Acts

Acts 25 ©

1 The Jews accuse Paul to Festus, first at Jerusalem, and afterward at Caesarea: 8 he answereth for himself, and appealeth to Caesar: his appeal is admitted. 13 Festus being visited by king Agrippa openeth the matter to him, who desireth to hear Paul. 23 Paul is brought forth; Festus declareth he found nothing in him worthy of death.

1

NOW when Festus was come into the aprovince, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem.

a ch. 23.34.
2

bThen the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him,

b ch. 24.1. Ps. 2.1,2. Mat. 10.17.
3

And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, claying wait in the way to kill him.

c ch. 23.12-15. Ps. 140.5; 37.32.
4

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

5

dLet them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him.

d ch. 23.30; 24.8.
6

And when he had tarried among them 1more than ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought.

7

And when he was come, the Jews which ecame down from Jerusalem stood round about, fand laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.

e ch. 24.1.
f Es. 3.8. Ps. 27.12; 35.11. Lu. 23.2,5,10. Mat. 5.11,12; 26.60. ch. 21.28; 24.5,6,13.
8

While he answered for himself, gNeither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all.

g ch. 21.28; 24.12,16; 23.1; 26.4-6,22; 28.17. v.10.
9

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

h ch. 12.3; 24.27. Ga. 1.10. Pr. 29.25.
i v.20.
10

Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.

11

jFor 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, kno man may deliver me unto them. lI appeal unto Caesar.

j Jos. 22.22. 1Sa. 12.3,5. ch. 18.14; 21.24; 23.29.
k ch. 16.37,38; 22.25-28. 1Th. 2.15. 1Sa. 27.1.
l ch. 26.32; 28.19.
12

Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? munto Caesar shalt thou go.

m v.21. ch. 26.32; 19.21; 23.11.
13

And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus.

14

And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying, nThere is a certain man left in bonds by Felix:

n ch. 24.27.
15

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

o v.1-6. Es. 3.9.
16

To whom I answered, pIt is not the *manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that qhe which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.

p Jn. 7.51. De. 17.4; 19.17,18.
q ch. 23.30; 24.19.
17

rTherefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth.

r v.4-6.
18

Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed:

19

sBut had certain questions against him of their own tsuperstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

s v.7. ch. 26.22,23. 1Co. 15.3,4. ch. 18.15; 23.29. Re. 1.18.
t ch. 17.22.
20

And because 2I doubted of such *manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters.

21

But when Paul had uappealed to be reserved unto the 3hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar.

u v.10. ch. 26.32. 2Ti. 4.16.
22

Then Agrippa said unto Festus, vI would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.

v Is. 52.15. ch. 9.15.
23

And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with wgreat pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus' commandment xPaul was brought forth.

w Eze. 7.24. Es. 1.4. Da. 4.30. ch. 12.21. 1Co.7.31. Ja. 1.11. 1Pe. 1.24. Ec. 1.2.
x ch. 9.15.
24

And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ye see this man, about whom yall the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that zhe ought not to live any longer.

y v.3,7.
z ch. 22.22.
25

But when I found that he had committed anothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath bappealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.

a ch. 23.9,29; 26.31. Jn. 18.38. Lu. 23.4,14,15.
b v.11,12.
26

Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, cand specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to write.

c ch. 26.2,3.
27

For dit seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not *withal to signify the crimes laid against him.

d Pr. 18.13. Jn. 7.51.