Atos 25

¹ Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he went up from Cesarea to Jerusalem.

² Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews, appeared before him against Paul and besought him, Begging favour against him,

³ that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying an ambush to kill him by the way.

⁴ But Festus answered, That Paul should be kept at Cesarea, and that he himself would depart thither shortly.

⁵ Therefore let those of you, said he, who are able, go down with me and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him.

⁶ And having tarried among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Cesarea; and the next day, sitting on the judgment-seat, he commanded Paul to be brought.

⁷ And when he was come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem, stood round about him, bringing many and heavy accusations against Paul, which they were not able to prove:

⁸ While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Cesar have I offended at all.

⁹ But Festus, willing to gratify the Jews, answered Paul and said, Art thou willing to go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged before me concerning these things?

¹⁰ Then said Paul, I am standing at Cesar's judgment-seat, where I ought to be judged: I have done no wrong to the Jews, as thou also very well knowest.

¹¹ For if indeed I have done wrong, and have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there is nothing of the things whereof these accuse me, no man can give me up to them.

¹² I appeal to Cesar. Then Festus, having conferred with the council answered, Hast thou appealed to Cesar? To Cesar shalt thou go.

¹³ And after certain days, king Agrippa and Bernice came to Cesarea, to salute Festus.

¹⁴ And when they had been there many days, Festus declared the case of Paul to the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix,

¹⁵ About whom when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and elders of the Jews informed me, desiring judgment against him.

¹⁶ To whom I answered, It is not the custom of the Romans, to give up any man, till he that is accused have the accusers face to face, and have liberty to make his defence, touching the crime laid to his charge.

¹⁷ When therefore they were come hither, I without any delay sat at the judgment seat the next day, and commanded the man to be brought forth.

¹⁸ Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation of such things as I supposed,

¹⁹ But had certain questions against him, relating to their own religious worship, and about one Jesus that was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

²⁰ And as I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked, If he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged concerning these matters?

²¹ But Paul appealing to be kept for the hearing of Augustus, I command him to be kept till I could send him to Cesar.

²² Then Agrippa said to Festus, I would also hear the man myself. And he said, To-morrow thou shalt hear him.

²³ And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come and Bernice with great pomp, and were entered into the place of audience, with the tribunes and principal men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought forth.

²⁴ And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all ye who are present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have pleaded with me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying out, that he ought not to live any longer.

²⁵ But when I found, that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and he had himself appealed to the Emperor, I determined to send him:

²⁶ Of whom I have nothing certain to send to my lord: wherefore I have brought him before you, and especially before thee, O king Agrippa, that after examination taken, I may have somewhat to write.

²⁷ For it seemeth to me unreasonable, to send a prisoner, and not to signify also the crimes alledged against him.