Acts of the Apostles 25
25
Paul Appears before Festus
1Three days after Festus arrived in Caesarea to take over his new responsibilities, he left for Jerusalem, 2where the leading priests and other Jewish leaders met with him and made their accusations against Paul. 3They asked Festus as a favor to transfer Paul to Jerusalem (planning to ambush and kill him on the way). 4But Festus replied that Paul was at Caesarea and he himself would be returning there soon. 5So he said, “Those of you in authority can return with me. If Paul has done anything wrong, you can make your accusations.”
6About eight or ten days later Festus returned to Caesarea, and on the following day he took his seat in court and ordered that Paul be brought in. 7When Paul arrived, the Jewish leaders from Jerusalem gathered around and made many serious accusations they couldn’t prove.
8Paul denied the charges. “I am not guilty of any crime against the Jewish laws or the Temple or the Roman government,” he said.
9Then Festus, wanting to please the Jews, asked him, “Are you willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there?”
10But Paul replied, “No! This is the official Roman court, so I ought to be tried right here. You know very well I am not guilty of harming the Jews. 11If I have done something worthy of death, I don’t refuse to die. But if I am innocent, no one has a right to turn me over to these men to kill me. I appeal to Caesar!”
12Festus conferred with his advisers and then replied, “Very well! You have appealed to Caesar, and to Caesar you will go!”
13A few days later King Agrippa arrived with his sister, Bernice,#25:13 Greek Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived. to pay their respects to Festus. 14During their stay of several days, Festus discussed Paul’s case with the king. “There is a prisoner here,” he told him, “whose case was left for me by Felix. 15When I was in Jerusalem, the leading priests and Jewish elders pressed charges against him and asked me to condemn him. 16I pointed out to them that Roman law does not convict people without a trial. They must be given an opportunity to confront their accusers and defend themselves.
17“When his accusers came here for the trial, I didn’t delay. I called the case the very next day and ordered Paul brought in. 18But the accusations made against him weren’t any of the crimes I expected. 19Instead, it was something about their religion and a dead man named Jesus, who Paul insists is alive. 20I was at a loss to know how to investigate these things, so I asked him whether he would be willing to stand trial on these charges in Jerusalem. 21But Paul appealed to have his case decided by the emperor. So I ordered that he be held in custody until I could arrange to send him to Caesar.”
22“I’d like to hear the man myself,” Agrippa said.
And Festus replied, “You will—tomorrow!”
Paul Speaks to Agrippa
23So the next day Agrippa and Bernice arrived at the auditorium with great pomp, accompanied by military officers and prominent men of the city. Festus ordered that Paul be brought in. 24Then Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are here, this is the man whose death is demanded by all the Jews, both here and in Jerusalem. 25But in my opinion he has done nothing deserving death. However, since he appealed his case to the emperor, I have decided to send him to Rome.
26“But what shall I write the emperor? For there is no clear charge against him. So I have brought him before all of you, and especially you, King Agrippa, so that after we examine him, I might have something to write. 27For it makes no sense to send a prisoner to the emperor without specifying the charges against him!”
Currently Selected:
Acts of the Apostles 25: NLT
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation.
For more information about the NLT:
Acts 25
25
Paul Appeals to Caesar
1 Now when#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“set foot in”) which is understood as temporal Festus set foot in the province, after three days he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. 2And the chief priests and the most prominent men of the Jews brought charges against Paul to him, and were urging him, 3asking for a favor against him, that he summon him to Jerusalem, because they#*Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“were preparing ”) which is understood as causal were preparing an ambush to do away with him along the way. 4Then Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea, and he himself was about to go there#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation in a short time. 5So he said, “Let those among you who are prominent go down with me,#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“go down with”) has been translated as a finite verb if there is any wrong in the man, let them bring charges against him.”
6And after he#*Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“had stayed”) which is understood as temporal had stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. On the next day he sat down on the judgment seat and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“sat down”) has been translated as a finite verb gave orders for Paul to be brought. 7And when#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“arrived”) he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges that they were not able to prove, 8while#*Here “while” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“said in his defense”) Paul said in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews nor against the temple nor against Caesar have I sinned with reference to anything!” 9But Festus, because he#*Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“wanted”) which is understood as causal wanted to do a favor for the Jews, answered and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to be tried before me there concerning these things?” 10But Paul said, “I am standing before the judgment seat of Caesar, where it is necessary for me to be judged. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also know very well. 11If then I am doing wrong#Or “I am in the wrong” and have done anything deserving death, I am not trying to avoid#*Here the present tense has been translated as conative (“trying to avoid”) dying. But if there is nothing true of the things which these people are accusing me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!” 12Then Festus, after#*Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“discussing”) which is understood as temporal discussing this#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation with his#*Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun council, replied, “You have appealed to Caesar—to Caesar you will go!”
Festus Asks King Agrippa for Advice
13Now after#*Here “after” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“had passed”) some days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to welcome Festus. 14And while they were staying there many days, Festus laid out the case against Paul to the king, saying, “There is a certain man left behind by Felix as a prisoner, 15concerning whom when#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“was”) I was in Jerusalem the chief priests and the elders of the Jews presented evidence, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him. 16To them#Literally “whom” I replied that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up any man before the one who had been accused met his#*Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun accusers face to face and received an opportunity for a defense concerning the accusation. 17Therefore, when#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“had assembled”) they had assembled here, I made#*Here this participle (“made”) has been translated as a finite verb in keeping with English style no delay; on the next day I sat down on the judgment seat and#*Here “and” is supplied because the two previous participles (“made” and “sat down”) have been translated as finite verbs gave orders for the man to be brought. 18When they#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“stood up”) which is understood as temporal stood up, his#*Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun accusers began bringing#*The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began bringing”) no charge concerning him#Literally “whom” of the evil deeds that I was suspecting, 19but they had some issues with him concerning their own religion, and concerning a certain Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul claimed to be alive. 20And because#*Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“was at a loss”) which is understood as causal I was at a loss with regard to the investigation concerning these things, I asked if he was willing to go to Jerusalem and to be judged there concerning these things. 21But when#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“appealed”) Paul appealed that he be kept under guard for the decision of His Majesty the Emperor, I gave orders for him to be kept under guard until I could send him to Caesar.” 22So Agrippa said to Festus, “I want to hear the man myself also.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “you will hear him.”
23So on the next day, Agrippa and Bernice came with great pageantry and entered into the audience hall, along with military tribunes and the most prominent men of the city. And when#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“gave the order”) Festus gave the order, Paul was brought in. 24And Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom the whole population of the Jews appealed to me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he must not live any longer. 25But I understood that he had done nothing deserving death himself, and when#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“appealed to”) this man appealed to His Majesty the Emperor, I decided to send him.#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation 26I do not have anything definite to write to my#*Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun lord about him.#Literally “whom” Therefore I have brought him before you all#*Here “all” is supplied in the translation to indicate that the pronoun (“you”) is plural—and especially before you, King Agrippa—so that after#*Here “after” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“has taken place”) this preliminary hearing has taken place, I may have something to write. 27For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner and not to indicate the charges against him.”
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
2010 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software