Acts, Chapter 25
{25:1} Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three
days went up to Yerushalayim from Caesarea. {25:2} Then the [1>]Kohen
Gadol[<1] and the principal men of the Yehudim informed him against
Sha'ul, and they begged him, {25:3} asking a favor against him, that
he would send for him to Yerushalayim; plotting to kill him on the
way. {25:4} However Festus answered that Sha'ul was 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 Sha'ul to be brought. {25:7} When he had come, the Yehudim
who had come down from Yerushalayim 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 Yehudim, nor
against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I sinned at all."
{25:9} But Festus, desiring to gain favor with the Yehudim, answered
Sha'ul and said, "Will you go up to Yerushalayim, and there be judged
of these things before me?"
{25:10} But Sha'ul said, "I am standing before Caesar's judgment
seat, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Yehudim,
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 these 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 will go."
{25:13} Now when some days had passed, Agrippa, the King, and
Bernice arrived at Caesarea, and greeted Festus. {25:14} As they
stayed there many days, Festus laid Sha'ul's case before the King,
saying, "There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix; {25:15}
about whom, when I was at Yerushalayim, the chief [2>]Kohanim[<2] and
the Zakenim of the Yehudim 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 have met
the accusers face to face, and have had opportunity to make his
defense concerning the matter laid against him. {25:17} When therefore
they were 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 of their own religion, and of one Yeshua, who was dead, whom
Sha'ul affirmed to be alive. {25:20} I, being perplexed how to inquire
concerning these things, asked whether he would go to Yerushalayim and
there be judged of these matters. {25:21} But when Sha'ul had appealed
to be kept for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be kept
until I should send him to Caesar."
{25:22} Agrippa said to Festus, "I also would like to hear the man
myself."
"Tomorrow," he said, "you will 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, Sha'ul 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 Yehudim petitioned me, both at Yerushalayim 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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Footnotes:
[1] {25:2} high priest
[2] {25:15} priests
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