and weighty charges they are bringing against Paul, which they were not able to prove,

And when he had come, the Jews who came down from Jerusalem stood around, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove;

8 he making defence — 'Neither in regard to the law of the Jews, nor in regard to the temple, nor in regard to Caesar — did I commit any sin.'

While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Cesar have I committed any offense.

9 And Festus willing to lay on the Jews a favour, answering Paul, said, 'Art thou willing, to Jerusalem having gone up, there concerning these things to be judged before me?'

But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go to Jerusalem, and there be judged concerning these things before me?

10 and Paul said, 'At the tribunal of Caesar I am standing, where it behoveth me to be judged; to Jews I did no unrighteousness, as thou dost also very well know;

Then said Paul, I stand at Cesar's tribunal, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.

11 for if indeed I am unrighteous, and anything worthy of death have done, I deprecate not to die; and if there is none of the things of which these accuse me, no one is able to make a favour of me to them; to Caesar I appeal!'

For if I am an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there is none of these things of which these accuse me, no man may deliver me to them. I appeal to Cesar.

12 then Festus, having communed with the council, answered, 'To Caesar thou hast appealed; to Caesar thou shalt go.'

Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed to Cesar? to Cesar thou shalt go.

13 And certain days having passed, Agrippa the king, and Bernice, came down to Caesarea saluting Festus,

And after certain days, king Agrippa and Bernice came to Cesarea, to salute Festus.

14 and as they were continuing there more days, Festus submitted to the king the things concerning Paul, saying, 'There is a certain man, left by Felix, a prisoner,

And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause to the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix:

15 about whom, in my being at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews laid information, asking a decision against him,

About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed [me], desiring [to have] judgment against him.

16 unto whom I answered, that it is not a custom of Romans to make a favour of any man to die, before that he who is accused may have the accusers face to face, and may receive place of defence in regard to the charge laid against [him].

To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before he who is accused hath the accusers face to face, and hath license to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.

17 'They, therefore, having come together — I, making no delay, on the succeeding [day] having sat upon the tribunal, did command the man to be brought,

Therefore, when they had come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment-seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth;

18 concerning whom the accusers, having stood up, were bringing against [him] no accusation of the things I was thinking of,

Against whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation of such things as I supposed:

19 but certain questions concerning their own religion they had against him, and concerning a certain Jesus who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive;

But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

20 and I, doubting in regard to the question concerning this, said, If he would wish to go on to Jerusalem, and there to be judged concerning these things —

And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked [him] whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged concerning these matters.

21 but Paul having appealed to be kept to the hearing of Sebastus, I did command him to be kept till I might send him unto Caesar.'

But when Paul had appealed to be reserved to the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Cesar.

22 And Agrippa said unto Festus, 'I was wishing also myself to hear the man;' and he said, 'To-morrow thou shalt hear him;'

Then Agrippa said to Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To-morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.

23 on the morrow, therefore — on the coming of Agrippa and Bernice with much display, and they having entered into the audience chamber, with the chief captains also, and the principal men of the city, and Festus having ordered — Paul was brought forth.

And on the morrow, when Agrippa had come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and had entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains and principal men of the city, at the command of Festus Paul was brought forth.

24 And Festus said, 'King Agrippa, and all men who are present with us, ye see this one, about whom all the multitude of the Jews did deal with me, both in Jerusalem and here, crying out, He ought not to live any longer;

And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men who are here present with us, ye see this man about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and [also] here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.

25 and I, having found him to have done nothing worthy of death, and he also himself having appealed to Sebastus, I decided to send him,

But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.

26 concerning whom I have no certain thing to write to [my] lord, wherefore I brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, king Agrippa, that the examination having been made, I may have something to write;

Of whom I have no certain thing to write to my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that after examination had, I may have somewhat to write.

27 for it doth seem to me irrational, sending a prisoner, not also to signify the charges against him.'

For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not also to signify the crimes [laid] against him.