The Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 25
{25:1} Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three
days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. {25:2} Then the high priest
and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul, and they
begged him, {25:3} asking a favor against him, that he would summon
him to Jerusalem; plotting to kill him on the way. {25:4} However
Festus answered that Paul should be kept in custody at Caesarea, and
that he himself was about to depart shortly. {25:5} "Let them
therefore," said he, "that are in power among you go down with me, and
if there is anything wrong in the man, let them accuse him."
{25:6} When he had stayed among them more than ten days, he went
down to Caesarea, and on the next day he sat on the judgment seat, and
commanded Paul to be brought. {25:7} When he had come, the Jews who
had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing against him
many and grievous charges which they could not prove, {25:8} while he
said in his defense, "Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against
the temple, nor against Caesar, have I sinned at all."
{25:9} But Festus, desiring to gain favor with the Jews, answered
Paul and said, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem, and be judged
by me there concerning these things?"
{25:10} But Paul said, "I am standing before Caesar's judgment seat,
where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you
also know very well. {25:11} 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!"
{25:12} Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council,
answered, "You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you shall go."
{25:13} Now when some days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice
arrived at Caesarea, and greeted Festus. {25:14} 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; {25:15} about whom, when I was
at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed
me, asking for a sentence against him. {25:16} To whom I answered 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 defense concerning the matter laid against
him. {25:17} When therefore they had come together here, I didn't
delay, but on the next day sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the
man to be brought. {25:18} Concerning whom, when the accusers stood
up, they brought no charge of such things as I supposed; {25:19} but
had certain questions against him about their own religion, and about
one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. {25:20} Being
perplexed how to inquire concerning these things, I asked whether he
was willing to go to Jerusalem and there be judged concerning these
matters. {25:21} 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."
{25:22} Agrippa said to Festus, "I also would like to hear the man
myself."
"Tomorrow," he said, "you shall hear him."
{25:23} 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 principal men of the city, at the command of
Festus, Paul was brought in. {25:24} Festus said, "King Agrippa, and
all men who are here present with us, you see this man, about whom all
the multitude of the Jews petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here,
crying that he ought not to live any longer. {25:25} 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. {25:26} Of whom I
have no certain thing to write to my lord. Therefore I have brought
him forth before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, that,
after examination, I may have something to write. {25:27} For it seems
to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to also specify the
charges against him."
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