Paul appeals to Caesar. King Agrippa desires to hear him.
25:1. Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days, he
went up to Jerusalem from Cesarea.
25:2. And the chief priests and principal men of the Jews went unto him
against Paul: and they besought him,
25:3. Requesting favour against him, that he would command him to be
brought to Jerusalem, laying wait to kill him in the way.
25:4. But Festus answered: That Paul was kept in Caesarea: and that he
himself would very shortly depart thither.
25:5. Let them, therefore, saith he, among you that are able, go down
with me and accuse him, if there be any crime in the man.
25:6. And having tarried among them no more than eight or ten days, he
went down to Caesarea. And the next day, he sat in the judgment seat and
commanded Paul to be brought.
25:7. Who being brought, the Jews stood about him, who were come down
from Jerusalem, objecting many and grievious causes, which they could
not prove:
25:8. Paul making answer for himself: Neither against the law of the
Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I offended in any
thing.
25:9. But Festus, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, answering Paul,
said: Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem and there be judged of these things
before me?
25:10. Then Paul said: I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought
to be judged. To the Jews I have done no injury, as thou very well
knowest.
25:11. For if I have injured them or have committed any thing worthy of
death, I refuse not to die. But if there be none of these things whereof
they accuse me, no man may deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar.
25:12. Then Festus, having conferred with the council, answered: Hast
thou appealed to Caesar? To Caesar shalt thou go.
25:13. And after some days, king Agrippa and Bernice came down to
Caesarea, to salute Festus.
25:14. And as they tarried there many days, Festus told the king of
Paul, saying: A certain man was left prisoner by Felix.
25:15. About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the
ancients of the Jews came unto me, desiring condemnation against him.
25:16. To whom I answered: it is not the custom of the Romans to condemn
any man, before that he who is accused have his accusers present and
have liberty to make his answer, to clear himself of the things laid to
his charge.
25:17. When therefore they were come hither, without any delay, on the
day following, sitting in the judgment seat, I commanded the man to be
brought.
25:18. Against whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no
accusation of this which I thought ill of:
25:19. But had certain questions of their own superstition against him,
and of one Jesus deceased, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
25:20. I therefore being in a doubt of this manner of question, asked
him whether he would go to Jerusalem and there be judged of these
things.
25:21. But Paul, appealing to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus,
I commanded him to be kept, till I might send him to Caesar.
25:22. And Agrippa said to Festus: I would also hear the man, myself.
To-morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.
25:23. And on the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice were come with
great pomp and had entered into the hall of audience with the tribunes
and principal men of the city, at Festus' commandment, Paul was brought
forth.
25:24. And Festus saith: King Agrippa and all ye men who are here
present with us, you see this man, about whom all the multitude of the
Jews dealt with me at Jerusalem, requesting and crying out that he ought
not to live any longer.
25:25. Yet have I found nothing that he hath committed worthy of death.
But forasmuch as he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined
to send him.
25:26. Of whom I have nothing certain to write to my lord. For which
cause, I have brought him forth before you, and especially before thee,
O king Agrippa, that, examination being made, I may have what to write.
25:27. For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner and not to
signify the things laid to his charge.