The Acts of the Apostles

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- Chapter 25 -

Now, Festus entered the province, and after three days, he went from Caesarea up to Jerusalem.

The chief priest and the prominent Jews brought accusations against Paul to Festus, and they spoke strongly to Festus.

And they asked Festus for a favor concerning Paul, that he might call him to Jerusalem so that they could kill him along the way.

But Festus answered that Paul was a prisoner in Caesarea, and that he himself was soon to return there.

“Therefore, those who can,” he said, “should go there with us. If there is something wrong with the man, you should accuse him.”

After he stayed eight or ten more days, he went down to Caesarea. And on the next day, he sat in the judgment seat and commanded Paul to be brought to him.

When he arrived, the Jews from Jerusalem stood nearby, and they brought many serious charges which they could not prove.

Paul defended himself and said, “I have done nothing wrong against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.”

But Festus wanted to gain the favor of the Jews, and so he answered Paul and said, “Do you want to go up to Jerusalem and to be judged by me about these things there?”

Paul Appeals to Caesar

Paul said, “I stand before the judgment seat of Caesar where I must be judged. I have wronged no Jews, just as you also very well know.

Though if I have done wrong and if I have done what is worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if their accusations are nothing, no one may hand me over to them. I call upon Caesar.”

After Festus talked with the council, he answered, “You called upon Caesar; you will go to Caesar.”

Festus Consults Agrippa

Now after some days, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay an official visit to Festus.

After he had been there for many days, Festus presented Paul’s case to the king; he said, “A certain man was left behind here by Felix as a prisoner.

When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against this man to me, and they asked for condemnation against him.

To this I answered that it is not the custom with Romans to give up a man as a favor; rather, the accused man should have an opportunity to face his accusers and to make a defense against the charges.

Therefore, when they came together here, I did not wait, but the next day I sat in the judgment seat and I ordered the man to be brought in.

When the accusers stood up and accused him, I thought that none of the charges that they brought against him were serious.

Instead, they had certain disputes with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus who was dead, whom Paul claims to be alive.

I was puzzled about how to investigate this matter, and I asked him if he would go to Jerusalem to be judged there about these things.

But when Paul called to be kept under guard for the emperor’s decision, I ordered him to be kept until I send him to Caesar.”

Agrippa spoke to Festus, “I would also like to listen to this man.” “Tomorrow,” Festus said, “You will hear him.”

Paul before Agrippa and Bernice

So on the next day, Agrippa and Bernice came with much ceremony; they came into the hall with the military officers and with the prominent men of the city. And when Festus spoke the command, Paul was brought to them.

Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all you men who are here with us, you see this man; all the multitude of Jews consulted with me in Jerusalem and here also, and they shouted to me that he should no longer live.

I learned that he had done nothing worthy of death; but because he called upon the emperor, I decided to send him.

But I do not have something definite to write to the emperor. For this reason, I have brought him to you, especially to you, King Agrippa, so that I might have something more to write about the case.

For it seems unreasonable for me to send a prisoner and to not also state the charges against him.”

Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.

Then the high priest and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul, and they begged him,

asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem, plotting to kill him on the way.

However Festus answered that Paul should be kept in custody at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to depart shortly.

“Let them therefore”, he said, “that are in power among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong in the man, let them accuse him.”

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.

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,

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.”

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?”

Paul Appeals to Caesar

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.

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!”

Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you shall go.”

Festus Consults Agrippa

Now when some days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus.

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;

about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, asking for a sentence against him.

I answered them 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.

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.

When the accusers stood up, they brought no charges against him of such things as I supposed;

but had certain questions against him about their own religion and about one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

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.

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.”

Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “you shall hear him.”

Paul before Agrippa and Bernice

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 the principal men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.

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.

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,

of whom I have no certain thing to write to my lord. Therefore I have brought him out before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, that, after examination I may have something to write.

For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to also specify the charges against him.”