Acts 25

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

Now, Festus entered the province, and after three days, he went from Caesarea up to Jerusalem.

2 Then the high priest and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul, and they begged him,

The chief priest and the prominent Jews brought accusations against Paul, and they urged him

3 asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem, plotting to kill him on the way.

and asked him for a favor that would put Paul in danger—that Festus might summon Paul to Jerusalem so that they could kill him along the way.

4 However Festus answered that Paul should be kept in custody at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to depart shortly.

Festus answered that Paul was being held at Caesarea, and that he himself was going there soon.

5 “Let them therefore”, he said, “that are in power among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong in the man, let them accuse him.”

“Therefore, those who can,” he said, “should go there with us. If there is something wrong with the man, you should accuse him.”

6 When he had stayed among them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea, and on the next day he sat on the judgment seat, and commanded Paul to be brought.

Festus stayed not more than eight or ten days and then he went down to Caesarea, and on the next day he sat in the judgment seat and commanded Paul to be brought to him.

7 When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing against him many and grievous charges which they could not prove,

When he arrived, the Jews from Jerusalem stood nearby, and they brought many serious charges which they could not prove.

8 while he said in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I sinned at all.”

Paul defended himself and said, “I have done nothing wrong against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.”

9 But Festus, desiring to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and be judged by me there concerning these things?”

But Festus wanted to gain the favor of the Jews, and so he answered Paul and said, “Do you want to go up to Jerusalem and to be judged by me about these things there?”

10 But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also know very well.

Paul said, “I stand before the judgment seat of Caesar where I must be judged. I have wronged no Jews, just as you also very well know.

11 For if I have done wrong and have committed anything worthy of death, I don’t refuse to die; but if none of those things is true that they accuse me of, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!”

Though if I have done wrong and if I have done what is worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if their accusations are nothing, no one may hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar.”

12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you shall go.”

After Festus talked with the council, he answered, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”

13 Now when some days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus.

Now after some days, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay an official visit to Festus.

14 As he stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, “There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix;

After he had been there for many days, Festus presented Paul's case to the king; he said, “A certain man was left behind here by Felix as a prisoner.

15 about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, asking for a sentence against him.

When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against this man to me, and they asked for a sentence of condemnation against him.

16 I answered them that it is not the custom of the Romans to give up any man to destruction before the accused has met the accusers face to face and has had opportunity to make his defense concerning the matter laid against him.

I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to hand over anyone before the accused had faced his accusers and had an opportunity to defend himself against the charges.

17 When therefore they had come together here, I didn’t delay, but on the next day sat on the judgment seat and commanded the man to be brought.

Therefore, when they came together here, I did not wait, but the next day I sat in the judgment seat and I ordered the man to be brought in.

18 When the accusers stood up, they brought no charges against him of such things as I supposed;

When the accusers stood up and accused him, I thought that none of the charges that they brought against him were serious.

19 but had certain questions against him about their own religion and about one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

Instead, they had certain disputes with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus who was dead, whom Paul claims to be alive.

20 Being perplexed how to inquire concerning these things, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there be judged concerning these matters.

I was not certain about how to investigate this matter, and so I asked him if he was willing to go to Jerusalem to stand trial there about these charges.

21 But when Paul had appealed to be kept for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be kept until I could send him to Caesar.”

But when Paul appealed to be kept in custody while awaiting the decision of the emperor, I ordered him to be held in custody until I could send him to Caesar.”

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

Agrippa spoke to Festus, “I would also like to listen to this man.” “Tomorrow,” Festus said, “you will hear him.”

23 So on the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp, and they had entered into the place of hearing with the commanding officers and the principal men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.

So on the next day, Agrippa and Bernice came with much ceremony; they came into the hall with the military officers and with the prominent men of the city. When Festus spoke the command, Paul was brought to them.

24 Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all men who are here present with us, you see this man about whom all the multitude of the Jews petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.

Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all you men who are here with us, you see this man; all the multitude of Jews consulted with me in Jerusalem and here also, and they shouted to me that he should no longer live.

25 But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and as he himself appealed to the emperor, I determined to send him,

I learned that he had done nothing worthy of death; but because he appealed to the emperor, I decided to send him.

26 of whom I have no certain thing to write to my lord. Therefore I have brought him out before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, that, after examination I may have something to write.

But I do not have something definite to write to the emperor. For this reason, I have brought him to you, especially to you, King Agrippa, so that I might have something more to write about the case.

27 For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to also specify the charges against him.”

For it seems unreasonable for me to send a prisoner and to not also state the charges against him.”