Paul Appeals to Caesar

25 Now three days after Festus had arrived in (A)the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews (B)laid out their case against Paul, and they urged him, asking as a favor against Paul[a] that he summon him to Jerusalem—because (C)they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way. Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly. “So,” said he, “let the men of authority among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them bring charges against him.”

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 (D)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 (E)that they could not prove. Paul argued in his defense, “Neither (F)against (G)the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor (H)against Caesar have I committed any offense.” But Festus, (I)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 (J)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. (K)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.”

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, (L)“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 (M)against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him. 16 (N)I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone (O)before the accused met the accusers face to face and had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against him. 17 (P)So when they came together here, I made no delay, but on the next day took my seat on (Q)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 (R)had certain points of dispute with him about their own religion and about (S)a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive. 20 Being at a loss how to investigate these questions, I (T)asked whether he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding them. 21 But (U)when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of (V)the emperor, I ordered him to be held until I could send him to Caesar.” 22 Then (W)Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” said he, “you will hear him.”

23 So on the next day (X)Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. 24 And Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom (Y)the whole Jewish people petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, (Z)shouting that he ought not to live any longer. 25 But I found that (AA)he had done nothing deserving death. And (AB)as he himself appealed to (AC)the emperor, I decided to go ahead and send him. 26 But I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after we have examined him, I may have something to write. 27 For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him.”

Footnotes

  1. Acts 25:3 Greek him

Paul Appeals to Caesar

25 Now when Festus had come to the province, after three days he went up from (A)Caesarea to Jerusalem. (B)Then the [a]high priest and the chief men of the Jews informed him against Paul; and they petitioned him, asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem—(C)while they lay in ambush along the road to kill him. But Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself was going there shortly. “Therefore,” he said, “let those who have authority among you go down with me and accuse this man, to see (D)if there is any fault in him.”

And when he had remained among them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day, sitting on the judgment seat, he commanded Paul to be brought. When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood about (E)and laid many serious complaints against Paul, which they could not prove, while he answered for himself, (F)“Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I offended in anything at all.”

But Festus, (G)wanting to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, (H)“Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and there be judged before me concerning these things?”

10 So Paul said, “I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you very well know. 11 (I)For if I am an offender, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying; but if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. (J)I appeal to Caesar.”

12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar? To Caesar you shall go!”

Paul Before Agrippa

13 And after some days King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to greet Festus. 14 When they had been there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying: (K)“There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix, 15 (L)about whom the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, when I was in Jerusalem, asking for a judgment against him. 16 (M)To them I answered, ‘It is not the custom of the Romans to deliver any man [b]to destruction before the accused meets the accusers face to face, and has opportunity to answer for himself concerning the charge against him.’ 17 Therefore when they had come together, (N)without any delay, the next day I sat on the judgment seat and commanded the man to be brought in. 18 When the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation against him of such things as I [c]supposed, 19 (O)but had some questions against him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who had died, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. 20 And because I was uncertain of such questions, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there be judged concerning these matters. 21 But when Paul (P)appealed to be reserved for the decision of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I could send him to Caesar.”

22 Then (Q)Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.”

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

23 So the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great [d]pomp, and had entered the auditorium with the commanders and the prominent men of the city, at Festus’ command (R)Paul was brought in. 24 And Festus said: “King Agrippa and all the men who are here present with us, you see this man about whom (S)the whole assembly of the Jews petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying out that he was (T)not fit to live any longer. 25 But when I found that (U)he had committed nothing deserving of death, (V)and that he himself had appealed to Augustus, I decided to send him. 26 I have nothing certain to write to my lord concerning him. Therefore I have brought him out before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the examination has taken place I may have something to write. 27 For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner and not to specify the charges against him.”

Footnotes

  1. Acts 25:2 NU chief priests
  2. Acts 25:16 NU omits to destruction, although it is implied
  3. Acts 25:18 suspected
  4. Acts 25:23 pageantry

Paul before Festus

25 Festus, then, after arriving in (A)the province, went up to Jerusalem from (B)Caesarea three days later. And the chief priests and the leading men of the Jews (C)brought charges against Paul, and they were pleading with [a]Festus, requesting a [b]concession against [c]Paul, that he might [d]have him brought to Jerusalem (at the same time, (D)setting an ambush to kill him on the way). Festus then (E)answered that Paul (F)was being kept in custody in (G)Caesarea, and that he himself was about to leave shortly. “Therefore,” he *said, “have the influential men among you [e]go there with me, and if there is anything wrong [f]about the man, have them bring charges against him.”

After Festus had spent no more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to (H)Caesarea, and on the next day he took his seat on (I)the tribunal and ordered that Paul be brought. After Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing (J)many, and serious, charges against him (K)which they could not prove, while Paul said in his own defense, “(L)I have not done anything wrong either against the Law of the Jews, or against the temple, or against Caesar.” But Festus, (M)wanting to do the Jews a favor, replied to Paul and said, “(N)Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and [g]stand trial before me on these charges?” 10 But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s (O)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 (P)appeal to Caesar.” 12 Then when Festus had conferred with [h]his council, he answered, “You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you shall go.”

13 Now when several days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in (Q)Caesarea, paying their respects to Festus. 14 And while they were spending many days there, Festus presented Paul’s case to the king, saying, “There is a man who was (R)left as a prisoner by Felix; 15 and when I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews (S)brought charges against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him. 16 I (T)replied to them that it is not the custom of the Romans to hand over any person before (U)the accused meets his accusers face to face, and has an opportunity to make his defense against the charges. 17 So after they had assembled here, I did not delay, but on the next day took my seat on (V)the tribunal and ordered that the man be brought. 18 When the accusers stood up, they did not begin bringing any charges [i]against him of crimes that I suspected, 19 but they simply had some (W)points of disagreement with him about their own [j](X)religion and about a dead man, Jesus, whom Paul asserted to be alive. 20 And (Y)being at a loss how to investigate [k]such matters, I [l]asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial there on these matters. 21 But when Paul (Z)appealed to be held in custody for [m]the Emperor’s decision, I ordered that he be kept in custody until I send him to Caesar.” 22 Then (AA)Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he *said, “you shall hear him.”

Paul before Agrippa

23 So, on the next day when (AB)Agrippa and (AC)Bernice came amid great pomp and entered the auditorium, [n]accompanied by the commanders and the prominent men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought before them. 24 And Festus *said, “King Agrippa, and all you gentlemen present with us, you see this man about whom (AD)all the people of the Jews appealed to me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that (AE)he ought not to live any longer. 25 But I found that he had committed (AF)nothing deserving death; and since he himself (AG)appealed to [o]the Emperor, I decided to send him. 26 [p]Yet, I have nothing definite about him to write to my lord. Therefore, I have brought him before you all and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the investigation has taken place, I may have something to write. 27 For it seems absurd to me in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him as well.”

Footnotes

  1. Acts 25:2 Lit him
  2. Acts 25:3 Or favor
  3. Acts 25:3 Lit him
  4. Acts 25:3 Lit summon him to Jerusalem
  5. Acts 25:5 Lit go down
  6. Acts 25:5 Lit in
  7. Acts 25:9 Lit be judged
  8. Acts 25:12 A different group from that mentioned in Acts 4:15 and 24:20
  9. Acts 25:18 Lit in regard to him
  10. Acts 25:19 Or superstition
  11. Acts 25:20 Lit these
  12. Acts 25:20 Lit said
  13. Acts 25:21 Lit the Augustus’ (in this case Nero)
  14. Acts 25:23 Lit and with
  15. Acts 25:25 See note v 21
  16. Acts 25:26 Lit About whom I

猶太人的控告和央求

25 非斯都到了任,過了三天,就從愷撒利亞耶路撒冷去。 祭司長和猶太人的首領向他控告保羅 又央告他,求他的情將保羅提到耶路撒冷來,他們要在路上埋伏殺害他。 非斯都卻回答說:「保羅押在愷撒利亞,我自己快要往那裡去。」 又說:「你們中間有權勢的人與我一同下去,那人若有什麼不是,就可以告他。」

保羅上控愷撒

非斯都在他們那裡住了不過十天八天,就下愷撒利亞去。第二天坐堂,吩咐將保羅提上來。 保羅來了,那些從耶路撒冷下來的猶太人周圍站著,將許多重大的事控告他,都是不能證實的。 保羅分訴說:「無論猶太人的律法或是聖殿,或是愷撒,我都沒有干犯。」 非斯都要討猶太人的喜歡,就問保羅說:「你願意上耶路撒冷去,在那裡聽我審斷這事嗎?」 10 保羅說:「我站在愷撒的堂前,這就是我應當受審的地方。我向猶太人並沒有行過什麼不義的事,這也是你明明知道的。 11 我若行了不義的事,犯了什麼該死的罪,就是死,我也不辭。他們所告我的事若都不實,就沒有人可以把我交給他們。我要上告於愷撒。」 12 非斯都和議會商量了,就說:「你既上告於愷撒,可以往愷撒那裡去。」

亞基帕要聽保羅

13 過了些日子,亞基帕王和百妮基氏來到愷撒利亞,問非斯都安。 14 在那裡住了多日,非斯都保羅的事告訴王,說:「這裡有一個人,是腓力斯留在監裡的。 15 我在耶路撒冷的時候,祭司長和猶太的長老將他的事稟報了我,求我定他的罪。 16 我對他們說,無論什麼人,被告還沒有和原告對質,未得機會分訴所告他的事,就先定他的罪,這不是羅馬人的條例。 17 及至他們都來到這裡,我就不耽延,第二天便坐堂,吩咐把那人提上來。 18 告他的人站著告他,所告的,並沒有我所逆料的那等惡事。 19 不過是有幾樣辯論,為他們自己敬鬼神的事,又為一個人名叫耶穌,是已經死了,保羅卻說他是活著的。 20 這些事當怎樣究問,我心裡作難,所以問他說:『你願意上耶路撒冷去,在那裡為這些事聽審嗎?』 21 保羅求我留下他,要聽皇上審斷,我就吩咐把他留下,等我解他到愷撒那裡去。」 22 亞基帕非斯都說:「我自己也願聽這人辯論。」非斯都說:「明天你可以聽。」

23 第二天,亞基帕百妮基大張威勢而來,同著眾千夫長和城裡的尊貴人進了公廳。非斯都吩咐一聲,就有人將保羅帶進來。 24 非斯都說:「亞基帕王和在這裡的諸位啊,你們看這人,就是一切猶太人在耶路撒冷和這裡曾向我懇求、呼叫說:『不可容他再活著!』 25 但我查明他沒有犯什麼該死的罪,並且他自己上告於皇帝,所以我定意把他解去。 26 論到這人,我沒有確實的事可以奏明主上。因此,我帶他到你們面前,也特意帶他到你亞基帕王面前,為要在查問之後有所陳奏。 27 據我看來,解送囚犯不指明他的罪案是不合理的。」