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Acts 25

Paul Appeals to Caesar

1 Now three days after Festus had arrived in ^athe province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. 2 And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews ^blaid out their case against Paul, and they urged him, 3 asking as a favor against Paul ^{▼

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Greek him} that he summon him to Jerusalem—because ^dthey were planning an ambush to kill him on the way. 4 Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly. 5 “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.”

6 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 ^ethe tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought. 7 When he had arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him ^fthat they could not prove. 8 Paul argued in his defense, “Neither ^gagainst ^hthe law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor ⁱagainst Caesar have I committed any offense.” 9 But Festus ^jwishing 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 ^ktribunal, 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. ^lI 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 ^m“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 ⁿagainst him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him. 16 ^oI answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone ^pbefore the accused met the accusers face to face and had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against him. 17 ^qSo when they came together here, I made no delay, but on the next day took my seat on ^rthe 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 ^shad certain points of dispute with him about their own religion and about ^ta certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive. 20 Being at a loss how to investigate these questions, I ^uasked whether he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding them. 21 But ^vwhen Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of ^wthe emperor, I ordered him to be held until I could send him to Caesar.” 22 Then ^xAgrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” said he, “you will hear him.”

23 So on the next day ^yAgrippa 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 ^zthe whole Jewish people petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here ^aashouting that he ought not to live any longer. 25 But I found that ^abhe had done nothing deserving death. And ^acas he himself appealed to ^adthe 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.”