[Acts 25]

 

             {July, 61 AD. Paul’s appearance before Festus.}

             ^25:1 Therefore, after three days, Festus stepped into the province, he went-up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. ^25:2 Now the high-priest and the foremost ones of the Jews disclosed to him things against Paul, and they were pleading with him, ^25:3 asking for a favor against him, ^*that he might send for him to come to Jerusalem; making^* a plot to assassinate him in the journey.

             ^25:4 Therefore indeed, Festus answered that Paul is to be kept in Caesarea, but he himself is about to travel out there shortly. ^25:5 Therefore, he says, The mighty ones among you^° have gone-down together-with me. If there is anything evil in this man, let^° them accuse him.

             ^25:6 Now he stayed among them more than ten days, and went-down to Caesarea. On the next-day he sat upon the judicial-seat, and commanded Paul to be led before him. ^25:7 Now after he came^*, the Jews who has come-down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and cruel accusations against Paul, which they were not strong-enough to show.

             ^25:8 Then Paul, making his defense, said, Neither at the law of the Jews nor at the temple nor at Caesar, did I sin in anything.

             ^25:9 But Festus, wishing to lay up a favor for himself with the Jews, answered and said to Paul: After you have gone-up to Jerusalem, are you willing to be judged there concerning these things in front of me?

             ^25:10 But Paul said, I am standing in front of Caesar’s judicial-seat, where it is essential for me to be judged. I was not wronging the Jews, as you also fully well know. ^25:11 For^* if I indeed am wronging anyone, and have practiced anything worthy of death, I do not renounce to die, but if there is nothing of what these are accusing me; no one is able to grant me to them. I myself am appealing to Caesar. ^25:12 Then Festus spoke together with the council and answered, You yourself have appealed to be in front of Caesar, then you will be traveling over to Caesar.

 

             ^25:13 Now after some days elapsed, Agrippa the King and Bernice arrived in Caesarea and greeted Festus. ^25:14 Now as he was staying there many days, Festus submitted to the King, the things according-to Paul’s case, saying, There is a certain man, a prisoner, who has been left behind by Felix; ^25:15 concerning whom, has happened of me {i.e., when I arrived} into Jerusalem, the high-priests and the elders of the Jews disclosed things to me, asking for a sentence against him. ^25:16 To whom I answered, It is not a custom with Romans to grant as a favor any man to destruction, preferably before he who is accused, might have the accusers face to face {Greek: according-to face }, and might receive a chance for defense concerning the accusation.

 

             ^25:17 Therefore, after they themselves came together here, I made^* no postponement of their meeting to the next day, sat upon the judicial-seat, I commanded the man to be led there. ^25:18 Concerning whom, after the accusers stood up, they were bringing no accusation of things as I was perceiving; ^25:19 but they were having some debates with him concerning their own religion and concerning someone named Jesus, who has died, whom Paul was claiming to be living. ^25:20 But being perplexed as to the debate concerning this, I was saying to him, if he might be willing to travel to Jerusalem and to be judged there concerning these things. ^25:21 But after Paul himself 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 But Agrippa was saying to Festus, I was also planning to hear from the man myself.

             Now he says, You will hear him on the next-day.

 

             ^25:23 Therefore, on the next-day, Agrippa and Bernice came with much pomp, and entered into the auditorium together-with both, the commanders and men according-to prominence, who are from the city, and after Festus commanded, Paul was led before him. ^25:24 And Festus says, King Agrippa, and all men who are here together-with us, you^° are viewing this one, concerning whom all the multitude of the Jews petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, crying out it is essential for him to live no longer. ^25:25 But I comprehended for myself that him to have done^* nothing worthy of death, and I decided to send him, since this one himself had also appealed to the Emperor; ^25:26 concerning whom, I do not have any certainty as what to write to my lord. Hence, I led him in front of you^° and especially in front of you, King Agrippa, ^*that, after his examination has happened, I might have something to write. ^25:27 For^* it seems unreasonable to me to be sending a prisoner, and not to signify the accusations against him.