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Acts 25 :: English Standard Version (ESV)

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Paul Appeals to Caesar

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 25:1 - Now three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 25:2 - And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews laid out their case against Paul, and they urged him,
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 25:3 - asking as a favor against Paul[fn] that he summon him to Jerusalem—because they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 25:4 - Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 25:5 - “So,” said he, “let the men of authority among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them bring charges against him.”
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 25:6 - After he stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 25:7 - When he had arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him that they could not prove.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 25:8 - Paul argued in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I committed any offense.”
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 25:9 - But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and there be tried on these charges before me?”
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 25:10 - But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 25:11 - If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.”
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 25:12 - Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.”

Paul Before Agrippa and Bernice

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 25:13 - Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 25:14 - And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, “There is a man left prisoner by Felix,
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 25:15 - and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews laid out their case against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 25:16 - I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone before the accused met the accusers face to face and had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against him.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 25:17 - So when they came together here, I made no delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 25:18 - When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 25:19 - Rather they had certain points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 25:20 - Being at a loss how to investigate these questions, I asked whether he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding them.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 25:21 - But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of the emperor, I ordered him to be held until I could send him to Caesar.”
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 25:22 - Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” said he, “you will hear him.”
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 25:23 - So on the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 25:24 - And Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish people petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 25:25 - But I found that he had done nothing deserving death. And as he himself appealed to the emperor, I decided to go ahead and send him.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 25:26 - But I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after we have examined him, I may have something to write.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 25:27 - For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him.”
ESV Footnotes
Greek him
ESV

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016 by Crossway Books and Bibles, a Publishing Ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

See detailed copyright information.

For more information on this translation, see the ESV Preface.

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