Acts 25:9 But 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?"

◄ Acts 25:9 ►

New International Version
Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?”

New Living Translation
Then Festus, wanting to please the Jews, asked him, “Are you willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there?”

English Standard Version
But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and there be tried on these charges before me?”

Berean Standard Bible
But 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?”

Berean Literal Bible
But Festus, wishing to lay a favor on the Jews, answering, said to Paul, "Are you willing, having gone up to Jerusalem, to be judged before me there concerning these things?"

King James Bible
But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?

New King James Version
But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and there be judged before me concerning these things?”

New American Standard Bible
But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, replied to Paul and said, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me on these charges?”

NASB 1995
But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me on these charges?”

NASB 1977
But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me on these charges?”

Legacy Standard Bible
But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and to be tried before me on these matters?”

Amplified Bible
But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial there in my presence [before the Jewish Sanhedrin] on these charges?”

Christian Standard Bible
But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, replied to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to be tried before me there on these charges? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then Festus, wanting to do a favor for the Jews, replied to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem, there to be tried before me on these charges?”

American Standard Version
But Festus, desiring to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?

Contemporary English Version
Festus wanted to please the leaders. So he asked Paul, "Are you willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried by me on these charges?"

English Revised Version
But Festus, desiring to gain favour with the Jews, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But Festus wanted to do the Jews a favor. So he asked Paul, "Are you willing to go to Jerusalem to be tried there on these charges with me as your judge?"

Good News Translation
But Festus wanted to gain favor with the Jews, so he asked Paul, "Would you be willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried on these charges before me there?"

International Standard Version
Then Festus, wanting to do the Jewish leaders a favor, asked Paul, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to be tried there before me on these charges?"

Majority Standard Bible
But 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??

NET Bible
But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, asked Paul, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and be tried before me there on these charges?"

New Heart English Bible
But Festus, desiring to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem, and be judged by me there concerning these things?"

Webster's Bible Translation
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?

Weymouth New Testament
Then Festus, being anxious to gratify the Jews, asked Paul, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem, and there stand your trial before me on these charges?"

World English Bible
But Festus, desiring to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and be judged by me there concerning these things?”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And Festus willing to lay on the Jews a favor, answering Paul, said, “Are you willing, having gone up to Jerusalem, to be judged before me there concerning these things?”

Berean Literal Bible
But Festus, wishing to lay a favor on the Jews, answering, said to Paul, "Are you willing, having gone up to Jerusalem, to be judged before me there concerning these things?"

Young's Literal Translation
And Festus willing to lay on the Jews a favour, answering Paul, said, 'Art thou willing, to Jerusalem having gone up, there concerning these things to be judged before me?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Festus, wishing to render a favor to the Jews, having answered Paul, said, Wilt thou, having gone up to Jerusalem, there be judged by me of these things?

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
But 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?

Catholic Public Domain Version
But Festus, wanting to show greater favor to the Jews, responded to Paul by saying: “Are you willing to ascend to Jerusalem and to be judged there about these things before me?”

New American Bible
Then Festus, wishing to ingratiate himself with the Jews, said to Paul in reply, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and there stand trial before me on these charges?”

New Revised Standard Version
But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, asked Paul, “Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and be tried there before me on these charges?”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
But Festus, because he was willing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, Would you be willing to go to Jerusalem and there be tried of these things before me?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Festus, because he wanted to confer a favor on the Jews, said to Paulus, “Will you go up to Jerusalem and be judged there of these things before me?”

NT Translations

Anderson New Testament
But Festus, willing to confer a favor on the Jews, answered Paul, and said: Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged before me concerning these things?

Godbey New Testament
And Festus, wishing to confer a gratification on the Jews, responding to Paul, said, Are you willing, having gone up to Jerusalem, there to be judged by me concerning these things?

Haweis New Testament
Then Festus, desirous of ingratiating himself with the Jews, replying to Paul, said, Wilt thou go up unto Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?

Mace New Testament
but Festus willing to oblige the Jews ask'd him, will you consent to go to Jerusalem, and take your trial before me there?

Weymouth New Testament
Then Festus, being anxious to gratify the Jews, asked Paul, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem, and there stand your trial before me on these charges?"

Worrell New Testament
But Festus, wishing to gain favor with the Jews, answering, said to Paul, "Are you willing, having gone up to Jerusalem, to be judged there concerning these things before me?"

Worsley New Testament
But Festus, being desirous to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, Art thou willing to go up to Jerusalem, and there to be tried concerning these things before me?

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Paul's Trial Before Festus
…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?” 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.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Acts 23:11
The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so also you must testify in Rome.”

Acts 24:27
After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.

Acts 26:32
And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

Acts 28:19
But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, even though I have no charge to bring against my nation.

Luke 23:4-7
Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.” / But they kept insisting, “He stirs up the people all over Judea with His teaching. He began in Galilee and has come all the way here.” / When Pilate heard this, he asked if the man was a Galilean. ...

John 18:28-31
Then they led Jesus away from Caiaphas into the Praetorium. By now it was early morning, and the Jews did not enter the Praetorium, to avoid being defiled and unable to eat the Passover. / So Pilate went out to them and asked, “What accusation are you bringing against this man?” / “If He were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed Him over to you.” ...

Matthew 27:24
When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but that instead a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “You bear the responsibility.”

Mark 15:15
And wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.

John 19:12-16
From then on, Pilate tried to release Him, but the Jews kept shouting, “If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who declares himself a king is defying Caesar.” / When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat on the judgment seat at a place called the Stone Pavement, which in Hebrew is Gabbatha. / It was the day of Preparation for the Passover, about the sixth hour. And Pilate said to the Jews, “Here is your King!” ...

Acts 18:12-16
While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews coordinated an attack on Paul and brought him before the judgment seat. / “This man is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law,” they said. / But just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio told the Jews, “If this matter involved a wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to hear your complaint. ...

Acts 22:30
The next day the commander, wanting to learn the real reason Paul was accused by the Jews, released him and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought Paul down and had him stand before them.

Acts 24:22-23
Then Felix, who was well informed about the Way, adjourned the hearing and said, “When Lysias the commander comes, I will decide your case.” / He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard, but to allow him some freedom and permit his friends to minister to his needs.

Acts 26:30-32
Then the king and the governor rose, along with Bernice and those seated with them. / On their way out, they said to one another, “This man has done nothing worthy of death or imprisonment.” / And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

Acts 19:38-39
So if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open and proconsuls are available. Let them bring charges against one another there. / But if you are seeking anything beyond this, it must be settled in a legal assembly.

Acts 21:31-33
While they were trying to kill him, the commander of the Roman regiment received a report that all Jerusalem was in turmoil. / Immediately he took some soldiers and centurions and ran down to the crowd. When the people saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. / The commander came up and arrested Paul, ordering that he be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done.

Treasury of Scripture

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

willing.

Acts 25:3,20
And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him…

Acts 12:3
And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)

Acts 24:27
But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix' room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.

Jump to Previous

Acquire Anxious Approval Charges Connection Desiring Desirous Favor Favour Festus Gain Gratify Jerusalem Jews Judged Lay Obliging Paul Pleasure Stand Trial Willing Wilt Wishing

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Acquire Anxious Approval Charges Connection Desiring Desirous Favor Favour Festus Gain Gratify Jerusalem Jews Judged Lay Obliging Paul Pleasure Stand Trial Willing Wilt Wishing

Acts 25

1. The Jews accuse Paul before Festus.
8. He answers for himself,
11. and appeals unto Caesar.
14. Afterwards Festus opens his matter to king Agrippa;
23. and he is brought forth.
25. Festus clears him of having done anything worthy of death.

Berean Study Bible

But Festus
The name "Festus" refers to Porcius Festus, the Roman governor of Judea who succeeded Felix. His role as a governor was to maintain peace and order, and his actions were often politically motivated. The historical context here is crucial, as Festus was navigating the complex political landscape of Roman rule over a predominantly Jewish population. His decisions were influenced by the need to appease the local Jewish leaders while maintaining Roman authority.

wishing to do the Jews a favor
This phrase highlights Festus's political maneuvering. The Greek word for "favor" (χάρις, charis) often implies grace or kindness, but in this context, it suggests a strategic concession. Festus's desire to curry favor with the Jewish leaders reflects the delicate balance Roman officials had to maintain. Historically, Roman governors were often under pressure to keep the peace in their provinces, and placating influential local groups was a common tactic.

said to Paul
Paul, formerly Saul of Tarsus, was a Pharisee and a Roman citizen, uniquely positioned within both Jewish and Roman worlds. His Roman citizenship afforded him certain legal protections, which he strategically used throughout his ministry. This moment is pivotal, as it demonstrates Paul's awareness of his rights and his unwavering commitment to his mission, despite the political and legal challenges he faced.

Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem
The phrase "go up to Jerusalem" is significant both geographically and spiritually. Jerusalem, situated on a hill, was the center of Jewish religious life and the location of the Temple. For Paul, returning to Jerusalem meant facing potential hostility and danger. Spiritually, Jerusalem represented the heart of Jewish faith, and Paul's willingness to go there underscores his dedication to spreading the Gospel, even in the face of adversity.

to stand trial before me on these charges?
The legal context here is important. Roman law allowed for trials to be held in various locations, but Festus's suggestion to move the trial to Jerusalem was likely an attempt to appease the Jewish leaders who were accusing Paul. The charges against Paul were serious, involving accusations of violating Jewish law and defiling the Temple. This question posed by Festus is a test of Paul's resolve and his trust in God's plan for his life. It also foreshadows Paul's eventual appeal to Caesar, demonstrating his strategic use of his Roman citizenship to further his mission.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(9) Willing to do the Jews a pleasure.--See Note on Acts 24:27. The invitation was in itself plausible enough. It practically admitted that there was no evidence on the last head of the accusation of which he, as procurator, need take cognizance. It offered the prisoner a trial before his own national tribunal, with the presence of the procurator as a check upon violence and injustice. It is manifest from St. Paul's answer that this was practically what Festus meant. The proposed trial would, he says, not be before Caesar's judgment seat, and he, for his part, preferred the secular to the ecclesiastical tribunal.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 9. - Desiring to gain favor with the Jews for willing to do the Jews a pleasure, A.V. To gain favor, etc. (see above, Acts 24:27, note). It was not unnatural that Festus, ignorant as he still was of Jewish malice and bigotry and violence, in the case of Paul, and anxious to conciliate a people so difficult to govern as the Jews had showed themselves to be, should make the proposal. In doing so he still insisted that the trial should be before him. Before me; ἐπ ἐμοῦ, as Acts 23:30 and Acts 26:2; ἐπὶ σοῦ "before thee," viz. King Agrippa in the last case, and Felix in the former. The expression is somewhat ambiguous, and may merely mean that Festus would be present in the court to ensure fair play, while the Sanhedrim judged Paul according to their Law, and so Paul seems, by his answer, to have understood it.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

But
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

Festus,
Φῆστος (Phēstos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5347: Festus. Of Latin derivation; festal; Phestus, a Roman.

wanting
θέλων (thelōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2309: To will, wish, desire, be willing, intend, design.

to do the Jews a favor,
καταθέσθαι (katathesthai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Middle
Strong's 2698: From kata and tithemi; to place down, i.e. Deposit.

said
εἶπεν (eipen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

to Paul,
Παύλῳ (Paulō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3972: Paul, Paulus. Of Latin origin; Paulus, the name of a Roman and of an apostle.

“Are you willing
Θέλεις (Theleis)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 2309: To will, wish, desire, be willing, intend, design.

to go up
ἀναβὰς (anabas)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 305: To go up, mount, ascend; of things: I rise, spring up, come up. From ana and the base of basis; to go up.

to
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

Jerusalem
Ἱεροσόλυμα (Hierosolyma)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 2414: The Greek form of the Hebrew name: Jerusalem. Of Hebrew origin; Hierosolyma

to stand trial
κριθῆναι (krithēnai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Passive
Strong's 2919: Properly, to distinguish, i.e. Decide; by implication, to try, condemn, punish.

before
ἐπ’ (ep’)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

me
ἐμοῦ (emou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

on
περὶ (peri)
Preposition
Strong's 4012: From the base of peran; properly, through, i.e. Around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time.

these [charges]?”
τούτων (toutōn)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Neuter Plural
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

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NT Apostles: Acts 25:9 But Festus desiring to gain favor (Acts of the Apostles Ac)