Aug. 13, 14
Acts 25
Act 25:1 Festus
therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to
Jerusalem from Caesarea.
Act 25:2 Then the high
priest and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul,
and they begged him,
Act 25:3 asking a favor
against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem; plotting to kill
him on the way.
Act 25:4 However Festus
answered that Paul should be kept in custody at Caesarea, and that he
himself was about to depart shortly.
Act 25:5 "Let them
therefore," said he, "that are in power among you go down
with me, and if there is anything wrong in the man, let them accuse
him."
Act 25:6 When he had
stayed among them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea, and
on the next day he sat on the judgment seat, and commanded Paul to be
brought.
Act 25:7 When he had
come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him,
bringing against him many and grievous charges which they could not
prove,
Act 25:8 while he said
in his defense, "Neither against the law of the Jews, nor
against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I sinned at all."
Act 25:9 But Festus,
desiring to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, "Are
you willing to go up to Jerusalem, and be judged by me there
concerning these things?"
Act 25:10 But Paul
said, "I am standing before Caesar's judgment seat, where I
ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also know
very well.
Act 25:11 For if I have
done wrong, and have committed anything worthy of death, I don't
refuse to die; but if none of those things is true that they accuse
me of, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!"
Act 25:12 Then Festus,
when he had conferred with the council, answered, "You have
appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you shall go."
Act 25:13 Now when some
days had passed, Agrippa the King and Bernice arrived at Caesarea,
and greeted Festus.
Act 25:14 As he stayed
there many days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king, saying,
"There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix;
Act 25:15 about whom,
when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews
informed me, asking for a sentence against him.
Act 25:16 To whom I
answered that it is not the custom of the Romans to give up any man
to destruction, before the accused has met the accusers face to face,
and has had opportunity to make his defense concerning the matter
laid against him.
Act 25:17 When
therefore they had come together here, I didn't delay, but on the
next day sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be
brought.
Act 25:18 Concerning
whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no charge of such
things as I supposed;
Act 25:19 but had
certain questions against him about their own religion, and about one
Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
Act 25:20 Being
perplexed how to inquire concerning these things, I asked whether he
was willing to go to Jerusalem and there be judged concerning these
matters.
Act 25:21 But when Paul
had appealed to be kept for the decision of the emperor, I commanded
him to be kept until I could send him to Caesar."
Act 25:22 Agrippa said
to Festus, "I also would like to hear the man myself."
"Tomorrow," he said, "you shall hear him."
Act 25:23 So on the
next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp, and they
had entered into the place of hearing with the commanding officers
and principal men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul was
brought in.
Act 25:24 Festus said,
"King Agrippa, and all men who are here present with us, you see
this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews petitioned me,
both at Jerusalem and here, crying that he ought not to live any
longer.
Act 25:25 But when I
found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and as he
himself appealed to the emperor I determined to send him.
Act 25:26 Of whom I
have no certain thing to write to my lord. Therefore I have brought
him forth before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, that,
after examination, I may have something to write.
Act 25:27 For it seems
to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to also specify the
charges against him."