Acts 25
1 Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.2 And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul; and they besought him,3 asking a favor against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem; laying a plot to kill him on the way.4 Howbeit Festus answered, that Paul was kept in charge at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to depart thither shortly.5 Let them therefore, saith he, that are of power among you go down with me, and if there is anything amiss in the man, let them accuse him.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.7 And when he was come, the Jews that had come down from Jerusalem stood round about him, bringing against him many and grievous charges which they could not prove;8 while Paul said in his defense, Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I sinned at all.9 But Festus, desiring to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?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.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.12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Thou hast appealed unto Caesar: unto Caesar shalt thou go.13 Now when certain days were passed, Agrippa the King and Bernice arrived at Caesarea, and saluted 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;15 about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, asking for sentence 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 defense concerning the matter laid against him.17 When therefore they were come together here, I made no delay, but on the next day sat on the judgment-seat, and commanded the man to be brought.18 Concerning whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no charge of such evil things as I supposed;19 but had certain questions against him of their own religion, and of one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed 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.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.22 And Agrippa said unto Festus, I also could wish to hear the man myself. To-morrow, saith he, thou shalt hear him.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 principal men of the city, at the command of Festus Paul was brought in.24 And Festus saith, King Agrippa, and all men who 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.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.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.27 For it seemeth to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not withal to signify the charges against him.
Acts 25
Paul Appeals to Caesar
1 Nowt three days after Festuss arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalems from Caesarea.ss2 So the chief priests and the most prominent ment of the Jews brought formal chargests against Paul to him.3 Requesting him to do them a favor against Paul,t they urged Festust to summon him to Jerusalem, planning an ambushs to kill him along the way.4 Then Festuss replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea,s and he himself intended to go theret shortly.
5 “So,” he said, “let your leaderst go down theret with me, and if this man has done anything wrong,t they may bring chargest against him.”
6 After Festust had stayedt not more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea,ss and the next day he satt on the judgment seatts and ordered Paul to be brought.7 When he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him,t bringing many serioust charges that they were not able to prove.t8 Paul said in his defense,t “I have committed no offenset against the Jewish lawts or against the temple or against Caesar.”ts9 But Festus,s wanting to do the Jews a favor, asked Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and be triedt before me there on these charges?”t10 Paul replied,t “I am standing before Caesar’st judgment seat,ts where I should be tried.t I have done nothing wrongs to the Jews, as you also know very well.t11 If then I am in the wrongt and have done anything that deserves death, I am not trying to escape dying,t but if not one of their charges against me is true,t no one can hand me over to them.s I appeal to Caesar!”ts
12 Then, after conferring with his council,t Festuss replied, “You have appealed to Caesar;t to Caesart you will go!”s
Festus Asks King Agrippa for Advice
13 After several days had passed, King Agrippas and Bernice arrived at Caesareass to pay their respectst to Festus.s14 Whilet they were staying there many days, Festuss explained Paul’s case to the king to get his opinion,t saying, “There is a man left here as a prisoner by Felix.15 When I was in Jerusalem,s the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informedt me about him,t asking for a sentence of condemnationt against him.16 I answered themts that it was not the custom of the Romans to hand over anyonet before the accused had met his accusers face to facet and had been givent an opportunity to make a defense against the accusation.t17 So after they came back here with me,t I did not postpone the case,t but the next day I satt on the judgment seatts and ordered the man to be brought.18 When his accusers stood up, they did not charget him with any of the evil deeds I had suspected.t19 Rather they had several points of disagreementt with him about their own religionts and about a man named Jesust who was dead, whom Paul claimedt to be alive.20 Because I was at a losst how I could investigate these matters,t I asked if he were willing to go to Jerusalem and be triedt there on these charges.t21 But when Paul appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of His Majesty the Emperor,t I ordered him to be kept under guard until I could send him to Caesar.”t
22 Agrippas said to Festus,s “I would also like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he replied,t “you will hear him.”
Paul Before King Agrippa and Bernice
23 So the next day Agrippas and Bernice came with great pompts and entered the audience hall,t along with the senior military officerst and the prominent men of the city. When Festuss gave the order,t Paul was brought in.24 Then Festuss said, “King Agrippa,s and all you who are present here with us, you see this man about whom the entire Jewish populacet petitionedt me both in Jerusalems and here,s shouting loudlyt that he ought not to live any longer.25 But I found that he had done nothing that deserved death,s and when he appealedt to His Majesty the Emperor,t I decided to send him.t26 But I have nothing definites to write to my lords about him.t Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa,s so that after this preliminary hearingt I may have something to write.
27 For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner without clearly indicatingts the charges against him.”
