Acts 25

1 Now, when Festus arrived in the province, after three days he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.

2 Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews presented him (the charges) against Paul, and begged him,

3 Asking a favor of him, that he would summon Paul to Jerusalem, an ambush was forming to kill him on the way.

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

5 Therefore, he said, Let those who are able among you go down with me, and let them accuse this man, if there is any wrong in him.

6 And when he had spent more than ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea; and the next day, sitting on the judgment seat, commanded Paul to be brought (before him).

7 And when he had come, the Jews who came down from Jerusalem stood around him, and brought many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.

8 Paul made his own defense, (saying) Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I committed any offense at all.

9 But Festus, willing to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul, and said, Will you go up to Jerusalem, and be judged there of these things before me?

10 Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done nothing wrong, as you very well know.

11 For if I am an offender, or have committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die: however, if there is nothing (valid) of which they can accuse me, no one may deliver me to them (I refuse). I appeal to Caesar.

 

12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, (seeing as) You have appealed to Caesar? To Caesar shall you go.

13 And after certain days, King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to greet Festus.

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 prison by Felix:

15 About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews told me, desiring to have judgment against him.

16 To whom I answered, It is not the custom of the Romans to deliver any man to die before he who is accused has faced his accusers and has the opportunity to answer for himself concerning the crime brought against him.

17 Therefore, when they came here, without any delay on the next day, I sat on the judgment seat and commanded the man to be brought before me.

18 Against whom, when the accusers stood up, they did not bring any accusation of a crime, as I was expecting:

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

20 And because I was perplexed by such questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and be judged there of these matters.

21 But when Paul had appealed (for his decision) to be reserved for the hearing of (Caesar) Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar.

22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, I would also hear the man myself. Tomorrow, he said, you shall hear him.

23 And on the next day, 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 Festus' commandment, Paul was brought before him.

24 And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men who are gathered here with us, you see this man (before you), about whom all the multitude of the Jews have pleaded with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.

25 But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself had appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.

26 Of whom I have no definite thing to write to my lord. (Which is) Why I have brought him forth before you, and especially before you, O king Agrippa, so that, after your examination, I might have something to write.

 

27 For it seems absurd for me to send a prisoner, and not to specify the crimes brought against him.