Acts of the Apostles 25

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem.	1 Three days after his arrival in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem
2 Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him,	2 where the chief priests and Jewish leaders presented him their formal charges against Paul. They asked him
3 And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.	3 as a favor to have him sent to Jerusalem, for they were plotting to kill him along the way.
4 But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither.	4 Festus replied that Paul was being held in custody in Caesarea and that he himself would be returning there shortly.
5 Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him.	5 He said, "Let your authorities come down with me, and if this man has done something improper, let them accuse him."
6 And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought.	6 After spending no more than eight or ten days with them, he went down to Caesarea, and on the following day took his seat on the tribunal and ordered that Paul be brought in.
7 And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.	7 When he appeared, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem surrounded him and brought many serious charges against him, which they were unable to prove.
8 While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all.	8 In defending himself Paul said, "I have committed no crime either against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar."
9 But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?	9 Then Festus, wishing to ingratiate himself with the Jews, said to Paul in reply, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and there stand trial before me on these charges?"
10 Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.	10 Paul answered, "I am standing before the tribunal of Caesar; this is where I should be tried. I have committed no crime against the Jews, as you very well know.
11 For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.	11 If I have committed a crime or done anything deserving death, I do not seek to escape the death penalty; but if there is no substance to the charges they are bringing against me, then no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar."
12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.	12 Then Festus, after conferring with his council, replied, "You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go."
13 And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus.	13 When a few days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea on a visit to Festus.
14 And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix:	14 Since they spent several days there, Festus referred Paul's case to the king, saying, "There is a man here left in custody by Felix.
15 About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him.	15 When I was in Jerusalem the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him and demanded his condemnation.
16 To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.	16 I answered them that it was not Roman practice to hand over an accused person before he has faced his accusers and had the opportunity to defend himself against their charge.
17 Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth.	17 So when (they) came together here, I made no delay; the next day I took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought in.
18 Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed:	18 His accusers stood around him, but did not charge him with any of the crimes I suspected.
19 But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.	19 Instead they had some issues with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus who had died but who Paul claimed was alive.
20 And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters.	20 Since I was at a loss how to investigate this controversy, I asked if he were willing to go to Jerusalem and there stand trial on these charges.
21 But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar.	21 And when Paul appealed that he be held in custody for the Emperor's decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar."
22 Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.	22 Agrippa said to Festus, "I too should like to hear this man." He replied, "Tomorrow you will hear him."
23 And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus' commandment Paul was brought forth.	23 The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great ceremony and entered the audience hall in the company of cohort commanders and the prominent men of the city and, by command of Festus, Paul was brought in.
24 And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.	24 And Festus said, "King Agrippa and all you here present with us, look at this man about whom the whole Jewish populace petitioned me here and in Jerusalem, clamoring that he should live no longer.
25 But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.	25 I found, however, that he had done nothing deserving death, and so when he appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.
26 Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to write.	26 But I have nothing definite to write about him to our sovereign; therefore I have brought him before all of you, and particularly before you, King Agrippa, so that I may have something to write as a result of this investigation.
27 For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him.	27 For it seems senseless to me to send up a prisoner without indicating the charges against him."