Acts 25

1 So Festus, having come into that part of the country which was under his rule, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.

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

2 And the chief priests and the chief men of the Jews made statements against Paul,

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

3 Requesting Festus to give effect to their design against him, and send him to Jerusalem, when they would be waiting to put him to death on the way.

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

4 But Festus, in answer, said that Paul was being kept in prison at Caesarea, and that in a short time he himself was going there.

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

5 So, he said, let those who have authority among you go with me, and if there is any wrong in the man, let them make a statement against him.

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

6 And when he had been with them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea; and on the day after, he took his place on the judge's seat, and sent for Paul.

And 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.

7 And when he came, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem came round him, and made all sorts of serious statements against him, which were not supported by the facts.

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

8 Then Paul, in his answer to them, said, I have done no wrong against the law of the Jews, or against the Temple, or against Caesar.

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

9 But Festus, desiring to get the approval of the Jews, said to Paul, Will you go up to Jerusalem, and be judged before me there in connection with these things?

But 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?

10 And Paul said, I am before the seat of Caesar's authority where it is right for me to be judged: I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you are well able to see.

Then 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.

11 If, then, I am a wrongdoer and there is a cause of death in me, I am ready for death: if it is not as they say against me, no man may give me up to them. Let my cause come before Caesar.

For 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.

12 Then Festus, having had a discussion with the Jews, made answer, You have said, Let my cause come before Caesar; to Caesar you will go.

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

13 Now when some days had gone by, King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea and went to see Festus.

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

14 And as they were there for some days, Festus gave them Paul's story, saying, There is a certain man here who was put in prison by Felix:

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

15 Against whom the chief priests and the rulers of the Jews made a statement when I was at Jerusalem, requesting me to give a decision against him.

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

16 To whom I gave answer that it is not the Roman way to give a man up, till he has been face to face with those who are attacking him, and has had a chance to give an answer to the statements made against him.

To 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.

17 So, when they had come together here, straight away, on the day after, I took my place on the judge's seat and sent for the man.

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

18 But when they got up they said nothing about such crimes as I had in mind:

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

19 But had certain questions against him in connection with their religion, and about one Jesus, now dead, who, Paul said, was living.

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

20 And as I had not enough knowledge for the discussion of these things, I made the suggestion to him to go to Jerusalem and be judged there.

I 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.

21 But when Paul made a request that he might be judged by Caesar, I gave orders for him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar.

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

22 And Agrippa said to Festus, I have a desire to give the man a hearing myself. Tomorrow, he said, you may give him a hearing.

And Agrippa said to Festus: I would also hear the man, myself. Tomorrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.

23 So on the day after, when Agrippa and Bernice in great glory had come into the public place of hearing, with the chief of the army and the chief men of the town, at the order of Festus, Paul was sent for.

And 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.

24 And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all those who are present here with us, you see this man, about whom all the Jews have made protests to me, at Jerusalem and in this place, saying that it is not right for him to be living any longer.

And 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.

25 But, in my opinion, there is no cause of death in him, and as he himself has made a request to be judged by Caesar, I have said that I would send him.

Yet 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.

26 But I have no certain account of him to send to Caesar. So I have sent for him to come before you, and specially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the business has been gone into, I may have something to put in writing.

Of 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.

27 For it seems to me against reason to send a prisoner without making clear what there is against him.

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