Acts 25:3-22
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 25
3requesting a concession against Paul, that he might have him brought to Jerusalem ( at the same time, setting an ambush to kill him on the way). 4Festus then answered that Paul was being kept in custody in Caesarea, and that he himself was about to leave shortly. 5Therefore,' he *said, 'have the influential men among you go there with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, have them bring charges against him.'
6After Festus had spent no more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea, and on the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered that Paul be brought.
7After Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many, and serious, charges against him which they could not prove,
8while Paul said in his own defense, 'I have not done anything wrong either against the Law of the Jews, or against the temple, or against Caesar.'
9But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, replied to Paul and said, 'Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me on these charges?'
10But Paul said, 'I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you also very well know.
11If, therefore, I am in the wrong and have committed something deserving death, I am not trying to avoid execution; but if there is nothing to the accusations which these men are bringing against me, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar.'
12Then when Festus had conferred with his council, he answered, 'You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you shall go.'
13Now when several days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea, paying their respects to Festus.
14And while they were spending many days there, Festus presented Paul’s case to the king, saying, 'There is a man who was left as a prisoner by Felix;
15and when I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him.
16I replied to them that it is not the custom of the Romans to hand over any person before the accused meets his accusers face to face, and has an opportunity to make his defense against the charges.
17So after they had assembled here, I did not delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered that the man be brought.
18When the accusers stood up, they did not begin bringing any charges against him of crimes that I suspected,
19but they simply had some points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a dead man, Jesus, whom Paul asserted to be alive.
20And being at a loss how to investigate such matters, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial there on these matters.
21But when Paul appealed to be held in custody for the Emperor’s decision, I ordered that he be kept in custody until I send him to Caesar.'
22Then Agrippa said to Festus, 'I also would like to hear the man myself.' 'Tomorrow,' he *said, 'you shall hear him.'
King James Version
Chapter 25
3And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him. 4But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither. 5Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him.
6And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought.
7And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.
8While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all.
9But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?
10Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.
11For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.
12Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.
13And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus.
14And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix:
15About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him.
16To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.
17Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth.
18Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed:
19But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
20And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters.
21But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar.
22Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 25
3asking for a favor against Paul, that Festus summon him to Jerusalem. They were, in fact, preparing an ambush along the road to kill him. 4Festus, however, answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to go there shortly. 5"Therefore," he said, "let those of you who have authority go down with me and accuse him, if he has done anything wrong."
6When he had spent not more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea. The next day, seated at the tribunal, he commanded Paul to be brought in.
7When he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him and brought many serious charges that they were not able to prove.
8Then Paul made his defense: "Neither against the Jewish law, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I sinned in any way."
10Paul replied: "I am standing at Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as even you yourself know very well.
11If then I did anything wrong and am deserving of death, I am not trying to escape death; but if there is nothing to what these men accuse me of, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!"
13Several days later, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea and paid a courtesy call on Festus.
14Since they were staying there several days, Festus presented Paul’s case to the king, saying, "There’s a man who was left as a prisoner by Felix.
15When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews presented their case and asked that he be condemned.
16I answered them that it is not the Roman custom to give someone up before the accused faces the accusers and has an opportunity for a defense against the charges.
17So when they had assembled here, I did not delay. The next day I took my seat at the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought in.
18The accusers stood up but brought no charge against him of the evils I was expecting.
19Instead they had some disagreements with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, a dead man Paul claimed to be alive.
20Since I was at a loss in a dispute over such things, I asked him if he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding these matters.
21But when Paul appealed to be held for trial by the Emperor, I ordered him to be kept in custody until I could send him to Caesar."
New Living Translation
Chapter 25
3They asked Festus as a favor to transfer Paul to Jerusalem (planning to ambush and kill him on the way). 4But Festus replied that Paul was at Caesarea and he himself would be returning there soon. 5So he said, 'Those of you in authority can return with me. If Paul has done anything wrong, you can make your accusations.'
6About eight or ten days later Festus returned to Caesarea, and on the following day he took his seat in court and ordered that Paul be brought in.
7When Paul arrived, the Jewish leaders from Jerusalem gathered around and made many serious accusations they couldn’t prove.
10But Paul replied, 'No! This is the official Roman court, so I ought to be tried right here. You know very well I am not guilty of harming the Jews.
11If I have done something worthy of death, I don’t refuse to die. But if I am innocent, no one has a right to turn me over to these men to kill me. I appeal to Caesar!'
13A few days later King Agrippa arrived with his sister, Bernice, to pay their respects to Festus.
14During their stay of several days, Festus discussed Paul’s case with the king. 'There is a prisoner here,' he told him, 'whose case was left for me by Felix.
15When I was in Jerusalem, the leading priests and Jewish elders pressed charges against him and asked me to condemn him.
16I pointed out to them that Roman law does not convict people without a trial. They must be given an opportunity to confront their accusers and defend themselves.
17When his accusers came here for the trial, I didn’t delay. I called the case the very next day and ordered Paul brought in.
18But the accusations made against him weren’t any of the crimes I expected.
19Instead, it was something about their religion and a dead man named Jesus, who Paul insists is alive.
20I was at a loss to know how to investigate these things, so I asked him whether he would be willing to stand trial on these charges in Jerusalem.
21But Paul appealed to have his case decided by the emperor. So I ordered that he be held in custody until I could arrange to send him to Caesar.'
English Standard Version
Chapter 25
3asking as a favor against Paul that he summon him to Jerusalem — because they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way. 4Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly. 5"So," said he, "let the men of authority among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them bring charges against him."
6After he stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought.
7When he had arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him that they could not prove.
8Paul argued in his defense, "Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I committed any offense."
9But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, "Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and there be tried on these charges before me?"
10But Paul said, "I am standing before Caesar 's tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well.
11If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar."
12Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, "To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go."
13Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus.
14And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul 's case before the king, saying, "There is a man left prisoner by Felix,
15and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews laid out their case against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him.
16I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone before the accused met the accusers face to face and had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against him.
17So when they came together here, I made no delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought.
18When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed.
19Rather they had certain points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive.
20Being at a loss how to investigate these questions, I asked whether he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding them.
21But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of the emperor, I ordered him to be held until I could send him to Caesar."
22Then Agrippa said to Festus, "I would like to hear the man myself." "Tomorrow," said he, "you will hear him."
New International Version
Chapter 25
3They requested Festus, as a favor to them, to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem, for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way. 4Festus answered, "Paul is being held at Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon. 5Let some of your leaders come with me, and if the man has done anything wrong, they can press charges against him there."
6After spending eight or ten days with them, Festus went down to Caesarea. The next day he convened the court and ordered that Paul be brought before him.
7When Paul came in, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him. They brought many serious charges against him, but they could not prove them.
10Paul answered: "I am now standing before Caesar’s court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well.
11If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!"
13A few days later King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus.
14Since they were spending many days there, Festus discussed Paul’s case with the king. He said: "There is a man here whom Felix left as a prisoner.
15When I went to Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him and asked that he be condemned.
16"I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand over anyone before they have faced their accusers and have had an opportunity to defend themselves against the charges.
17When they came here with me, I did not delay the case, but convened the court the next day and ordered the man to be brought in.
18When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected.
19Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive.
20I was at a loss how to investigate such matters; so I asked if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial there on these charges.
21But when Paul made his appeal to be held over for the Emperor’s decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar."
New King James Version
Chapter 25
3asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem— while they lay in ambush along the road to kill him. 4But Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself was going there shortly. 5“Therefore,” he said, “let those who have authority among you go down with me and accuse this man, to see if there is any fault in him.”
6And when he had remained among them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day, sitting on the judgment seat, he commanded Paul to be brought.
7When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood about and laid many serious complaints against Paul, which they could not prove,
8while he answered for himself, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I offended in anything at all.”
10So Paul said, “I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you very well know.
11For if I am an offender, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying; but if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar.”
13And after some days King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to greet Festus.
14When they had been there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying: “There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix,
15about whom the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, when I was in Jerusalem, asking for a judgment against him.
16To them I answered, ‘It is not the custom of the Romans to deliver any man to destruction before the accused meets the accusers face to face, and has opportunity to answer for himself concerning the charge against him.’
17Therefore when they had come together, without any delay, the next day I sat on the judgment seat and commanded the man to be brought in.
18When the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation against him of such things as I supposed,
19but had some questions against him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who had died, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
20And because I was uncertain of such questions, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there be judged concerning these matters.
21But when Paul appealed to be reserved for the decision of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I could send him to Caesar.”
