Acts 25

Whiston^{(i) 1} Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Cesarea to Jerusalem. ² Then the high priests and the chief of the Jews, informed him against Paul, and besought him, ³ And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him. ⁴ But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Cesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly. ⁵ Let them therefore, said he, who among you are able, go down with [me,] and accuse this man, if there be any crime in him. ⁶ And when he had tarried among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down unto Cesarea, and the next day sitting in the judgment-seat, commanded Paul to be brought. ⁷ And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem, stood round about him, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove; ⁸ While Paul answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Cesar, have I offended any thing at all. 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? ¹⁰ Then said Paul, I stand at Cesars judgment-seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest. ¹¹ For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but ifthere be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me onto them. I appeal unto Cesar. ¹² Then Festus when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Cesar? unto Cesar shalt thou go. ¹³ And after certain days, King Agrippa and Bernice came unto Cesarea to salute 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: ¹⁵ About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed [me,] desiring condemnation against him. ¹⁶ To whom Ianswered, it is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he who is accused, have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crimes laid against him, ¹⁷ Therefore when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and I commanded the man to be brought forth. ¹⁸ Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought no wicked accusation of such things as I supposed: ¹⁹ But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. ²⁰ Andbecause I 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 appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Cesar. ²² Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man my self. To morrow, said he, thou shall 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, at Festus commandment Paul was brought forth. ²⁴ And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men who are here present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me at Jerusalem, desiring, and crying that he ought not 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.] 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 may have somewhat that I may write. ²⁷ For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes against him.