Acts 25
Wycliffe Bible
25 Therefore when Festus came into the province, after the third day he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.
2 And the princes of priests, and the worthiest of the Jews went to him against Paul [And the prince of priests, and the first of Jews went to him against Paul], and prayed him,
3 and asked grace against him, that he should command him to be led to Jerusalem; and they set ambush to slay him in the way [setting ambush to slay him in the way].
4 But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept in Caesarea; soothly that he himself should proceed more advisedly [soothly that he himself should go forth more ripely, or hastily].
5 Therefore he said, They that in you be mighty, come down together; and if any crime is in the man, accuse they him [accuse him].
6 And he dwelled among them no more than eight either ten days, and came down to Caesarea [Soothly he dwelling among them no more than eight or ten days, came down to Caesarea]; and the tother day he sat for doomsman, and commanded Paul to be brought.
7 And when he was brought forth, Jews stood about him, which came down from Jerusalem, putting against him many and grievous causes, which they might not prove.
8 For Paul yielded reason in all things, That neither against the law of Jews, neither against the temple, neither against the emperor [neither against Caesar], I sinned any thing.
9 But Festus would do grace to the Jews, and answered to Paul, and said [Forsooth Festus willing to give grace to the Jews, answering to Paul, said], Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be deemed of these things before me?
10 And Paul said, At the doom place of the emperor I stand [At the doom place of Caesar I stand], where it behooveth me to be deemed. I have not harmed the Jews, as thou knowest well.
11 For if I have harmed, either done any thing worthy death, I forsake not to die; but if nothing of those is, that they accuse me, no man may give me to them. I appeal to the emperor.[a]
12 Then Festus spake with the council, and answered, To the emperor thou hast appealed, to the emperor thou shalt go [To Caesar thou hast appealed, to Caesar thou shalt go].
13 And when some days were passed, Agrippa king, and Bernice came down to Caesarea, to welcome Festus [to greet well Festus].
14 And when they dwelled there many days, Festus showed to the king of Paul, and said, A man is left bound of Felix [saying, Some man is left bound of Felix],
15 of which, when I was at Jerusalem, princes of priests and the elder men of the Jews came to me, and asked damnation against him [asking damnation against him].
16 To whom I answered, That it is not custom to Romans, to damn any man, before that he that is accused have his accusers present, and take place of defending, to put away the crimes, that be put against him.[b]
17 Therefore when they came together hither, without any delay, in the day following I sat for doomsman, and commanded the man to be brought.
18 And when his accusers stood [Of whom when the accusers stood nigh], they said no cause, of which things I had suspicion of evil.
19 But they had against him some questions of their vain worshipping [of their vain worshipping, or religion], and of one Jesus dead, whom Paul affirmed to live.
20 And I doubted of such manner questions, and said, Whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be deemed of these things?
21 But for Paul appealed, that he should be kept to the knowing of the emperor, I commanded him to be kept, till I send him to the emperor [till I shall send him to Caesar].
22 And Agrippa said to Festus, I myself would hear the man. And he said, To morrow thou shalt hear him. [Soothly Agrippa said to Festus, And I myself would hear the man. To morrow, he said, thou shalt hear him.]
23 And on the tother day, when Agrippa and Bernice came with great desire [when Agrippa and Bernice came with much ambition, or pride of state], and entered into the auditorium, with tribunes and the principal men of the city, when Festus bade, Paul was brought.
24 And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men that be with us, ye see this man, of which all the multitude of Jews prayed me at Jerusalem, and asked, and cried, that he should live no longer[c].
25 But I found, that he had done nothing worthy of death; and I deemed to send him to the emperor, for he appealed this thing [soothly him appealing this thing to the emperor, I deemed to send].
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 is seen to me without reason, to send a bound man, and not to signify the cause of him.
Footnotes
- Acts 25:11 For if I have harmed, or done any thing worthy death, I forsake not to die; soothly if nothing of these is, that they accuse me, no man may give me to them. I appeal to Caesar.
- Acts 25:16 To whom I answered, It is not custom to Romans, to damn any man, before that he that is accused have his accusers present, and take place of defending, to wash away crimes, or great trespasses, that be put against him.
- Acts 25:24 asking and crying, that it behooveth not that he live more
Acts 25
1599 Geneva Bible
25 1 Festus succeeding Felix, 6 commandeth Paul to be brought forth. 11 Paul appealeth unto Caesar. 14 Festus openeth Paul’s matter to king Agrippa, 23 and bringeth him before him, 27 that he may understand his cause.
1 When [a]Festus was then come into the province, after three days he went up from Caesarea unto Jerusalem.
2 Then the high Priest, and the chief of the Jews appeared before him against Paul: and they besought him,
3 And desired favor against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem: and they laid wait to kill him by the way.
4 But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would shortly depart thither.
5 Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, come down with us: and if there be any wickedness in the man, let them accuse him.
6 ¶ [b]Now when he had tarried among them no more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea, and the next day sat in the judgment seat, and commanded Paul to be brought.
7 And when he was come, the Jews which were come from Jerusalem, stood about him and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, whereof [c]they could make no plain proof,
8 Forasmuch as he answered, that he had neither offended anything against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor against Caesar.
9 [d]Yet Festus willing to get favor of the Jews, 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 Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews I have done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.
11 For if I have done wrong, or committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things, whereof they accuse me, no man, to pleasure them, can deliver me to them: I appeal unto Caesar.
12 Then when Festus had spoken with the Council, he answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.
13 ¶ [e]And after certain days, King [f]Agrippa and Bernice came down to Caesarea to salute Festus.
14 And when they had remained there many days, Festus declared Paul’s cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in prison by Felix,
15 Of whom when I came to Jerusalem, the high Priests and Elders of the Jews informed me, and desired to have judgment against him.
16 To whom I answered, that it is not the manner of the Romans for favor to [g]deliver any man to the death, before that he which is accused, have the accusers before him, and have place to defend himself, concerning the crime.
17 Therefore when they were come hither, without delay the day following I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth.
18 Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought no crime of such things as I supposed:
19 [h]But had certain questions against him of their own [i]superstitions, and of one Jesus which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
20 And because I doubted of such manner of question, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things.
21 But because he appealed to be reserved to the examination of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept, till I might send him to Caesar.
22 [j]Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. Tomorrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.
23 And on the morrow when Agrippa was come, and Bernice with great [k]pomp, and were entered into the Common hall with the chief captains and chief men of the city, at Festus’s commandment Paul was brought forth.
24 And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have called upon me, both at Jerusalem, and here, crying, that he ought not to live any longer.
25 Yet have I found nothing worthy of death, that he hath committed: nevertheless, seeing that he hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.
26 Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my [l]lord: wherefore I have brought him forth unto you, and especially unto thee, King Agrippa, that after examination had, I might have somewhat to write.
27 For me thinketh it unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not to show the causes which are laid against him.
Footnotes
- Acts 25:1 Satan’s Ministers are subtle and diligent in seeking all occasions: but God who watcheth for his, hindereth all their counsels easily.
- Acts 25:6 We may repel an injury justly, but not with injury.
- Acts 25:7 They could not prove them certainly and with undoubted reasons.
- Acts 25:9 God doth not only turn away the counsel of the wicked, but also turneth it upon their own heads.
- Acts 25:13 Festus thinking no such thing, even before kings, bringing to light the wickedness of the Jews, and Paul’s innocence, doth marvelously confirm the Church of God.
- Acts 25:13 This Agrippa was Agrippa’s son, whose death Luke spake of before, and Bernice was his sister.
- Acts 25:16 The Romans used not to deliver any man to be punished before, etc.
- Acts 25:19 The profane and wicked take an occasion to condemn the true doctrine by reason of private controversies and contentions of men betwixt themselves: but the truth nevertheless abideth in the mean season safe and sure.
- Acts 25:19 This profane man calleth the Jews’ religion, superstition, and that before king Agrippa, but no marvel: for the rulers of provinces by reason of the majesty of the empire of Rome, used to prefer themselves before kings.
- Acts 25:22 That is fulfilled in Paul, which the Lord before had told to Ananias of him, Acts 9:15.
- Acts 25:23 Gorgeously like a Prince.
- Acts 25:26 To Augustus. Good Princes refused this name at the first, to wit, to be called Lords, but afterwards they admitted it, as we read of Traianus.
Acts 25
Authorized (King James) Version
25 Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Cæsarea 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 Cæsarea, 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 Cæsarea; 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 Cæsar, 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 Cæsar’s 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 Cæsar. 12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Cæsar? unto Cæsar shalt thou go.
13 And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Cæsarea to salute Festus. 14 And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul’s 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 licence 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 Cæsar. 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.
2001 by Terence P. Noble
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
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