Acts 25
1
Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem
from Caesarea.
2
And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul;
and they besought him,
3
asking a favor against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem; laying a plot
to kill him on the way.
4
Nevertheless Festus answered, that Paul was kept in charge at Caesarea, and that he
himself was about to depart [there] shortly.
5
Let them therefore, says he, that are of power among you go down with me, and if there
is anything amiss in the man, let them accuse him.
6
And when he had tarried among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to
Caesarea; and on the morrow he sat on the judgment-seat, and commanded Paul to be
brought.
7
And when he was come, the Jews that had come down from Jerusalem stood round about
him, bringing against him many and grievous charges which they could not prove;
8
while Paul said in his defense, Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the
temple, nor against Caesar, have I sinned at all.
9
But Festus, desiring to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, Will you
go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?
10
But Paul said, I am standing before Caesar`s judgment-seat, where I ought to be judged:
to the Jews have I done no wrong, as you also very well know.
11
If then I am a wrong-doer, and have committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not
to die; but if none of those things is [true] whereof these accuse me, no man can
give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.
12
Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, You have appealed to
Caesar: to Caesar shall you go.
13
Now when certain days were passed, Agrippa the King and Bernice arrived at Caesarea,
and saluted Festus.
14
And as they tarried there many days, Festus laid Paul`s case before the King, saying,
There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix;
15
about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews
informed [me], asking for sentence against him.
16
To whom I answered, that it is not the custom of the Romans to give up any man, before
that the accused have the accusers face to face, and have had opportunity to make
his defense concerning the matter laid against him.
17
When therefore they were come together here, I made no delay, but on the next day
sat on the judgment-seat, and commanded the man to be brought.
18
Concerning whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no charge of such evil things
as I supposed;
19
but had certain questions against him of their own religion, and of one Jesus, who
was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
20
And I, being perplexed how to inquire concerning these things, asked whether he would
go to Jerusalem and there be judged of these matters.
21
But when Paul had appealed to be kept for the decision of the emperor, I commanded
him to be kept till I should send him to Caesar.
22
And Agrippa [said] to Festus, I also could wish to hear the man myself. To-morrow,
says he, you shall hear him.
23
So on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and they were
entered into the place of hearing with the chief captains and principal men of the
city, at the command of Festus Paul was brought in.
24
And Festus says, King Agrippa, and all men who are here present with us, you behold
this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews made suit to me, both at Jerusalem
and here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.
25
But I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death: and as he himself appealed
to the emperor I determined to send him.
26
Of whom I have no certain thing to write to my lord. Wherefore I have brought him
forth before you, and specially before you, king Agrippa, that, after examination
had, I may have somewhat to write.
27
For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not withal to signify the
charges against him.