Acts 25

Now Festus, having set foot in the province, went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem after three days.

And the chief priests and the first of the Jews appeared to him against Paul, and they were begging him,

requesting a favor against him, that he might summon him to Jerusalem, making an ambush to kill him along the way. \*

Then Festus answered that Paul was being held at Caesarea but that he himself was about to depart soon.

He said, “Therefore, the powerful among you, having come down together, if there is something wrong with the man, let them accuse him.” \*

And having stayed with them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. On the next day, having sat in the judgment seat, he commanded Paul to be brought.

And when he had come, the Jews having come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges that they were not able to prove,

as Paul was saying in defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I committed any sin.” \*

But Festus, wanting to lay down a favor for the Jews, answering Paul, said, “Are you willing, having gone up to Jerusalem, to be judged before me there about these things?”

But Paul said, “I am standing before the judgment seat of Caesar, where it is necessary for me to be judged. I have done no harm to the Jews, as you also know very well. \*

Therefore, if I am doing harm and have done something worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if {the things} of which they are accusing me are nothing, no one is able to give me to them as a favor. I appeal to Caesar!”

Then Festus, having spoken with the council, answered, “To Caesar you have appealed, to Caesar you will go!” \*

Now after some days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice, having come down to Caesarea, greeted Festus.

And as they were staying there for many days, Festus presented to the king the things concerning Paul, saying, “A certain man has been left a prisoner by Felix,

about whom, when I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews appeared, requesting a judgment against him,

to whom I replied that the custom of the Romans is not to give any man as a favor before the one being accused may have the accusers by face and receive an opportunity of a defense concerning the accusation. \*

Therefore, when they had come together here, causing no delay, the next day, having sat in the judgment seat, I commanded the man to be brought,

about whom the accusers, having stood up, brought no charge of the evils that I was expecting.

Instead, they were having certain disputes with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, having died, whom Paul asserted to be alive.

And I, doubting the investigation about these things, asked if he might be willing to go to Jerusalem and be judged there about these things. \*

But when Paul appealed that he be kept for the decision of the August one, I commanded him to be kept until I might send him to Caesar.”

And Agrippa {replied} to Festus, “I myself was also wanting to hear this man.” “Tomorrow,” he says, “you will hear him.” \*

So on the next day, Agrippa and Bernice having come with much ceremony and having entered into the hall with both chiliarchs and men of distinction of the city, then, having been commanded by Festus, Paul was brought.

And Festus said, “King Agrippa and all the men being present with us, you see this one concerning whom the whole multitude of the Jews petitioned me both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer. \*

But I learned that he had done nothing worthy of death. But this one himself having appealed to the August one, I decided to send him,

about whom I do not have anything definite to write to the lord. Therefore I have brought him before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, the examination having happened, I might have something that I might write.

For it seems unreasonable to me, sending a prisoner and not to signify the charges against him.” \*