Acts 25

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

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

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

There the chief priests and the leading men among the Jews laid an information before him against Paul,

3 asking a favour against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem, plotting to kill him on 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 However Festus answered that Paul should be kept in custody at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to depart shortly.

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

‘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 When he had stayed amongst them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea, and on the next day he sat on the judgement 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 When he had come, the Judeans who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing against him many and grievous charges which they could not prove,

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

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

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, desiring to gain favour with the Judeans, answered Paul and said, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and be judged by me there concerning these things?”

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

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

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!”

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

Festus, after conferring with his Council, answered, ‘You have appealed to the Emperor; to the Emperor you will go.’

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

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

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 Jewish elders informed me, asking for a sentence against him.

about whom, when I came to Jerusalem, the Jewish chief priest and the elders laid an information, demanding judgment 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 defence concerning the matter laid against him.

My answer to them was, that it was not the practice of Romans to give up anyone to their accusers until the accused had met them face to face, and had also had an opportunity of answering the charges brought against them.

17 When therefore they had come together here, I didn’t delay, but on the next day sat on the judgement seat and 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 When the accusers stood up, they brought no charges against him of such things as I supposed;

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

19 but had certain questions against him about their own religion and about one Yeshua, who was dead, 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 Being perplexed how to enquire concerning these things, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there be judged concerning these matters.

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 be put on trial there.

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.”

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

‘I should like to hear this man myself,’ Agrippa said to Festus. ‘You will hear him tomorrow,’ Festus answered.

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 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 Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all men who are here present with us, you see this man about whom all the multitude of the Judeans petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying 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 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 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 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 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 seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to also specify the charges against him.”

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