Paul

27And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him,

The seven days were almost over when some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul in the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and grabbed him.

28Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.

They shouted, "Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people, against our law, and against this place. Now he has even brought Greeks into the temple and made this holy place unclean."

29(For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)

They said this because they had earlier seen Trophimus, a man from Ephesus, in the city with Paul. They assumed Paul had brought him into the temple.

30And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut.

The whole city was stirred up, and people came running from every direction. They grabbed Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and the doors were shut at once.

31And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.

They were trying to kill him when word reached the commander of the Roman troops that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.

32Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul.

He immediately took soldiers and officers and ran down to the crowd. When the people saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.

33Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he had done.

The commander came up, arrested Paul, and ordered him tied with two chains. Then he asked who Paul was and what he had done.

34And some cried one thing, some another, among the multitude: and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle.

Some in the crowd shouted one thing and some another. The commander could not learn the truth because of all the noise, so he ordered Paul taken into the fort.

35And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people.

When Paul reached the steps, the soldiers had to carry him because the crowd was so violent.

36For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him.

The mob followed close behind, shouting, "Get rid of him!"

37And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek?

As Paul was about to be taken into the fort, he asked the commander, "May I say something to you?" The commander said, "You speak Greek?

38Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers?

Aren't you the Egyptian who started a revolt a while back and led four thousand assassins out into the desert?"

39But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.

Paul answered, "I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of an important city. Please let me speak to the people."

40And when he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,

The commander gave him permission. So Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd with his hand. When the people had grown quiet, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language. He said:

1Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.

"Brothers and fathers, please listen while I explain myself to you."

2(And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)

When the crowd heard him speaking to them in Hebrew, they grew even quieter. Then Paul said:

3I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.

"I am a Jew. I was born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, but I grew up here in this city. I was trained by Gamaliel to keep the law of our ancestors exactly. I wanted to serve God, just as all of you do today.

4And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

I hunted down the people of this Way and had some of them killed. I arrested both men and women and threw them in prison.

5As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.

The high priest and the whole council of leaders can tell you this is true. They gave me letters to the Jews in Damascus. I went there to arrest these people and bring them back to Jerusalem to be punished.

6And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.

"About noon, as I was traveling and getting close to Damascus, a bright light from the sky suddenly flashed all around me.

7And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you hunting me down?'

8And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

I answered, 'Who are you, Lord?' He said to me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, the one you are hunting down.'

9And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.

The men with me saw the light and were afraid. But they could not understand the voice of the one speaking to me.

10And I said, What shall I do, LORD? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.

Then I asked, 'What should I do, Lord?' The Lord told me, 'Get up and go into Damascus. There you will be told everything you have been chosen to do.'

11And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus.

The light was so bright that it left me blind. So the men with me took my hand and led me into Damascus.

12And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,

"A man named Ananias lived there. He carefully obeyed the law, and all the Jews living in Damascus spoke well of him.

13Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.

He came and stood beside me and said, 'Brother Saul, see again.' Right then I looked up and could see him.

14And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.

Then he said, 'The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know what he wants, to see the Righteous One, and to hear him speak.

15For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.

You will tell everyone what you have seen and heard.

16And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

So what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and have your sins washed away, calling on his name.'

17And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance;

"Later I came back to Jerusalem. While I was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance.

18And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.

I saw the Lord saying to me, 'Hurry. Leave Jerusalem right away, because the people here will not accept what you say about me.'

19And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:

I answered, 'Lord, they know that I went from one meeting house to another, putting your followers in prison and beating them.

20And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.

And when your witness Stephen was killed, I was standing there agreeing with it. I even watched the coats of the men who killed him.'

21And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.

But he said to me, 'Go. I am sending you far away, to people who are not Jews.'"

22And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.

The crowd listened to Paul until he said that. Then they started shouting, "Get rid of him! A man like that should not be alive!"

23And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air,

They kept yelling, throwing off their coats, and tossing dust into the air.

24The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him.

So the commander ordered his men to take Paul into the fort. He told them to whip him and question him, to find out why the crowd was screaming at him.

25And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?

As they were tying him down with leather straps, Paul said to the officer standing there, "Is it legal for you to whip a Roman citizen who has not even had a trial?"

26When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman.

When the officer heard this, he went to the commander and said, "Be careful what you do. This man is a Roman citizen."

27Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea.

So the commander came and asked Paul, "Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?" "Yes," Paul said.

28And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.

The commander said, "I paid a lot of money to become a citizen." Paul answered, "But I was born one."

29Then straightway they departed from him which should have examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.

The men who were about to question him backed away at once. The commander was scared too, because he had put a Roman citizen in chains.

30On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.

The next day the commander wanted to know the real reason the Jews were accusing Paul. So he took off Paul's chains and ordered the chief priests and the whole council to meet. Then he brought Paul down and stood him in front of them.

1And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.

Paul looked straight at the council and said, "Brothers, I have lived before God with a clear conscience right up to today."

2And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.

Then Ananias the high priest ordered the men standing near Paul to hit him on the mouth.

3Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?

Paul said to him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me by the law, yet you break the law by ordering me to be hit."

4And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God’s high priest?

The men standing nearby said, "How dare you insult God's high priest!"

5Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.

Paul said, "Brothers, I did not know he was the high priest. The Scriptures say, 'Do not speak evil of the ruler of your people.'"

6But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

Paul saw that some in the council were Sadducees and others were Pharisees. So he called out, "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I am on trial because I hope that the dead will rise again."

7And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.

As soon as he said this, the Pharisees and the Sadducees started arguing, and the group split into two sides.

8For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.

The Sadducees say there is no rising from the dead, and no angels or spirits. The Pharisees believe in all of them.

9And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees’ part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.

The shouting grew loud. Some teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued hard. They said, "We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel really did speak to him?"

10And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.

The argument turned so violent that the Roman commander was afraid Paul would be torn apart. He ordered his soldiers to go down, pull Paul out by force, and bring him into the fort.

11And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

The next night the Lord stood beside Paul and said, "Be brave. You have told people about me in Jerusalem, and you must do the same in Rome."

12And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

When morning came, some of the Jews made a plan together. They swore an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.

13And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.

More than forty men were part of this plot.

14And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.

They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, "We have sworn a solemn oath to eat nothing until we have killed Paul.

15Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.

So you and the council should ask the commander to bring Paul down to you tomorrow. Say you want to look into his case more carefully. We will be ready to kill him before he arrives."

16And when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.

But the son of Paul's sister heard about the ambush. He went into the fort and told Paul.

17Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him.

Paul called one of the officers over and said, "Take this young man to the commander. He has something to tell him."

18So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee.

So the officer took him to the commander and said, "Paul the prisoner called me and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to say to you."

19Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that thou hast to tell me?

The commander took the young man by the hand, led him off to one side, and asked, "What do you have to tell me?"

20And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly.

He said, "The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow. They will say they want to ask him more questions.

21But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee.

Do not give in to them. More than forty men are hiding, waiting to attack him. They have sworn not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are ready now and only waiting for you to agree."

22So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast shewed these things to me.

So the commander sent the young man away and told him, "Do not tell anyone that you reported this to me."

23And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;

Then he called two of his officers and said, "Get two hundred soldiers ready to go to Caesarea, along with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen. Leave at nine tonight.

24And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.

Also provide horses for Paul to ride, so he reaches Governor Felix safely."

25And he wrote a letter after this manner:

And he wrote a letter that said this:

26Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.

"From Claudius Lysias. To His Excellency, Governor Felix. Greetings.

27This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.

This man was seized by the Jews, and they were about to kill him. I came with my soldiers and rescued him, because I had learned that he is a Roman citizen.

28And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:

I wanted to know what they were charging him with, so I brought him down to their council.

29Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.

I found that the charges were about questions in their own law. There was nothing against him that deserved death or prison.

30And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell.

Then I was told about a plot against the man, so I sent him to you right away. I also told his accusers to bring their case against him to you. Goodbye."

31Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.

The soldiers did as they were ordered. They took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.

32On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:

The next day they let the horsemen go on with him, and the rest went back to the fort.

33Who, when they came to Caesarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.

When the horsemen came to Caesarea, they gave the letter to the governor and handed Paul over to him.

34And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia;

The governor read the letter and asked what province Paul was from. He learned that Paul was from Cilicia.

35I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s judgment hall.

He said, "I will hear your case when your accusers get here." Then he ordered Paul to be kept under guard in Herod's palace.

1And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul.

Five days later Ananias the high priest came down to Caesarea. He brought some elders and a speaker named Tertullus, who laid out their case against Paul before the governor.

2And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence,

Paul was called in, and Tertullus began to accuse him. He said, "Because of you we enjoy great peace, and your careful planning has improved this nation.

3We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.

We are grateful for this, always and everywhere, most excellent Felix.

4Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words.

But I do not want to take up too much of your time. Please be kind enough to listen to us briefly.

5For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:

We have found this man to be a troublemaker. He stirs up fights among Jews all over the world, and he leads the group called the Nazarenes.

6Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law.

He even tried to make the temple unclean. So we arrested him, and we wanted to judge him by our own law.

7But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands,

But Lysias, the commander, came and took him away from us by force.

8Commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him.

He ordered the men accusing him to come to you. If you question this man yourself, you can learn the truth of all our charges."

9And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so.

The other Jews there agreed and said that these charges were true.

10Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself:

The governor motioned for Paul to speak. Paul said, "I know you have judged this nation for many years, so I am glad to defend myself.

11Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship.

You can check this for yourself: it has been only twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship.

12And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city:

No one found me arguing with anyone in the temple. I was not stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere in the city.

13Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me.

They cannot prove a single one of the charges they are now bringing against me.

14But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:

But I do admit this to you. I worship the God of my ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything written in the Law and the Prophets.

15And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

I have the same hope in God that these men have: that the dead will rise again, both the good and the wicked.

16And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.

So I work hard to keep my conscience clear before God and before people.

17Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings.

After several years away, I came back to bring gift money to my people and to present offerings.

18Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult.

That is what I was doing in the temple when they found me. I had gone through the cleansing ritual. There was no crowd and no riot.

19Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against me.

But some Jews from the province of Asia were there. They are the ones who should be here in front of you to accuse me, if they have anything against me.

20Or else let these same here say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council,

Or let these men here say what crime they found in me when I stood before the Jewish council.

21Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.

The only thing I can think of is what I shouted while standing among them: 'I am on trial before you today because I believe the dead will rise.'"

22And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter.

Felix already knew quite a bit about the Way. He stopped the hearing and said, "When Lysias the commander comes down, I will settle your case."

23And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him.

He ordered the officer to keep Paul under guard, but to give him some freedom and to let his friends take care of his needs.

24And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.

Some days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him talk about faith in Christ Jesus.

25And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

Paul spoke about doing right, controlling yourself, and the judgment that is coming. Felix became afraid and said, "That is enough for now. You may go. I will send for you when I have time."

26He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.

He was also hoping Paul would give him money to be set free. So he sent for Paul often and talked with him.

27But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix’ room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.

Two years went by, and Porcius Festus took Felix's place as governor. Felix wanted to please the Jews, so he left Paul in prison.

1Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem.

Festus arrived in the province to take charge. Three days later he traveled up from Caesarea to Jerusalem.

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

There the leading priests and the important Jewish leaders brought their charges against Paul. They kept asking Festus for a favor.

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

They wanted him to have Paul sent to Jerusalem. They were planning an ambush to kill Paul along the road.

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

But Festus answered that Paul was being held at 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.

He said, "Let your leaders come down with me. If this man has done something 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.

Festus stayed with them about eight or ten days, then went down to Caesarea. The next day he took his seat as judge and ordered Paul brought 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.

When Paul came in, the Jews who had come from Jerusalem stood around him. They made many serious charges that 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.

Paul spoke in his own defense: "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?

But Festus wanted to please the Jewish leaders. He asked Paul, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and be tried there 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.

Paul answered, "I am standing before Caesar's court, which is where I should be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you know very 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.

If I have broken a law and deserve to die, I am ready to die. But if none of their charges are true, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!"

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

Festus talked it over with his advisers. Then he answered, "You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!"

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

Some days later King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to welcome Festus and pay their respects.

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:

Since they stayed for many days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king. He said, "There is a man here whom Felix left 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.

When I was in Jerusalem, the leading priests and the Jewish elders brought charges against him. They asked me to find him 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.

I told them the Romans do not hand a man over before he has met his accusers face to face. He must have a chance to defend himself against the charge.

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.

So they came here with me. I did not delay. The next day I took my seat as judge and ordered the man brought in.

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

But when his accusers stood up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected.

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

Their arguments with him were about their own religion, and about a man named Jesus who had died. Paul kept saying that Jesus is 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.

I did not know how to look into questions like these. So I asked if he was willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried 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.

But Paul asked to be kept here for the Emperor to decide his case. So I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar."

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

Then 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.

The next day Agrippa and Bernice arrived with a grand show. They entered the hall with the army commanders and the leading men of the city. Then Festus ordered Paul brought 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.

Festus said, "King Agrippa, and everyone here with us, look at this man. Crowds of Jews have come to me about him, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting 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.

But I found that he has done nothing that deserves death. And since he has appealed to the Emperor, 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.

I have nothing definite to write to my ruler about him. So I have brought him out before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa. After we question him, I may have something to write.

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

It seems foolish to me to send a prisoner without saying what the charges against him are."