Acts 25

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

Three days after Festus had entered upon his province, he left Caesarea and went up to Jerusalem.

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

There the Chief Priests and the leading men among the Jews laid an information before him against Paul,

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

and asked a favour of him, to Paul’s injury — to have Paul brought to Jerusalem. All the while they were plotting to make away with him on the road.

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

But Festus answered that Paul was in prison at Caesarea, and that he himself would be leaving for that place shortly.

5 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.

“So let the influential men among you,” he said, “go down with me, and if there is anything amiss in the man, charge him formally with it.”

6 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.

After staying among them some eight or ten days, Festus went down to Caesarea. The next day he took his seat on the Bench, and ordered Paul to be brought before him.

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

On Paul’s appearance, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem surrounded him, and made many serious charges, which they failed to establish.

8 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.

Paul’s answer to the charge was — ‘I have not committed any offence against the Jewish Law, or the Temple, or the Emperor.’

9 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?

But, as Festus wished to gain popularity with the Jews, he interrupted Paul with the question: “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and be tried on these charges before me there?”

10 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.

“No,” replied Paul, “I am standing at the Emperor’s Bar, where I ought to be tried. I have not wronged the Jews, as you yourself are well aware.

11 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.

If, however, I am breaking the law and have committed any offence deserving death, I do not ask to escape the penalty; but, if there is nothing in the accusations of these people, no one has the power to give me up to them. I appeal to the Emperor.”

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

Upon that, Festus, after conferring with his Council, answered: “You have appealed to the Emperor; to the Emperor you shall go.”

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

Some days later King Agrippa and Bernice came down to Caesarea, and paid a visit of congratulation to Festus;

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

and, as they were staying there for several days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the King. “There is a man here,” he said, “left a prisoner by Felix,

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

about whom, when I came to Jerusalem, the Jewish Chief Priest and the Councillors laid an information, demanding judgment against him.

16 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.

My answer to them was, that it was not the practice of Romans to give up any man to his accusers till the accused had met them face to face, and had also had an opportunity of answering the charges brought against him.

17 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.

So they met here, and without loss of time I took my seat on the Bench the very next day, and ordered the man to be brought before me.

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

But, when his accusers came forward, they brought no charge of wrong-doing such as I had expected;

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

but I found that there were certain questions in dispute between them about their own religion, and about some dead man called Jesus, whom Paul declared to be alive.

20 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.

And, as I was at a loss how to enquire into questions of this kind, I asked Paul if he were willing to go up to Jerusalem, and there be put upon his trial.

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

Paul, however, appealed to have his case reserved for the consideration of his August Majesty, so I ordered him to be detained in custody, until I could send him to the Emperor.”

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

“I should like to hear this man myself,” Agrippa said to Festus. “You shall hear him to-morrow,” Festus answered.

23 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.

So the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come in full state and had entered the Audience Chamber, with the superior officers and the principal people of the city, by the order of Festus Paul was brought before them.

24 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.

Then Festus said: “King Agrippa, and all here present, you see before you the man about whom the whole Jewish people have applied to me, both at Jerusalem and here, loudly asserting that he ought not to be allowed to live.

25 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.

I found, however, that he had not done anything deserving death; so, as he had himself appealed to his August Majesty, I decided to send him.

26 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.

But I have nothing definite to write about him to my Imperial Master; and for that reason I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, that, after examining him, I may have something to write.

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

For it seems to me absurd to send a prisoner, without at the same time stating the charges made against him.”