Acts 25

1So Festus, after arriving in the province, went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem after three days,

2So the chief priests and the leading men of the Jews presented their case against Paul to him, and they urged him,

3asking a favor against him, that he would have him brought to Jerusalem, while setting an ambush to kill him on the way.

4Festus therefore answered that Paul was being kept in Caesarea, and that he himself was about to leave shortly.

5Therefore, let those among you who are able go down with me, and if there is anything wrong in the man, let them accuse him.

6After spending among them no more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea, and on the next day, after taking his seat on the tribunal, he ordered Paul to be brought in.

7And when he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges that they were not able to prove.

8Paul made his defense: “I have sinned in nothing against either the law of the Jews, or the temple, or Caesar.”

9But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, “Do you want to go up to Jerusalem and there be judged before me concerning these things?”

10But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be judged. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well.”

11If, then, I am doing wrong and have done anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is nothing to the things these men are accusing me of, no one can hand me over to them as a favor. I appeal to Caesar.

12Then Festus, after conferring with the council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you will go.”

13After some days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to greet Festus.

14And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid before the king the matters concerning Paul, saying, “There is a certain man left behind by Felix as a prisoner,”

15Concerning him, when I arrived in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him.

16To them I answered that it is not the custom of the Romans to hand over any man before the accused has the accusers face to face and receives an opportunity for a defense concerning the charge.

17So when they had come together here, I made no delay, but on the next day I sat on the judgment seat and ordered the man to be brought.

18Concerning him, when the accusers stood up, they brought no charge of the evil things that I was suspecting,

19Rather, they had certain disputes with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus who had died, whom Paul claimed to be alive.

20And since I was at a loss about the investigation concerning these matters, I asked whether he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be judged there concerning them.

21But when Paul appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of the Emperor, I ordered that he be kept in custody until I send him to Caesar.

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

23So on the next day, Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the audience hall with both the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city, and at Festus's command Paul was brought in.

24And Festus says, “King Agrippa, and all the men present with us, you see this man, about whom the whole body of the Jews petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought no longer to live.”

25But I found that he had done nothing deserving death; and because he himself appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.

26Concerning him I have nothing definite to write to my lord. Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after the examination has taken place, I may have something to write.

27For it seems unreasonable to me, when sending a prisoner, not also to indicate the charges against him.