Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

25 ¹ So Festus, having set-foot in the province, went up after three days to Jerusalem from Caesarea. ² And the chief priests and the leading ones of the Jews brought-charges to him against Paul. And they were appealing-to him, ³ asking-for a favor against him, so that he might summon him to Jerusalem— while making an ambush to kill him along the way. ⁴ Then indeed Festus responded that Paul was being kept in Caesarea, and that he himself was about to be proceeding-out [of Jerusalem] shortly. ⁵ “So”, he says, “the powerful ones among you having gone-down-with me— if there is something out-of-place in the man, let them be accusing him there”. ⁶ And having spent days among them (not more than eight or ten), having come down to Caesarea, having sat on the judgment-seat on the next day, he ordered that Paul be brought.

When Festus Suggests a Trial In Jerusalem, Paul Appeals To Caesar

⁷ And he having arrived, the Jews having come down from Jerusalem stood around him bringing many and weighty charges against him, which they were not able to prove— ⁸ Paul speaking-in-defense that “Neither against the Law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, did I sin anything”. ⁹ But Festus, wishing to gain favor with the Jews, having responded to Paul, said, “Are you willing, having gone up to Jerusalem, to be judged there before me concerning these things?” ¹⁰ And Paul said, “I am standing here before the judgment-seat of Caesar, where I ought-to be judged. I did the Jews no wrong, as you also are knowing very well. ¹¹ So if I am doing wrong^[a] and have committed something worthy of death, I am not refusing to die. But if the things of which these ones are accusing me are nothing, no one is able^[b] to freely-give me to them. I appeal-to Caesar^[c]”. ¹² Then Festus, having talked-with his council, responded, “You have appealed-to Caesar— you will go before Caesar”.