The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Apostles 25
1 Festus therefore, having come into
the province, after three days went up to
Jerusalem from Caesarea.
2 Then the high priest and the principal
men of the Jews informed him against
Paul, and they begged him,
3 asking a favor against him, that he
would summon him to Jerusalem, plotting
to kill him on the way.
4 However Festus answered that Paul
should be kept in custody at Caesarea,
and that he himself was about to depart
shortly.
5 “Let them therefore”, he said, “that are
inpower among yougo down withme, and
if there is anything wrong in the man, let
them accuse him.”
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.
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,
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.”
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?”
10 But Paul said, “I am standing before
Caesar’s judgment seat, where I oughttobe
tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as
you also know very well.
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!”
12 Then Festus, when he had conferred
with the council, answered, “You have
appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you shall go.”
13 Now when some days had passed,
King Agrippa and Bernice arrived
at Caesarea and greeted Festus.
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;
15 about whom, when I was atJerusalem,
the chief priests and the elders of the Jews
informed me, asking for a sentence against him.
16 I answered them that it is not the custom
of the Romans to give up any man to
destruction before the accused has metthe
accusers face to face and has had opportunity
to make his defense concerning the matter
laid against him.
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.
18 When the accusers stood up, they
brought no charges against him of such
things as I supposed;
19 but had certain questions against him
about their own religion and about one
Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed
to be alive.
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.
21 But when Paul had appealed to be kept
for the decision of the emperor, I
com- manded him to be kept until I could send
him to Caesar.”
22 Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would
like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,”
he said, “you shall hear him.”
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 the
principal men of the city, at the command
of Festus, Paul was brought in.
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 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,
26 of whom I have no certain thing to
write to my lord. Therefore I have brought
him out before you, and especially before
you, King Agrippa, that, after examination
I may have something to write.
27 For it seems to me unreasonable, in
sending a prisoner, not to also specify the
charges against him.”