Acts 25

Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem.

1Festus was the new Roman governor, the ruler of that area. Three days after he arrived, he went from Caesarea up to Jerusalem.

2Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him,

2There the leading priests and the Jewish leaders told him their case against Paul. They kept asking him for something.

3And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.

3They asked him to send Paul to Jerusalem as a favor. They were planning to hide by the road and kill Paul.

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

4But Festus said no. He said Paul would stay in Caesarea, and that he himself was going there soon.

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.

5"So let your leaders come down with me," he said. "If this man has done wrong, they can accuse him there."

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.

6Festus stayed with them about eight or ten days. Then he went down to Caesarea. The next day he sat in the judge's chair. He ordered his men to bring Paul in.

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.

7When Paul came in, the Jews from Jerusalem stood around him. They said he had done many bad things. But they could not prove any of it.

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.

8Paul spoke for himself. He said, "I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law, or against the temple, or against Caesar."

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?

9Festus wanted to please the Jewish leaders. So he asked Paul, "Will you go up to Jerusalem? I will judge your case there."

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.

10Paul said, "I am standing in Caesar's court. This is where my case should be judged. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, and you know that well."

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.

11"If I have done something that deserves death, I will not beg to live. But if their charges are not true, no one may hand me over to them. I ask Caesar to hear my case."

NotePaul was a Roman citizen. Citizens had the right to ask that the emperor in Rome hear their case instead of a local judge. That is what "I appeal unto Caesar" means.

12Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.

12Festus talked it over with the men who advised him. Then he said, "You have asked for Caesar. To Caesar you will go."

13And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus.

13A few days later King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea. They came to greet 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:

14They stayed for many days. Festus told the king about Paul's case. He said, "Felix, the ruler before me, left a man here in prison."

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

15"When I was in Jerusalem, the leading priests and the Jewish elders told me about him. They wanted me to say he was guilty."

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.

16"I told them that Romans do not do things that way. A man must first face the people who accuse him. He must be allowed to speak for himself."

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.

17"So they came here with me. I did not wait. The next day I sat in the judge's chair and had the man brought in."

18Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed:

18"His accusers stood up to speak. But they did not charge him with the crimes I expected."

19But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

19"They only argued with him about their own religion. They argued about a man named Jesus who had died. Paul says that Jesus is alive."

NoteThe KJV word "superstition" here does not mean silly beliefs. Festus is simply talking about the Jewish religion, which he did not understand.

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.

20"I did not know how to look into things like this. So I asked Paul if he would go to Jerusalem and be judged there."

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.

21"But Paul asked to be kept here until the Emperor could decide. So I ordered my men to hold him until I can send him to Caesar."

Note"Augustus" was a title for the Roman emperor, not a man's name. "Caesar" was used the same way.

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

22Then Agrippa said to Festus, "I would like to hear this man myself." Festus said, "Tomorrow you will hear him."

23And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus’ commandment Paul was brought forth.

23The next day Agrippa and Bernice came in with a grand show. They entered the hearing room. Army commanders and important men of the city came too. Festus ordered his men to bring Paul in.

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

24Festus said, "King Agrippa, and all of you here, look at this man. Many Jewish people have come to me about him, both in Jerusalem and here. They shouted that he should not live any longer."

25But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.

25"But I found that he had done nothing that deserves death. And he has asked the Emperor to hear his case. So I decided to send him."

26Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to write.

26"I have nothing sure to write to the Emperor about him. That is why I brought him out before you all, and most of all before you, King Agrippa. After we question him, I will have something to write."

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

27"It does not make sense to me to send a prisoner without saying what he is charged with."