Acts 25

Paul's defense and appeal Acts 25:6–12

⁶Verse 6. When he had stayed among them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea, and on the next day he sat on the judgment seat, and commanded Paul to be brought. ⁷Verse 7. When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing against him many and grievous charges which they could not prove, ⁸Verse 8. while he said in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I sinned at all.” ⁹Verse 9. But Festus, desiring to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem, and be judged by me there concerning these things?”

¹⁰Verse 10. But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also know very well. ¹¹Verse 11. For if I have done wrong, and have committed anything worthy of death, I don’t refuse to die; but if none of those things is true that they accuse me of, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!” ¹²Verse 12. Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you shall go.”

King Agrippa's interest Acts 25:13–21

¹³Verse 13. Now when some days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea, and greeted Festus. ¹⁴Verse 14. As he stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, “There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix; ¹⁵Verse 15. about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, asking for a sentence against him. ¹⁶Verse 16. To whom I answered that it is not the custom of the Romans to give up any man to destruction, before the accused has met the accusers face to face, and has had opportunity to make his defense concerning the matter laid against him.

¹⁷Verse 17. When therefore they had come together here, I didn’t delay, but on the next day sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought. ¹⁸Verse 18. Concerning whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no charge of such things as I supposed; ¹⁹Verse 19. but had certain questions against him about their own religion, and about one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. ²⁰Verse 20. Being perplexed how to inquire concerning these things, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there be judged concerning these matters. ²¹Verse 21. But when Paul had appealed to be kept for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be kept until I could send him to Caesar.”

Festus presents Paul to Agrippa Acts 25:22–26

²²Verse 22. Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “you shall hear him.” ²³Verse 23. So on the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp, and they had entered into the place of hearing with the commanding officers and the principal men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. ²⁴Verse 24. Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all men who are here present with us, you see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.

²⁵Verse 25. But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and as he himself appealed to the emperor I determined to send him, ²⁶Verse 26. of whom I have no certain thing to write to my lord. Therefore I have brought him out before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, that, after examination, I may have something to write.

Unreasonable charges Acts 25:27

²⁷Verse 27. For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to also specify the charges against him.”