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23  Na ka titiro pu a Paora ki te runanga, ka mea, E oku tuakana, tika tonu ki toku mahara taku whakahaere i te aroaro o te Atua, a taea noatia tenei ra.

Na ka mea a Anania tohunga nui ki te hunga e tu ana i tona taha, kia pakia tona mangai.

Ano ra ko Paora ki a ia, Tenei ake ka papaki te Atua i a koe, e te pakitara kua oti te pani ki te paru ma: a ka noho mai koe hei whakawa i ahau i ta te ture i whakatakoto ai, me te whakahau ano kia pakia ahau, e he nei tena ki te ture?

Na ka mea te hunga e tu tata ana, E whakamanumanu ana koe ki te tohunga nui a te Atua?

Ano ra ko Paora, Kihai ahau i matau, e oku tuakana, ko ia te tohunga nui: kua oti hoki te tuhituhi, Aua e korerotia kinotia te rangatira o tou iwi.

A, no ka kite a Paora no nga Haruki etahi, ko etahi no nga Parihi, ka karanga ia i roto i te runanga, E oku tuakana, he Parihi ahau, he tama na nga Parihi: ko te aranga o te hunga mate e tumanakohia nei te mea e whakawakia nei ahau.

A, no tana korerotanga i tenei, ka tohetohe nga Parihi ratou ko nga Haruki: ka wahirua hoki te huihui.

E mea ana hoki nga Haruki, kahore he aranga, kahore he anahera, he wairua ranei: ko nga Parihi ia e whakaae ana ki aua mea e rua.

A ka nui te ngangare; ka whakatika etahi o nga karaipi o to nga Parihi taha, ka totohe, ka mea, Kahore ano i mau i a matou te he o tenei tangata: tena, ka pehea, mehemea kua korero tetahi wairua ki a ia, tetahi anahera ranei?

10 A, no ka nui te ngangau, ka mataku te rangatira mano kei motumotuhia a Paora e ratou, na unga ana e ia nga hoia kia heke atu, ki te tango mai i a ia i roto i a ratou, kia arahina hoki ki te pa.

11 A i taua po ka tu te Ariki ki tona taha, ka mea, Kia maia: kia pena i a koe i whakaatu na moku i Hiruharama, tau whakaatu hoki ki Roma.

12 Ao ake te ra, ka huihui etahi o nga Hurai, ka maka oati ki a ratou ano, ka mea, kia kaua ratou e kai, kia kaua e inu, kia whakamatea ra ano e ratou a Paora.

13 A e wha tekau ngahoro nga tangata nana tenei oatitanga.

14 Na ka haere ratou ki nga tohunga nui ratou ko nga kaumatua, ka mea, Kua oati matou i tetahi oati nui, kia kaua e pa kai, kia mate ra ano a Paora i a matou.

15 Na, ma koutou tahi ko te runanga e ki atu ki te rangatira mano kia arahina iho ia ki a koutou apopo, me te mea nei e mea ana koutou kia ata mohiotia te take ki a ia: ko matou ia, i te mea kiano ia i tata noa, ka noho rite ki te whakamate i a ia.

16 Otira ka rongo te tama a te tuahine o Paora ki to ratou whakaaro whakapapa, ka haere ia, ka tomo ki te pa, ka korero ki a Paora.

17 Katahi ka karanga a Paora ki tetahi keneturio, ka mea, Arahina atu te tamaiti nei ki te rangatira mano: he korero hoki tana ki a ia.

18 Na ka mau ia ki a ia, ka arahi i a ia ki te rangatira mano, ka mea, I karanga te herehere, a Paora, i ahau, i mea kia arahina mai tenei tamaiti ki a koe, he korero hoki tana ki a koe.

19 Na ka mau te rangatira mano ki tona ringa, ka haere ki tahaki, ka ui atu, He aha tau mea hei korero

20 Ano ra ko tera, Kua whakatakoko whakaaro nga Hurai kia mea ki a koe kia arahina iho a Paora apopo ki te runanga, ano e ata uia ano e koe tetahi atu mea mona.

21 Na aua koe e rongo ki a ratou: e wha hoki tekau ngahoro tangata o ratou e whanga ana ki a ia, kua puaki ta ratou oati, kia kaua e kai, kia kaua e inu, kia mate ra ano ia i a ratou: na kua rite tenei ratou, e tatari ana ki te kupu whakaae i a koe.

22 Katahi ka tukua atu taua tamaiti e te rangatira mano, ka mea ia, Kaua e korerotia ki tetahi tau whakaaturanga mai i enei mea ki ahau.

23 Na tokorua nga keneturio i karangatia e ia; i mea ia, Kia rite mai etahi hoia kia rua rau hei haere ki Hiharia, me etahi hoia eke hoiho kia whitu tekau, me tetahi hunga mau matia kia rua rau, i te toru o nga haora o te po;

24 A ka whakahau ia ki a raua, kia whakaritea mai he kararehe, hei whakanohoanga iho mo Paora ki runga, kia kawea oratia ai ia ki a Pirika, ki te kawana.

25 A i tuhituhia e ia he pukapuka, ka penei:

26 Na Karauria Raihia ki a Pirika, ki te kawana pai rawa, Tena koe.

27 I hopukia tenei tangata e nga Hurai, a i a ia ka tata te whakamatea e ratou, ka puta atu ahau me nga hoia, a tangohia mai ana ia; i rongo hoki ahau no Roma ia.

28 I mea ano ahau kia rongo i te take i whakawakia ai ia e ratou, a arahina ana ia e ahau ki to ratou runanga;

29 Na ka kite ahau he kupu tautohe no to ratou ture i whakawakia ai ia, kahore hoki ona he i tika ai te mate, te here ranei.

30 A, no te whakaaturanga mai ki ahau, kei te whakapapatia he mate mo te tangata nei, tonoa tonutia ia e ahau ki a koe, i mea hoki ahau ki ona kaiwhakapae, kia korerotia ki a koe nga mea mona.

31 Na ka mau nga hoia ki a Paora, ka pera me te mea i korerotia ki a ratou, a arahina ana ia i te po ki Anatipatari.

32 Ao ake te ra ka tukua atu nga tangata eke hoiho hei hoa haere mona, a hoki ana ratou ki te pa:

33 A, no te taenga o era ki Hiharia, ka hoatu te pukapuka ki te kawana, a whakaturia ana a Paora ki tona aroaro.

34 A, no te tirohanga iho o te kawana, ka ui, no tehea kawanatanga ia; a, i tona rongonga no Kirikia ia,

35 Ka mea ia, Ka whakarongo ahau ki a koe, ina tae mai ano hoki ou kaiwhakapae: a i whakahau ia, kia tiakina ia i roto i te whare whakawa o Herora.

24  Na ka pahure nga ra e rima, ka haere atu a Anania, te tohunga nui ratou ko etahi kaumatua, ko tetahi kaikorero hoki, ko Tereturu, whakakite ai i nga he o Paora ki te kawana.

A, ka oti ia te karanga, ka timata a Tereturu te whakawa, ka mea, I te mea nau i hua ai te rangimarie ki a matou, he ata ngarahu hoki nau i whakatikatikaina ai nga kino ki tenei iwi,

Nui atu ta matou whakawhetai mo aua mea ka riro mai nei i a matou, i nga wa katoa, i nga wahi katoa, e Pirika, e te tangata pai rawa.

Otiia e kore e nui atu taku whakaware i a koe, koia ka inoi atu ki a koe kia pai koe ki te whakarongo mai ki etahi kupu torutoru a matou.

I mau hoki i a matou te koroke nei, he tangata whakatutehu, e whakaoho ana i nga Hurai katoa o te ao, ko ia hoki te tino take o te titorehanga ki ta nga Nahareti:

I mea hoki ia kia whakanoatia te temepara: na ka hopu matou i a ia, ka mea kia whakawakia ia ki ta to matou ture i whakatakoto ai.

Otira i puta mai a Raihia, te rangatira mano, a tangohia kinotia atu ana ia i o matou ringa.

A unga ana ona kaiwhakapae kia haere mai ki a koe: mau e ui ki a ia, kia rongo ai koe ki enei mea katoa e whakawakia nei ia e matou.

A i whakaae hoki nga Hurai ki taua whakapae, i mea, Koia tera ko aua mea.

10 A, ka tohu atu te kawana ki a ia kia korero, ka whakahokia e Paora, E matau ana ahau, ka maha ou tau e whakawa nei koe i tenei iwi, koia i pai ai toku ngakau ki te tohe i te tika o aku mea:

11 E takoto kau ana hoki hei mohiotanga mou, kahore i maha ake i te tekau ma rua nga ra oku i haere nei ki Hiruharama, ki te karakia.

12 Kihai ano ahau i mau i a ratou i roto i te temepara e totohe ana ki tetahi, e mea ana ranei i te mano kia tutu, kahore i nga whare karakia, kahore ano hoki i te pa:

13 E kore ano e taea e ratou te whakatau ki ahau i tou aroaro nga mea e whakawakia nei ahau e ratou.

14 Otira me whaki tenei e ahau ki a koe, ko te ara e kiia nei e ratou he titorehanga, ko taku tena i ahau e karakia nei ki te Atua o oku matua; e whakapono ana hoki ahau ki nga mea katoa kua oti te whakarite i roto i te ture, kua oti hoki te tuhitu hi ki ta nga poropiti:

15 E tumanako ana ki ta te Atua, ki ta enei ano hoki e whakaae nei, ara tenei ake ka ara te hunga mate, nga tangata tika, nga tangata he.

16 Tenei ano taku e whai nei, kia harakore tonu toku hinengaro i te aroaro o te Atua, o nga tangata.

17 Na, muri iho i nga tau e maha, ka tae mai ahau ki te kawe mai i nga mea atawhai rawakore ki toku iwi, me nga whakahere:

18 I kitea ahau i reira e ratou, e purea ana i roto i te temepara, kahore he huihui, kahore he ngangau:

19 Tera ano ra etahi Hurai no Ahia; ko te tikanga kia haere mai ratou ki a koe ki te whakawa, ki te mea he mea ta ratou moku.

20 Tenei ranei ma enei tangata tonu e korero, me i kitea e ratou he he toku, i ahau e tu ana i mua i te runanga,

21 Ko taua kupu kotahi pea i karanga ai ahau, i ahau e tu ana i roto i a ratou, Ko te aranga o te hunga mate te mea e whakawakia nei ahau e koutou inaianei.

22 Otira, i te mea he nui atu tona mohio ki taua ritenga, ka unga ratou e Pirika, ka mea ia, Kia tae mai a Raihia, te rangatira mano, ka tino rapu ahau ki te tikanga o a koutou mea.

23 Na ka mea ia ki te keneturio kia tiakina a Paora, kia waiho noa ano ia, kia kaua e riria ona hoa ina mahi ki a ia.

24 Na muri iho i etahi ra ka tae mai a Pirika raua ko tana wahine ko Ruruhira, he Hurai, ka mea ia kia tikina atu a Paora, a ka whakarongo ki a ia ki te whakapono ki a te Karaiti.

25 A, i a ia e korero ana ki nga mea o te tika, ki te hiahia kia pehia, ki te whakawakanga kei te haere mai, ka wiri a Pirika, ka mea, Haere aianei; kia watea ahau, ka karanga atu ai ano i a koe.

26 Tohu noa hoki ka hoatu ki a ia he moni e Paora: koia i hono ai te tiki atu i a ia, te korero ki a ia.

27 Otira, ka pahure nga tau e rua, ka whakakapia a Pirika e Porohia Petuha; a, i tona hiahia ki te whakamanawareka i nga Hurai, ka waiho e Pirika a Paora kia here ana.

25  No te taenga mai o Petuha ki te kawanatanga, ka toru nga ra, ka haere atu ia i Hiharia ki Hiruharama.

Na ka korero te tohunga nui me nga rangatira o nga Hurai ki a ia mo Paora, ka tohe ki a ia,

Kia whakaaetia ta ratou mona, kia tikina atu ia ki Hiruharama, he whanga hoki to ratou mona kia whakamatea ki te ara.

Otira ka whakahokia e Petuha, kei Hiharia a Paora e pupuri ana, a tera e hohoro tona haere ki reira.

I mea ano ia, Me haere tahi ano i ahau ki raro nga mea o koutou e whai mana ana, ki te whakawa i taua tangata, ki te mea he kino tona.

A ka noho ia i a ratou mo nga ra e waru, ngahuru ranei, na ka haere ki Hiharia; ao ake te ra ka noho ki te nohoanga whakawa, a ka mea kia arahina mai a Paora.

A, no tona taenga atu, e tu ana tera nga Hurai i haere mai i Hiruharama, he maha, he nui nga he i whakapangia e ratou ki a Paora; heoi kihai i u ta ratou.

A ka utua e Paora, Kahore rawa oku hara ki te ture a nga Hurai, kahore hoki ki te temepara, kahore ano ki a Hiha.

Heoi ka mea a Petuha ki a Paora, i tona hiahia kia paingia e nga Hurai, E pai ana ranei koe kia haere ki Hiruharama, ki reira whakawakia ai mo enei mea ki toku aroaro?

10 Ano ra ko Paora, E tu ana ahau ki te nohoanga whakawa o Hiha, hei reira tonu ahau whakawakia ai: kahore oku he ki nga Hurai, kua tino kitea na hoki e koe.

11 Me he he toku, kua meinga ranei e ahau tetahi mea e tika ai te mate, e kore ahau e kino kia mate: tena ko tenei he teka nga mea e whakapangia nei e ratou ki ahau, e kore e ahei kia tukua ahau e tetahi ki a ratou. He karanga tenei naku ki a Hiha.

12 Na ka korerorero a Petuha ki te runanga, a ka mea, Kua karanga koe ki a Hiha: na me haere koe ki a Hiha.

13 A muri iho i etahi ra, ka tae atu a Kingi Akaripa, raua ko Pereniki ki Hiharia, a ka oha ki a Petuha.

14 A, ka po maha raua e noho ana i reira, ka korerotia e Petuha ki te kingi te take mo Paora, ka mea, Tenei tetahi tangata i waiho iho e Pirika e here ana:

15 A, i ahau i Hiruharama, ka korerotia mai ia ki ahau e nga tohunga nui, e nga kaumatua o nga Hurai, ka tono ratou kia whakawakia ia.

16 Na ko taku whakahokinga atu ki a ratou, Ehara i te ritenga na nga tangata o Roma kia tukua he tangata kia mate i te mea kiano i tutataki noa te tangata e whakawakia ana ki nga kaiwhakapae, i whai wahi ranei ki te whakahoki kupu ki te kupu whakaw a mona.

17 No reira, i to ratou minenga mai ki konei, kihai ahau i whakaora; ao ake te ra ka noho ahau ki te nohoanga whakawa, ka mea kia arahina mai taua tangata.

18 A, i te turanga o nga kaiwhakapae, kihai tetahi he o aku i whakaaro ai i korerotia e ratou mona:

19 Heoi he kupu tautohetohe no ta ratou karakia ta ratou i mea ai ki a ia, ko tetahi Ihu ano i mate, e kiia ana hoki e Paora kei te ora.

20 Heoi pohewa noa iho ahau ki taua tautohe, ka mea hoki me kore ia e pai kia haere ki Hiruharama, ki reira whakawakia ai mo aua mea.

21 No te karangatanga a Paora kia waiho ia kia whakarangona tana e te Emepara, ka whakahaua e ahau kia puritia ia, kia tukua ra ano ia e ahau ki a Hiha.

22 Ka mea a Akaripa ki a Petuha, E hiahia ana ano ahau kia rongo i taua tangata. Ka mea ia, Ko apopo koe rongo ai ki a ia.

23 Heoi, i te aonga ake, ka tae atu a Akaripa raua ko Pereniki, me nga whakapaipai maha, a tomo ana ki te whare whakarongo, ratou ko nga rangatira mano, ko nga tangata nunui o te pa, a ka whakahaua e Petuha, ka mauria mai a Paora.

24 Na ka mea a Petuha, E Kingi Akaripa, e nga tangata katoa hoki e noho nei tatou, ka kite koutou i tenei tangata, i tohe mai ai ki ahau te huihui katoa o nga Hurai i Hiruharama, i konei ano hoki, i karanga ai, ehara rawa i te tika kia waiho ia kia ora ana.

25 Otira i kite ahau, kahore ana mahi e tika ai te mate: a, i te mea nana ano i karanga ki te Emepara, ka mea ahau kia unga atu aia.

26 Kahore ia aku tino mea e tuhituhi atu ai ahau mona ki toku ariki. Koia ahau ka arahi mai nei i a ia ki a koutou, ki a koe rawa ano, e Kingi Akaripa, kia whai mea ai ahau hei tuhituhinga atu, ua mutu te uiui.

27 Ki taku hoki he mea he kia unga atu he herehere, a kia kaua hoki e korerotia te mea i whakawakia ai ia.

23 Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin(A) and said, “My brothers,(B) I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience(C) to this day.” At this the high priest Ananias(D) ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.(E) Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall!(F) You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!”(G)

Those who were standing near Paul said, “How dare you insult God’s high priest!”

Paul replied, “Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’[a](H)

Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees(I) and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers,(J) I am a Pharisee,(K) descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead.”(L) When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection,(M) and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe all these things.)

There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees(N) stood up and argued vigorously. “We find nothing wrong with this man,”(O) they said. “What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”(P) 10 The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.(Q)

11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage!(R) As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”(S)

The Plot to Kill Paul

12 The next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy(T) and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.(U) 13 More than forty men were involved in this plot. 14 They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.(V) 15 Now then, you and the Sanhedrin(W) petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.”

16 But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks(X) and told Paul.

17 Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.” 18 So he took him to the commander.

The centurion said, “Paul, the prisoner,(Y) sent for me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.”

19 The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside and asked, “What is it you want to tell me?”

20 He said: “Some Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin(Z) tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about him.(AA) 21 Don’t give in to them, because more than forty(AB) of them are waiting in ambush for him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him.(AC) They are ready now, waiting for your consent to their request.”

22 The commander dismissed the young man with this warning: “Don’t tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”

Paul Transferred to Caesarea

23 Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, “Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen[b] to go to Caesarea(AD) at nine tonight.(AE) 24 Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”(AF)

25 He wrote a letter as follows:

26 Claudius Lysias,

To His Excellency,(AG) Governor Felix:

Greetings.(AH)

27 This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him,(AI) but I came with my troops and rescued him,(AJ) for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen.(AK) 28 I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin.(AL) 29 I found that the accusation had to do with questions about their law,(AM) but there was no charge against him(AN) that deserved death or imprisonment. 30 When I was informed(AO) of a plot(AP) to be carried out against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also ordered his accusers(AQ) to present to you their case against him.

31 So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul with them during the night and brought him as far as Antipatris. 32 The next day they let the cavalry(AR) go on with him, while they returned to the barracks.(AS) 33 When the cavalry(AT) arrived in Caesarea,(AU) they delivered the letter to the governor(AV) and handed Paul over to him. 34 The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,(AW) 35 he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers(AX) get here.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard(AY) in Herod’s palace.

Paul’s Trial Before Felix

24 Five days later the high priest Ananias(AZ) went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges(BA) against Paul before the governor.(BB) When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: “We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation. Everywhere and in every way, most excellent(BC) Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude. But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly.

“We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots(BD) among the Jews(BE) all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene(BF) sect(BG) and even tried to desecrate the temple;(BH) so we seized him. [7] [c] By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him.”

The other Jews joined in the accusation,(BI) asserting that these things were true.

10 When the governor(BJ) motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: “I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense. 11 You can easily verify that no more than twelve days(BK) ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple,(BL) or stirring up a crowd(BM) in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. 13 And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me.(BN) 14 However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors(BO) as a follower of the Way,(BP) which they call a sect.(BQ) I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets,(BR) 15 and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection(BS) of both the righteous and the wicked.(BT) 16 So I strive always to keep my conscience clear(BU) before God and man.

17 “After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor(BV) and to present offerings. 18 I was ceremonially clean(BW) when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance.(BX) 19 But there are some Jews from the province of Asia,(BY) who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me.(BZ) 20 Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin— 21 unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’”(CA)

22 Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way,(CB) adjourned the proceedings. “When Lysias the commander comes,” he said, “I will decide your case.” 23 He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard(CC) but to give him some freedom(CD) and permit his friends to take care of his needs.(CE)

24 Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus.(CF) 25 As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control(CG) and the judgment(CH) to come, Felix was afraid(CI) and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” 26 At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.

27 When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus,(CJ) but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews,(CK) he left Paul in prison.(CL)

Paul’s Trial Before Festus

25 Three days after arriving in the province, Festus(CM) went up from Caesarea(CN) to Jerusalem, where the chief priests and the Jewish leaders appeared before him and presented the charges against Paul.(CO) They requested Festus, as a favor to them, to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem, for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way.(CP) Festus answered, “Paul is being held(CQ) at Caesarea,(CR) and I myself am going there soon. Let some of your leaders come with me, and if the man has done anything wrong, they can press charges against him there.”

After spending eight or ten days with them, Festus went down to Caesarea. The next day he convened the court(CS) and ordered that Paul be brought before him.(CT) When Paul came in, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him. They brought many serious charges against him,(CU) but they could not prove them.(CV)

Then Paul made his defense: “I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law or against the temple(CW) or against Caesar.”

Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor,(CX) said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?”(CY)

10 Paul answered: “I am now standing before Caesar’s court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews,(CZ) as you yourself know very well. 11 If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”(DA)

12 After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”

Festus Consults King Agrippa

13 A few days later King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea(DB) to pay their respects to Festus. 14 Since they were spending many days there, Festus discussed Paul’s case with the king. He said: “There is a man here whom Felix left as a prisoner.(DC) 15 When I went to Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him(DD) and asked that he be condemned.

16 “I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand over anyone before they have faced their accusers and have had an opportunity to defend themselves against the charges.(DE) 17 When they came here with me, I did not delay the case, but convened the court the next day and ordered the man to be brought in.(DF) 18 When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. 19 Instead, they had some points of dispute(DG) with him about their own religion(DH) and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive. 20 I was at a loss how to investigate such matters; so I asked if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial there on these charges.(DI) 21 But when Paul made his appeal to be held over for the Emperor’s decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar.”(DJ)

22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man myself.”

He replied, “Tomorrow you will hear him.”(DK)

Paul Before Agrippa(DL)

23 The next day Agrippa and Bernice(DM) came with great pomp and entered the audience room with the high-ranking military officers and the prominent men of the city. At the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. 24 Festus said: “King Agrippa, and all who are present with us, you see this man! The whole Jewish community(DN) has petitioned me about him in Jerusalem and here in Caesarea, shouting that he ought not to live any longer.(DO) 25 I found he had done nothing deserving of death,(DP) but because he made his appeal to the Emperor(DQ) I decided to send him to Rome. 26 But I have nothing definite to write to His Majesty about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that as a result of this investigation I may have something to write. 27 For I think it is unreasonable to send a prisoner on to Rome without specifying the charges against him.”

Footnotes

  1. Acts 23:5 Exodus 22:28
  2. Acts 23:23 The meaning of the Greek for this word is uncertain.
  3. Acts 24:7 Some manuscripts include here him, and we would have judged him in accordance with our law. But the commander Lysias came and took him from us with much violence, ordering his accusers to come before you.