Acts 25

Three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem.

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

The chief priests and the leading men of the Jews presented their case against Paul to him and appealed to him,

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

Indeed, desired favour opposed to him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.

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

Festus replied that Paul was being kept in custody at Caesarea and that he himself was about to go there shortly.

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

"Therefore," he said, "let those among you who are in authority come down with me, and if there is anything wrong with the man, let them bring charges against him."

KJV 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.

After staying among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. The next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought.

KJV 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.

When Paul appeared, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges that they were not able to prove,

KJV 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.

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

KJV 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.

But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and be tried there before me on these charges?"

KJV 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?

Paul said, "I am standing before Caesar's tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well.

KJV 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.

If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything deserving death, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar."

KJV 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.

Then Festus, after conferring with his council, answered, "To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go."

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

After some days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to welcome Festus.

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

As they were spending several days there, Festus laid Paul's case before the king, saying, "There is a man left as a prisoner by Felix.

KJV 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:

When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews presented their case against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation.

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

I answered them that it is not the custom of Romans to hand over any person before the accused meets the accusers face to face and has an opportunity to make a defense against the charge.

KJV 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.

So when they came together here, I made no delay but took my seat on the tribunal the very next day and ordered the man to be brought in.

KJV 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.

When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge of the kind of crime I was expecting.

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

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

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

Since I was at a loss how to investigate these matters, I asked whether he wished to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding them.

KJV 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.

But when Paul appealed to be held for the decision of the Emperor, I ordered him to be kept in custody until I could send him to Caesar."

KJV 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.

Then Agrippa said to Festus, "I would like to hear the man myself." "Tomorrow," said Festus, "you shall hear him."

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

So the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the audience hall, along with the military commanders and the prominent men of the city. At Festus's command, Paul was brought in.

KJV 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.

Festus said, "King Agrippa, and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish community has petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer.

KJV 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.

But I found that he had done nothing deserving death. And since he himself appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.

KJV 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.

But I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after this examination I may have something to write.

KJV 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.

For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner without also indicating the charges against him."

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