Acts
25
1 2 3
4 5 6
7 8
9 10 11
12 13 14
15 16 17
18 19 20
21 22 23
24 25 26
27 28
1 Now when Festus was come into the province, after three
days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem. 2 Then the high priest
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 Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither. 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. 6 And when he had
tarried among them more 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 came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and
laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which 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. 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 Caesars 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 if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may
deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar. 12 Then Festus, when he
had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto
Caesar shalt thou go.
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 Pauls 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 to have
judgment 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 license to answer for himself concerning the
crime laid against him. 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. 18 Against whom when the accusers stood up,
they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed: 19 But had
certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which
was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be 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. 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. 22 Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would
also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt 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 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. 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 might have somewhat to write. 27 For it seemeth to me
unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid
against him.
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