Acts 25
1FESTUS, therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem.
2And the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him,
3asking for themselves a favor against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, preparing an ambush to slay him on the way.
4But Festus answered, that Paul was to be kept a prisoner at Caesarea, and that he himself should soon go thither.
5Let them therefore, said he, who are powerful among you, go down with me, and accuse this man, if there is any wickedness in him.
6And having tarried among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea; and on the morrow, sitting on the judgment-seat, he commanded Paul to be brought.
7And when he was come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around, bringing many and grievous charges, which they could not prove;
8while Paul said in defense: Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, did I commit any offense.
9But Festus, wishing to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul, and said: Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged concerning these things, before me?
10And Paul said; I stand at Caesar's judgment-seat, where I ought to be judged. To Jews I did no wrong, as thou also very well knowest[25:10].
11If then I am an offender, and have done anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die; but if there be none of the things whereof these accuse me, no man can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.
12Then Festus, having conferred with the council, answered: Thou hast appealed to Caesar; to Caesar thou shalt go.
13And after certain days, Agrippa the king, and Bernice, came to Caesarea to salute Festus.
14And as they were spending some days there, Festus laid the case of Paul before 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 made complaint, asking for judgment against him.
16To whom I answered: It is not a custom for Romans to give up any man, before the accused has the accusers face to face, and has opportunity to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.
17When, therefore, they had come together here, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment-seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth;
18and standing up around him, the accusers brought no accusation of such things as I supposed;
19but had certain controversies with him concerning their own religion, and concerning a certain Jesus who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
20And I, being perplexed in regard to the dispute about these things, asked whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged concerning them.
21But Paul having appealed, to be kept in custody for the decision of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept until I shall send him up to Caesar.
22And Agrippa said to Festus: I would also hear the man myself. To-morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.
23On the morrow, therefore, Agrippa and Bernice having come with great pomp, and entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains and principal men of the city, at Festus' command Paul was brought forth.
24And Festus said: King Agrippa, and all men who are here present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews interceded with me, both at Jerusalem and here, Crying out that he ought not to live any longer.
25But having found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and he himself having appealed to Augustus, I determined to send him.
26Of whom I have nothing certain to write to my lord. Wherefore I brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, king Agrippa, in order that, the examination having been made, I may have something to write.
27For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not also signify the charges against him.