Acts 25

Festus succeeded Felix as governor, and the Jews pressed their case against Paul. When Festus proposed sending him back to Jerusalem, Paul appealed to Caesar. King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea, and Festus presented Paul's case to them, having found no charge worthy of death.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem.	Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem.
2	Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him,	The chief priests and leading men of the Jews presented their case against Paul to Festus and urged him
3	And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.	to grant them a favor by having Paul transferred to Jerusalem — for they were planning to ambush and kill him along the way.
4	But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither.	Festus answered that Paul was being held at Caesarea and that he himself would be going there soon.
5	Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him.	"Let those among you who are able come down with me," he said, "and if this man has done anything wrong, they can press charges against him there."
6	And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and the next day sitting in the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought.	After staying with them more than ten days, Festus went down to Caesarea. The next day he took his seat on the judgment bench and ordered Paul to be brought in.
7	And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.	When Paul appeared, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him. They brought many serious charges against him that they could not prove.
8	While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all.	Paul said in his defense, "I have committed no offense against the Jewish law, against the temple, or against Caesar."
9	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?	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?"
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.	Paul replied, "I am standing before Caesar's court, where I should be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well.
11	For 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. I appeal unto Caesar.	If I am guilty and have done something worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges these men are bringing against me are false, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!"
12	Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.	Festus conferred with his council and then replied, "You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go."
13	And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus.	Some days later King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus.
14	And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix:	Since they spent several days there, Festus laid Paul's case before the king. He said, "There is a man here left as a prisoner by Felix.
15	About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him.	When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and elders of the Jews brought charges against him and asked for a verdict against him.
16	To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.	I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand over any man to be condemned before he has faced his accusers and had a chance to defend himself against the charges.
17	Therefore, 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.	When they came here, I did not delay. The very next day I sat on the judgment bench and ordered the man to be brought in.
18	Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed:	When his accusers stood up, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected.
19	But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.	Instead they had some disputes with Him about their own religion and about a man named Jesus Who had died, whom Paul claimed was alive.
20	And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters.	Since I was unsure how to investigate such questions, I asked whether He would be willing to go to Jerusalem to stand trial on these matters.
21	But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar.	But when Paul appealed to be held over for the Emperor's decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar."
22	Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.	Agrippa said to Festus, "I would like to hear this man myself." "Tomorrow," said Festus, "you will hear him."
23	And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, Festus' commandment Paul was brought forth.	The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great ceremony and entered the audience hall along with the military commanders and leading men of the city. At Festus's command, Paul was brought in.
24	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.	Festus said, "King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man. The whole Jewish community has petitioned me about him — both in Jerusalem and here — shouting that he should not be allowed to live any longer.
25	But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.	I found that he had done nothing deserving death. But since he himself has appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.
26	Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. 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.	I have nothing definite to write to His Majesty about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after this examination I may have something to write.
27	For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him.	It seems absurd to me to send a prisoner without specifying the charges against him."