25:1 Now when Festus had come into the province, after three
days he ascended from Cesarea to Jerusalem.
25:2 Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him
against Paul, and besought him,
25:3 And desired favor against him, that he would send for him
to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.
25:4 But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Cesarea,
and that he himself would depart shortly [thither].
25:5 Let them therefore, said he, who among you are able, go
down with [me], and accuse this man, if there is any wickedness
in him.
25:6 And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he
went down to Cesarea; and the next day sitting on the
judgment-seat, commanded Paul to be brought.
25:7 And when he had come, the Jews who came down from Jerusalem
stood around, and laid many and grievous complaints against
Paul, which they could not prove;
25:8 While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of
the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Cesar
have I committed any offense.
25:9 But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered
Paul, and said, Wilt thou go to Jerusalem, and there be judged
concerning these things before me?
25:10 Then said Paul, I stand at Cesar's tribunal, where I ought
to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very
well knowest.
25:11 For if I am an offender, or have committed any thing
worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there is none of
these things of which these accuse me, no man may deliver me to
them. I appeal to Cesar.
25:12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council,
answered, Hast thou appealed to Cesar? to Cesar thou shalt go.
25:13 And after certain days, king Agrippa and Bernice came to
Cesarea, to salute Festus.
25:14 And when they had been there many days, Festus declared
Paul's cause to the king, saying, There is a certain man left
in bonds by Felix:
25:15 About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and
the elders of the Jews informed [me], desiring [to have]
judgment against him.
25:16 To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to
deliver any man to die, before he who is accused hath the
accusers face to face, and hath license to answer for himself
concerning the crime laid against him.
25:17 Therefore, when they had come hither, without any delay on
the morrow I sat on the judgment-seat, and commanded the man to
be brought forth;
25:18 Against whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no
accusation of such things as I supposed:
25:19 But had certain questions against him of their own
superstition, and of one Jesus who was dead, whom Paul affirmed
to be alive.
25:20 And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked
[him] whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged
concerning these matters.
25:21 But when Paul had appealed to be reserved to the hearing
of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him
to Cesar.
25:22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, I would also hear the man
myself. To-morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.
25:23 And on the morrow, when Agrippa had come, and Bernice,
with great pomp, and had entered into the place of hearing,
with the chief captains and principal men of the city, at the
command of Festus Paul was brought forth.
25:24 And 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 have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and [also]
here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.
25:25 But 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.
25:26 Of whom I have no certain thing to write to my lord.
Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially
before thee, O king Agrippa, that after examination had, I may
have somewhat to write.
25:27 For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and
not also to signify the crimes [laid] against him.
|