1THE
ACTS
OF THE APOSTLES
WRITTEN BY
2LUKE
Acts 25 ©
1 Festus comes in the place of Felix, of whom the High Priest and council of the Jews request that he would cause Paul to come to Jerusalem, thinking to kill him on his way. 4 But Festus will have them to appear before him at Cæsarea. 7 Which they do and accuse him grievously but without proof. 9 Paul, observing that Festus was inclined to send him to Jerusalem, appeals to Cæsar. 13 King Agrippa and Bernice come to Cæsarea, to whom Festus relates Paul’s cause. 22 Agrippa desires that he may hear him, which is done the next day. 24 And Festus relates further what he had done in Paul’s case, and how he had found no fault in him.
NOW when Festus was come into the 1province, after three days he ascended from 2Caesarea to 3Jerusalem.
Then the high priest and 4the chief 5of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him,
And desired favour against 6him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.
But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly 7thither.
Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, 8go down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him.
And when he had tarried among them 9more than ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought.
And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid 10many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.
While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have Ia offended any thing at all.
But Festus, willing to do the Jews a 11pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things 12before me?
Then said Paul, I stand at 13Cæsar's judgment seat, where I 14ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, 15as thou very well knowest.
Forb if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. 16I appeal unto Caesar.
Then Festus, when he had conferred 17with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.
And after certain days king 18Agrippa and 19Bernice came unto Cæsarea 20to salute Festus.
And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying, Therec is a certain man left in bonds by Felix:
About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have 21judgment against him.
To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans 22to deliver anyd man to 23die, before that he which is accused have the accusers 24face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.
Therefore, when they were come hither, 25without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth.
Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought 26none accusation of such things as I supposed:
But had certain 27questions against him of their own 28superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
And because I 29doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters.
But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing 30of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar.
Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.
And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great 31pomp, and was entered into the 32place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus' commandment Paul was brought forth.
And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.
But when I found thate he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.
Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my 33lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to write.
For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withalf to signify the crimes laid against him.