Acts 25

1 Three days after his arrival in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem,

2 where the high priest and Jewish leaders presented their case against Paul. They urged Festus

3 to grant them a concession against Paul by summoning him to Jerusalem, because they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way.

4 But Festus replied, “Paul is being held in Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon.

5 So if this man has done anything wrong, let some of your leaders come down with me and accuse him there.”

6 After spending more than ten days with them, Festus went down to Caesarea. The next day he sat on the judgment seat and ordered that Paul be brought in.

7 When Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, laying against Paul many serious charges that they could not prove.

8 Then Paul made his defense: “I have committed no offense against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.”

9 But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to stand trial before me on these charges?”

10 Paul replied, “I am standing before the judgment seat of Caesar, where I ought to be tried. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well.

11 If, however, I am guilty of anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is no truth to their accusations against me, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”

12 Then Festus conferred with his council and replied, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”

13 After several days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice came down to Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus.

14 Since he was staying several days, Festus laid out Paul’s case before the king: “There is a certain man whom Felix left in prison.

15 While I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and elders of the Jews presented their case and requested a judgment against him.

16 I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand a man over to die before he has had an opportunity to face his accusers and defend himself against their charges.

17 So when they came here with me, I did not delay. The next day I sat on the judgment seat and ordered that the man be brought in.

18 But when his accusers rose to speak, they did not charge him with anything I had expected.

19 They only had some contentions with him regarding their own religion and a certain Jesus who had died, but whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

20 Since I was at a loss as to how to investigate this matter, I asked if he was willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried there on these charges.

21 But when Paul appealed to be held over for the decision of the Emperor, I ordered that he be held until I could send him to Caesar.”

22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man myself.” “Tomorrow you will hear him,” Festus declared.

23 The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the auditorium, along with the commanders and leading men of the city. And Festus ordered that Paul be brought in.

24 Then Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man. The whole Jewish community has petitioned me about him, both here and in Jerusalem, crying out that he ought not to live any longer.

25 But I found he had done nothing worthy of death, and since he has now appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.

26 I have nothing definite to write to our sovereign about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after this inquiry I may have something to write.

27 For it seems unreasonable to me to send on a prisoner without specifying the charges against him.”

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

2 Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him,

3 And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.

4 But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly [thither].

5 Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with [me], and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him.

6 And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought.

7 And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.

8 While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all.

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

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

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

12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.

13 ¶ And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus.

14 And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix:

15 About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed [me], desiring [to have] judgment against him.

16 To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.

17 Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth.

18 Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed:

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

20 And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked [him] whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters.

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

22 Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.

23 And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus' commandment Paul was brought forth.

24 And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and [also] here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.

25 But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.

26 Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to write.

27 For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes [laid] against him.

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

2 Then the chief priests and the chief of the Jews appeared before him against Paul, and exhorted him

3 And they besought favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem: and they pursued after him, and slew him in the way.

4 Then answered Festus, Paul would keep Caesarea, but he would go thither again shortly.

5 Now therefore whichever of you (said he) are able, let them go down with me, and accuse the man, if there be any thing in him.

6 And when he had been with them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea: and the next day he sat in the judgment seat, and sent for Paul.

7 And when he was come before him, the Jews that were come down from Jerusalem stood about, and brought up many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove,

8 While he answered for himself: I have not sinned against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar.

9 And Festus, desiring to show favor to the Jews, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of this before me?

10 And Paul said: I stand before Caesar to be judged: I have done no hurt to the Jews, as thou also knowest well.

11 But if I have hurt any man, and if I have done death, I refuse not to die: but if it be not that they accuse me, no man can deliver me up unto them. I appeal to the emperor.

12 Then Festus consulted with the council, and answered, Thou hast appealed to Caesar, thou shalt go to Caesar.

13 And after some days king Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to receive Festus.

14 And when they had been there many days, Festus laid before the king the bargain of Paul, saying, There is a man taken captive, left by Felix,

15 For which cause the chief priests and elders of the Jews appeared unto me when I was at Jerusalem, and besought me to have him judged;

16 To whom I answered, It is not the manner of Romans that a man should be put to death devotedly, before the accused have received his accusers presently, and room to answer the charge.

17 And when they were come together, I tarried not, and the next day held court, and brought the man forward.

18 From which time the accusers arose, they brought up none of the causes that I have cared for.

19 And they had some questions against him of their superstition, and of one JEsus dead, whom Paul said was alive.

20 And when I understood not the question, I said, Would he go to Jerusalem, and be judged there?

21 But when Paul pleaded that he should be kept by the knowledge of Caesar, I commanded him to be kept, until I should send him to Caesar.

22 And Agrippa said unto Festus, I also would gladly hear the man. And he said, To morrow thou shalt hear him.

23 And the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and entered into the judgment house with the captains and chief men of the city: and when it was called Festus, Paul was brought.

24 And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all ye men that are with us here, behold, he for whom all the multitude of the Jews have enquired of me, both at Jerusalem, and here also, crying out that he should not live any longer.

25 But when I heard that he had done nothing worthy of death, and that he himself had appealed to Caesar, I determined to send him,

26 Of which I have nothing certain to write unto the LORD. Wherefore I have brought it forth before you, and most of all before thee, O king Agrippa, that after I have searched it I may have what I write;

27 For it seemeth to me to be an unadvised thing to send a prisoner, and to show no cause against him.