Acts 25

Previous chapter Index Next chapter
1 Festus was come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.
2 Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews to him [c] [complain] against Paul, and besought him,
3 I am asking him to do a favor, for him to Jerusalem; and an ambush to kill him on the road.
4 But Festus answered, that Paul found in Caesarea in custody and that he himself would depart shortly thither.
5 So, he said, that one of you may go down with me, and if there is anything about the man, let them accuse him.
6 He had tarried among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea, and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought.
7 When he appeared, they stood round about the Jews who came from Jerusalem, bringing against Paul, and many serious charges which they could not prove.
8 And he answered for himself, said, I have not done any crime either against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar.
9 But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered and said to Paul: Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged before me in this?
10 Paul said: I stand at Caesar, where I ought to be judged. Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.
eleven For if I am wrong and have done anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die; and if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me to them. I demand appealed to Caesar.
12 Then Festus, having spoken with the council, answered: Hast thou appealed to Caesar, to Caesar and went.

13 A few days later King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to salute Festus.
14 And when they had been there many days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king, saying, [there] is a man left prisoner by Felix,
15 About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, [to complain] priests and the elders of the Jews, demanding his conviction.
16 I answered them that is not the custom of the Romans to give kakogo-- any man to die, before that the accused will have the accusers face to face and get the freedom to defend themselves against the charges.
17 When they came here, then, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man.
18 Surrounded him, prosecutors have brought no accusation of such things as I supposed;
19 But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus deceased, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
20 Making it difficult to address this question, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem and there be judged of these matters?
21 But Paul insisted that he left the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar.
22 Agrippa said to Festus: I would also hear the man. Tomorrow, he replied, you shall hear him.
23 The next day, when Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the Court of Justice with thousands and noble citizens, at Festus' commandment Paul was brought forth.
24 And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men present with us! you see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer.
25 But I found that he had done nothing worthy of death; and as he himself appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him [to it].
26 I have no certain thing to write unto my lord Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, that, after examination, I may have something to write.
27 For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not show the charges against him.

Previous chapter Index Next chapter