Acts 25

¹And so, when Festus had arrived in the province, after three days, he ascended to Jerusalem from Caesarea.

²And the leaders of the priests, and those first among the Jews, went to him against Paul. And they were petitioning him,

³asking for favor against him, so that he would order him to be led to Jerusalem, where they were maintaining an ambush in order to kill him along the way.

⁴But Festus responded that Paul was to be kept in Caesarea, and that he himself would soon go there.

⁵“Therefore,” he said, “let those among you who are able, descend at the same time, and if there is any guilt in the man, they may accuse him.”

⁶Then, having stayed among them no more than eight or ten days, he descended to Caesarea. And on the next day, he sat in the judgment seat, and he ordered Paul to be led in.

⁷And when he had been brought, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, throwing out many serious accusations, none of which they were able to prove.

⁸Paul offered this defense: “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I offended in any matter.”

⁹But Festus, wanting to show greater favor to the Jews, responded to Paul by saying: “Are you willing to ascend to Jerusalem and to be judged there about these things before me?”

¹⁰But Paul said: “I stand in Caesar’s tribunal, which is where I ought to be judged. I have done no harm to the Jews, as you well know.

¹¹For if I have harmed them, or if I have done anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying. But if there is nothing to these things about which they accuse me, no one is able to deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar.”

¹²Then Festus, having spoken with the council, responded: “You have appealed to Caesar, to Caesar you shall go.”

¹³And when some days had passed, king Agrippa and Bernice descended to Caesarea, to greet Festus.

¹⁴And since they remained there for many days, Festus spoke to the king about Paul, saying: “A certain man was left behind as a prisoner by Felix.

¹⁵When I was at Jerusalem, the leaders of the priests and the elders of the Jews came to me about him, asking for condemnation against him.

¹⁶I answered them that it is not the custom of the Romans to condemn any man, before he who is being accused has been confronted by his accusers and has received the opportunity to defend himself, so as to clear himself of the charges.

¹⁷Therefore, when they had arrived here, without any delay, on the following day, sitting in the judgment seat, I ordered the man to be brought.

¹⁸But when the accusers had stood up, they did not present any accusation about him from which I would suspect evil.

¹⁹Instead, they brought against him certain disputes about their own superstition and about a certain Jesus, who had died, but whom Paul asserted to be alive.

²⁰Therefore, being in doubt about this kind of question, I asked him if he was willing go to Jerusalem and to be judged there about these things.

²¹But since Paul was appealing to be kept for a decision before Augustus, I ordered him to be kept, until I might send him to Caesar.”

²²Then Agrippa said to Festus: “I myself also want to hear the man.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “you shall hear him.”

²³And on the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had arrived with great ostentation and had entered into the auditorium with the tribunes and the principal men of the city, Paul was brought in, at the order of Festus.

²⁴And Festus said: “King Agrippa, and all who are present together with us, you see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews disturbed me at Jerusalem, petitioning and clamoring that he should not be allowed to live any longer.

²⁵Truly, I have discovered nothing brought forth against him that is worthy of death. But since he himself has appealed to Augustus, it was my judgment to send him.

²⁶But I have not determined what to write to the emperor about him. Because of this, I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, O king Agrippa, so that, once an inquiry has occurred, I may have something to write.

²⁷For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner and not to indicate the accusations set against him.”

Acts 25

¹Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days, he went up to Jerusalem from Cesarea.

²And the chief priests and principal men of the Jews went unto him against Paul: and they besought him,

³Requesting favour against him, that he would command him to be brought to Jerusalem, laying wait to kill him in the way.

⁴But Festus answered: That Paul was kept in Caesarea: and that he himself would very shortly depart thither.

⁵Let them, therefore, saith he, among you that are able, go down with me and accuse him, if there be any crime in the man.

⁶And having tarried among them no more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day, he sat in the judgment seat and commanded Paul to be brought.

⁷Who being brought, the Jews stood about him, who were come down from Jerusalem, objecting many and grievious causes, which they could not prove:

⁸Paul making answer for himself: Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I offended in any thing.

⁹But Festus, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, answering Paul, said: Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem and there be judged of these things before me?

¹⁰Then Paul said: I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no injury, as thou very well knowest.

¹¹For if I have injured them or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die. But if there be none of these things whereof they accuse me, no man may deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar.

¹²Then Festus, having conferred with the council, answered: Hast thou appealed to Caesar? To Caesar shalt thou go.

¹³And after some days, king Agrippa and Bernice came down to Caesarea, to salute Festus.

¹⁴And as they tarried there many days, Festus told the king of Paul, saying: A certain man was left prisoner by Felix.

¹⁵About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the ancients of the Jews came unto me, desiring condemnation against him.

¹⁶To whom I answered: it is not the custom of the Romans to condemn any man, before that he who is accused have his accusers present and have liberty to make his answer, to clear himself of the things laid to his charge.

¹⁷When therefore they were come hither, without any delay, on the day following, sitting in the judgment seat, I commanded the man to be brought.

¹⁸Against whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation of this which I thought ill of:

¹⁹But had certain questions of their own superstition against him, and of one Jesus deceased, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

²⁰I therefore being in a doubt of this manner of question, asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem and there be judged of these things.

²¹But Paul, appealing to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept, till I might send him to Caesar.

²²And Agrippa said to Festus: I would also hear the man, myself. To-morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.

²³And on the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice were come with great pomp and had entered into the hall of audience with the tribunes and principal men of the city, at Festus' commandment, Paul was brought forth.

²⁴And Festus saith: King Agrippa and all ye men who are here present with us, you see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews dealt with me at Jerusalem, requesting and crying out that he ought not to live any longer.

²⁵Yet have I found nothing that he hath committed worthy of death. But forasmuch as he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.

²⁶Of whom I have nothing certain to write to my lord. For which cause, I have brought him forth before you, and especially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, examination being made, I may have what to write.

²⁷For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner and not to signify the things laid to his charge.