Acts 25:1-19 ▼

1 NOW when Fes’tus arrived at Cæsa- re’a, after three days he went up to Jerusalem.

2 Then the high priests and Jewish leaders informed him against Paul.

3 They besought him as a favor to send for him and bring him to Jerusalem, for they were plotting to kill him on the way.

4 But Fes’tus answered that Paul should be kept at Cæs-a-re’a, and that he himself was shortly going there.

5 Therefore, said he, let those who are able among you come down with us and accuse the man about any offense which can be found against him.

6 And when he had tarried there eight or ten days, he went down to Cæs-a-re’a, and the next day he sat on the judgment seat and commanded Paul to be brought.

7 And when he was come, the Jews who had come from Jerusalem surrounded him, and brought against him many serious charges which they could not prove.

8 Then Paul answered, I have committed no offense against the Jewish law, or against the temple, or against Cæsar.

9 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?

10 Paul answered and said, I stand before Cæsar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be tried: I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you very well know.

11 If I had committed any crime or had done anything worthy of death, I should not refuse to die: but if there is no truth in the charges made against me, then no man may deliver me to them just to please them. I appeal to Cæsar.

12 Festus, when he had conferred with his counsellors, decreed, You have appealed to Cæsar. You will go to Cæsar.

13 Some days later, King A-grip’pa and Ber-ni’ce came down to Cæs-a-re’a to greet Festus.

14 And when they had been with him several days, Festus related Paul’s case to the king, saying, There is a certain prisoner left by Felix:

15 And when I was in Jerusalem, the high priests and the elders of the Jews informed me about him, and asked to have judgment against him.

16 I told them, It is not the Roman custom to give up a man to be slain, until his accusers come and accuse him face to face, and give him a chance to defend himself against the charges.

17 So when I arrived here, the following day, without any delay, I sat on the judgment seat and commanded the man to be brought before me.

18 When his accusers stood up with him, they were unable to prove, as I had expected, any serious charges against him.

19 But they had certain grievances against him relative to their own worship and to one named Jesus, now dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.