When he had spent not more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea. The next day, seated at the tribunal, he commanded Paul to be brought in.(A) When he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him and brought many serious charges that they were not able to prove.(B) Then Paul made his defense: “Neither against the Jewish law,(C) nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I sinned in any way.”

But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor,(D) replied to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to be tried before me there on these charges?”

10 Paul replied, “I am standing at Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as even you yourself know very well. 11 If then I did anything wrong and am deserving of death, I am not trying to escape death; but if there is nothing to what these men accuse me of, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!” (E)

12 Then after Festus conferred with his council, he replied, “You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you will go.”

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After Festus had spent no more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to (A)Caesarea, and on the next day he took his seat on (B)the tribunal and ordered that Paul be brought. After Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing (C)many, and serious, charges against him (D)which they could not prove, while Paul said in his own defense, “(E)I have not done anything wrong either against the Law of the Jews, or against the temple, or against Caesar.” But Festus, (F)wanting to do the Jews a favor, replied to Paul and said, “(G)Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and [a]stand trial before me on these charges?” 10 But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s (H)tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you also very well know. 11 If, therefore, I am in the wrong and have committed something deserving death, I am not trying to avoid execution; but if there is nothing to the accusations which these men are bringing against me, no one can hand me over to them. I (I)appeal to Caesar.” 12 Then when Festus had conferred with [b]his council, he answered, “You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you shall go.”

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 25:9 Lit be judged
  2. Acts 25:12 A different group from that mentioned in Acts 4:15 and 24:20