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 (A)the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought. When he had arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him (B)that they could not prove. Paul argued in his defense, “Neither (C)against (D)the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor (E)against Caesar have I committed any offense.” But Festus, (F)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?” 10 But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar's (G)tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well. 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. (H)I appeal to Caesar.” 12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.”

Read full chapter

Festus[a] stayed with them no more than eight or ten days and then went down to Caesarea. The next day, he sat on the judge’s seat and ordered Paul brought in. When Paul[b] arrived, the Jewish leaders[c] who had come down from Jerusalem surrounded him and began bringing a number of serious charges against him that they couldn’t prove. Paul said in his defense, “I have done nothing wrong against the Law of the Jews, or of the Temple, or of the emperor.”

Then Festus, wanting to do the Jewish leaders[d] a favor, asked Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to be tried there before me on these charges?”

10 But Paul said, “I am standing before the emperor’s judgment seat where I ought to be tried. I haven’t done anything wrong to the Jewish leaders,[e] as you know very well. 11 If I’m guilty and have done something that deserves death, I’m willing to die. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can hand me over to them as a favor. I appeal to the emperor!”

12 Festus talked it over with the council and then answered, “To the emperor you have appealed; to the emperor you will go!”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Acts 25:6 Lit. He
  2. Acts 25:7 Lit. he
  3. Acts 25:7 I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews
  4. Acts 25:9 I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews
  5. Acts 25:10 I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews