Acts

Paul’s Trial before Festus

1Three days after his arrival in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem,

2where the chief priests and Jewish leaders presented their case against Paul. They urged Festus

3to grant them a concession against Paul by summoning him to Jerusalem, because they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way.

4But Festus replied, “Paul is being held in Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon.

5So if this man has done anything wrong, let some of your leaders come down with me and accuse him there.”

6After spending no more than eight or ten days with them, Festus went down to Caesarea. The next day he sat on the judgment seat and ordered that Paul be brought in.

7When Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges that they could not prove.

8Then Paul made his defense: “I have committed no offense against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.”

9But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to stand trial before me on these charges?”

Paul Appeals to Caesar

10Paul replied, “I am standing before the judgment seat of Caesar, where I ought to be tried. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well.

11If, however, I am guilty of anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is no truth to their accusations against me, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”

12Then Festus conferred with his council and replied, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”

Festus Consults Agrippa

13After several days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice came down to Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus.

14Since they were staying several days, Festus laid out Paul’s case before the king: “There is a certain man whom Felix left in prison.

15While I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and elders of the Jews presented their case and requested a judgment against him.

16I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand a man over before he has had an opportunity to face his accusers and defend himself against their charges.

17So when they came here with me, I did not delay. The next day I sat on the judgment seat and ordered that the man be brought in.

18But when his accusers rose to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected.

19They only had some contentions with him regarding their own religion and a certain Jesus who had died, but whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

20Since I was at a loss as to how to investigate these matters, I asked if he was willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried there on these charges.

21But when Paul appealed to be held over for the decision of the Emperor, I ordered that he be held until I could send him to Caesar.”

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

Paul before Agrippa and Bernice

23The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the auditorium, along with the commanders and leading men of the city. And Festus ordered that Paul be brought in.

24Then Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man. The whole Jewish community has petitioned me about him, both here and in Jerusalem, crying out that he ought not to live any longer.

25But I found he had done nothing worthy of death, and since he has now appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.

26I have nothing definite to write to our sovereign about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after this inquiry I may have something to write.

27For it seems unreasonable to me to send on a prisoner without specifying the charges against him.”

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

2And the chief priests, and principal men of the Jews, went unto him against Paul: and they besought him,

3Requesting favour against him, that he would command him to be brought to Jerusalem, laying wait to kill him in the way.

4But Festus answered: That Paul was kept in Caesarea, and that he himself would very shortly depart thither.

5Let them, therefore, saith he, among you that are able, go down with me, and accuse him, if there be any crime in the man.

6And having tarried among them no more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea, and the next day he sat in the judgment seat; and commanded Paul to be brought.

7Who being brought, the Jews stood about him, who were come down from Jerusalem, objecting many and grievous causes, which they could not prove;

8Paul making answer for himself: Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I offended in any thing.

9But Festus, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, answering Paul, said: Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?

10Then Paul said: I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no injury, as thou very well knowest.

11For if I have injured them, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die. But if there be none of these things whereof they accuse me, no man may deliver me to them: I appeal to Caesar.

12Then Festus having conferred with the council, answered: Hast thou appealed to Caesar? To Caesar shalt thou go.

13And after some days, king Agrippa and Bernice came down to Caesarea to salute Festus.

14And as they tarried there many days, Festus told the king of Paul, saying: A certain man was left prisoner by Felix.

15About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests, and the ancients of the Jews, came unto me, desiring condemnation against him.

16To whom I answered: It is not the custom of the Romans to condemn any man, before that he who is accused have his accusers present, and have liberty to make his answer, to clear himself of the things laid to his charge.

17When therefore they were come hither, without any delay, on the day following, sitting in the judgment seat, I commanded the man to be brought.

18Against whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation of things which I thought ill of:

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

20I therefore being in a doubt of this manner of question, asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things.

21But Paul appealing to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept, till I might send him to Caesar.

22And Agrippa said to Festus: I would also hear the man, myself. Tomorrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.

23And on the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice were come with great pomp, and had entered into the hall of audience, with the tribunes, and principal men of the city, at Festus’ commandment, Paul was brought forth.

24And Festus saith: King Agrippa, and all ye men who are here present with us, you see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews dealt with me at Jerusalem, requesting and crying out that he ought not to live any longer.

25Yet have I found nothing that he hath committed worthy of death. But forasmuch as he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.

26Of whom I have nothing certain to write to my lord. For which cause I have brought him forth before you, and especially before thee, O king Agrippa, that examination being made, I may have what to write.

27For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not to signify the things laid to his charge.