Paul Before Agrippa and Bernice

13 Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus. 14 And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king, saying, (A)“There is a man left prisoner by Felix, 15 and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews laid out their case (B)against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him. 16 (C)I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone (D)before the accused met the accusers face to face and had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against him. 17 (E)So when they came together here, I made no delay, but on the next day took my seat on (F)the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought. 18 When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed. 19 Rather they (G)had certain points of dispute with him about their own religion and about (H)a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive. 20 Being at a loss how to investigate these questions, I (I)asked whether he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding them. 21 But (J)when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of (K)the emperor, I ordered him to be held until I could send him to Caesar.” 22 Then (L)Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” said he, “you will hear him.”

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King Agrippa Meets Paul

13 After several days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to welcome Festus. 14 Since they were staying there for several days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king. He said, “There is a man here who was left in prison by Felix. 15 When I went to Jerusalem, the high priests and the Jewish elders informed me about him and asked me to condemn him. 16 I answered them that it was not the Roman custom to sentence a man to be punished until the accused met his accusers face to face and had an opportunity to defend himself against the charge. 17 So they came here with me, and the next day without any delay I sat down in the judge’s seat and ordered the man to be brought in. 18 When his accusers stood up, they didn’t accuse him of any of the crimes[a] I was expecting. 19 Instead, they had several arguments with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus who had died—but Paul kept asserting he was alive. 20 I was puzzled how I should investigate such matters, so I asked if he would like to go to Jerusalem and be tried there for these things. 21 But Paul appealed his case and asked to be held in prison until the decision of his Majesty. So I ordered him to be held in custody until I could send him to the emperor.”

22 Agrippa told Festus, “I would like to hear the man.”

“Tomorrow,” he said, “you will hear him.”

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 25:18 Other mss. read of anything

Festus Consults King Agrippa

13 A few days later King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea(A) 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.(B) 15 When I went to Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him(C) 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.(D) 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.(E) 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(F) with him about their own religion(G) 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.(H) 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.”(I)

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

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

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