| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | New Living Translation |
| 1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1Three days after Festus arrived in Caesarea to take over his new responsibilities, he left for Jerusalem, |
| 2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2where the leading priests and other Jewish leaders met with him and made their accusations against Paul. |
| 3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 3They asked Festus as a favor to transfer Paul to Jerusalem (planning to ambush and kill him on the way). |
| 4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4But Festus replied that Paul was at Caesarea and he himself would be returning there soon. |
| 5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 5So he said, “Those of you in authority can return with me. If Paul has done anything wrong, you can make your accusations.” |
| 6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 6About eight or ten days later Festus returned to Caesarea, and on the following day he took his seat in court and ordered that Paul be brought in. |
| 7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 7When Paul arrived, the Jewish leaders from Jerusalem gathered around and made many serious accusations they couldn’t prove. |
| 8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 8Paul denied the charges. “I am not guilty of any crime against the Jewish laws or the Temple or the Roman government,” he said. |
| 9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 9Then Festus, wanting to please the Jews, asked him, “Are you willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there?” |
| 10[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 10But Paul replied, “No! This is the official Roman court, so I ought to be tried right here. You know very well I am not guilty of harming the Jews. |
| 11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 11If I have done something worthy of death, I don’t refuse to die. But if I am innocent, no one has a right to turn me over to these men to kill me. I appeal to Caesar!” |
| 12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 12Festus conferred with his advisers and then replied, “Very well! You have appealed to Caesar, and to Caesar you will go!” |
| 13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 13A few days later King Agrippa arrived with his sister, Bernice, to pay their respects to Festus. |
| 14[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 14During their stay of several days, Festus discussed Paul’s case with the king. “There is a prisoner here,” he told him, “whose case was left for me by Felix. |
| 15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 15When I was in Jerusalem, the leading priests and Jewish elders pressed charges against him and asked me to condemn him. |
| 16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 16I pointed out to them that Roman law does not convict people without a trial. They must be given an opportunity to confront their accusers and defend themselves. |
| 17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 17“When his accusers came here for the trial, I didn’t delay. I called the case the very next day and ordered Paul brought in. |
| 18[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 18But the accusations made against him weren’t any of the crimes I expected. |
| 19[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 19Instead, it was something about their religion and a dead man named Jesus, who Paul insists is alive. |
| 20[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 20I was at a loss to know how to investigate these things, so I asked him whether he would be willing to stand trial on these charges in Jerusalem. |
| 21[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 21But Paul appealed to have his case decided by the emperor. So I ordered that he be held in custody until I could arrange to send him to Caesar.” |
| 22[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 22“I’d like to hear the man myself,” Agrippa said. And Festus replied, “You will—tomorrow!” Paul Speaks to Agrippa |
| 23[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 23So the next day Agrippa and Bernice arrived at the auditorium with great pomp, accompanied by military officers and prominent men of the city. Festus ordered that Paul be brought in. |
| 24[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 24Then Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are here, this is the man whose death is demanded by all the Jews, both here and in Jerusalem. |
| 25[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 25But in my opinion he has done nothing deserving death. However, since he appealed his case to the emperor, I have decided to send him to Rome. |
| 26[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 26“But what shall I write the emperor? For there is no clear charge against him. So I have brought him before all of you, and especially you, King Agrippa, so that after we examine him, I might have something to write. |
| 27[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 27For it makes no sense to send a prisoner to the emperor without specifying the charges against him!” |
| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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