Act 25 | ABEn | STEP | Then Festus, having set foot in the jurisdiction, after three days ascended unto Jerusalem from Caesarea.

Acts 25

CHAPTER 25 Paul Appears before Festus

1 Then Festus, having set foot in the jurisdiction, after three days ascended unto Jerusalem from Caesarea. 2 [⁴revealed ¹And ⁵to him ²the ³chief priest] and the foremost men of the Jews the things against Paul, and they appealed to him, 3 asking a favor against him, that he should fetch him unto Jerusalem, [²an ambush ¹while making] to do away with him along the way. 4 Then Festus responded for Paul to be kept in Caesarea, but he himself was about to quickly go forth. 5 The ones then mighty among you, says he, having gone down too, if anything is out of place in this man, let them accuse him. 6 And having spent time among them [⁴days ¹more ²than ³ten], having gone down unto Caesarea, the next day having sat upon the rostrum, he bid Paul to be led in. 7 [³being come ¹And ²he], there stood around the [³from ⁴Jerusalem ²having come down ¹Jews], with many and grievous accusations bringing against Paul, which they were not able to exhibit, 8 while of his pleading, saying that, Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar in anything I sinned. 9 And Festus, [⁴with the ⁵Jews ¹wanting ³favor ²to lay down], responding to Paul, said, Are you willing [²unto ³Jerusalem ¹to ascend ⁷there ⁸concerning ⁹these things ⁴to be judged ⁵by ⁶me]? 10 [³said ¹And ²Paul], Unto the rostrum of Caesar I am standing, of which it is necessary for me to be judged. To Jews I did no wrong, as also you well realize. 11 [²if ³indeed ¹For] I do wrong, and [³worthy ⁴of death ¹have acted ²in anything], I do not ask pardon to die; but if there is nothing of which they charge me, no one [³me ¹can ⁴to them ²grant]. To Caesar I call upon. 12 Then Festus conversing together with the council responded, To Caesar you have called upon, unto Caesar you shall go.

Bernice and Agrippa

13 [³days ¹And ⁴having elapsed ²some], Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea, saluting Festus. 14 And when [²many ³days ¹they spent] there, Festus the king presented the things relating to Paul, saying, [³man ²a certain ¹There is] being left by Felix, a prisoner; 15 concerning whom on my being in Jerusalem, [⁸revealed ¹the ²chief priests ³and ⁴the ⁵elders ⁶of the ⁷Jews], asking for [²against ³him ¹punishment]. 16 To whom I answered that, It is not the custom with Romans to grant any man for destruction, before the practice the one being accused [⁴face to face ¹may have ²the ³accusers], and [²a place ³of defense ¹may receive] concerning the indictment. 17 [³having come ¹Then ²they] here, [³delay ¹not ²making], in the next day having seated at the rostrum, I bid [³to be led in ¹the ²man]; 18 concerning whom, [³standing up ¹the ²accusers], [²no ³accusation ¹brought] which I suspected; 19 [³matters ¹but ²certain] concerning their own reverence of God they had against him, and concerning a certain Jesus having died, whom Paul maintained to be alive. 20 [³being perplexed ¹And ²I] concerning this inquiry, said, Shall he be willing to go unto Jerusalem, and there to be judged concerning these things? 21 But Paul, having called upon himself to be kept for the inquiry of Augustus, I bid to keep him until of which time I should send him forth to Caesar. 22 And Agrippa [²to ³Festus ¹said], I wanted also myself [²the ³man ¹to hear]. And the morrow, he says, you shall hear him. 23 Then in the next day [⁴having come ¹Agrippa ²and ³Bernice] with much visible display, and having entered into the auditorium, with both the commanders, and men, the ones of prominence being of the city, and Festus having bid, Paul was led in. 24 And Festus says, O king Agrippa, and all the [²being present with ³us ¹men], you view this one concerning whom all the multitude of the Jews interceded with me in both Jerusalem and here, yelling aloud [²must not ³live ¹he] any longer. 25 And I having perceived [³nothing ⁴worthy ⁵of death ¹he ²to have done], [³also ⁴himself ¹and ²this one] having called upon Augustus, I judged to send him. 26 Concerning whom [²anything safe ³to write ⁴to my ⁵lord ¹I have not]. Therefore I led him unto you, and especially unto you, O king Agrippa, so that the examination having taken place, I should have something to write. 27 [³illogical ¹For ⁴to me ²it seems] to send forth a prisoner, and not [²the ⁴against ⁵him ³accusations ¹signifying].