1 F estus therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.

Now when Festus had come to the province, after three days he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem.

2 A nd the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul; and they besought him,

Then the high priest and the chief men of the Jews informed him against Paul; and they petitioned him,

3 a sking a favor against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem; laying a plot to kill him on the way.

asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem—while they lay in ambush along the road to kill him.

4 H owbeit Festus answered, that Paul was kept in charge at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to depart thither shortly.

But Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself was going there shortly.

5 L et them therefore, saith he, that are of power among you go down with me, and if there is anything amiss in the man, let them accuse him.

“Therefore,” he said, “let those who have authority among you go down with me and accuse this man, to see if there is any fault in him.”

6 A nd when he had tarried among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and on the morrow he sat on the judgment-seat, and commanded Paul to be brought.

And when he had remained among them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day, sitting on the judgment seat, he commanded Paul to be brought.

7 A nd when he was come, the Jews that had come down from Jerusalem stood round about him, bringing against him many and grievous charges which they could not prove;

When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood about and laid many serious complaints against Paul, which they could not prove,

8 w hile Paul said in his defense, Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I sinned at all.

while he answered for himself, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I offended in anything at all.”

9 B ut Festus, desiring to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?

But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and there be judged before me concerning these things?”

10 B ut Paul said, I am standing before Caesar's judgment-seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou also very well knowest.

So Paul said, “I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you very well know.

11 I f then I am a wrong-doer, and have committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die; but if none of those things is true whereof these accuse me, no man can give me up unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.

For if I am an offender, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying; but if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar.”

12 T hen Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Thou hast appealed unto Caesar: unto Caesar shalt thou go.

Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar? To Caesar you shall go!” Paul Before Agrippa

13 N ow when certain days were passed, Agrippa the King and Bernice arrived at Caesarea, and saluted Festus.

And after some days King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to greet Festus.

14 A nd as they tarried there many days, Festus laid Paul's case before the King, saying, There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix;

When they had been there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying: “There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix,

15 a bout whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, asking for sentence against him.

about whom the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, when I was in Jerusalem, asking for a judgment against him.

16 T o whom I answered, that it is not the custom of the Romans to give up any man, before that the accused have the accusers face to face, and have had opportunity to make his defense concerning the matter laid against him.

To them I answered, ‘It is not the custom of the Romans to deliver any man to destruction before the accused meets the accusers face to face, and has opportunity to answer for himself concerning the charge against him.’

17 W hen therefore they were come together here, I made no delay, but on the next day sat on the judgment-seat, and commanded the man to be brought.

Therefore when they had come together, without any delay, the next day I sat on the judgment seat and commanded the man to be brought in.

18 C oncerning whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no charge of such evil things as I supposed;

When the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation against him of such things as I supposed,

19 b ut had certain questions against him of their own religion, and of one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

but had some questions against him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who had died, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

20 A nd I, being perplexed how to inquire concerning these things, asked whether he would go to Jerusalem and there be judged of these matters.

And because I was uncertain of such questions, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there be judged concerning these matters.

21 B ut when Paul had appealed to be kept for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be kept till I should send him to Caesar.

But when Paul appealed to be reserved for the decision of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I could send him to Caesar.”

22 A nd Agrippa said unto Festus, I also could wish to hear the man myself. To-morrow, saith he, thou shalt hear him.

Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “you shall hear him.”

23 S o on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and they were entered into the place of hearing with the chief captains and principal men of the city, at the command of Festus Paul was brought in.

So the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp, and had entered the auditorium with the commanders and the prominent men of the city, at Festus’ command Paul was brought in.

24 A nd Festus saith, King Agrippa, and all men who are here present with us, ye behold this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews made suit to me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.

And Festus said: “King Agrippa and all the men who are here present with us, you see this man about whom the whole assembly of the Jews petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying out that he was not fit to live any longer.

25 B ut I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death: and as he himself appealed to the emperor I determined to send him.

But when I found that he had committed nothing deserving of death, and that he himself had appealed to Augustus, I decided to send him.

26 O f whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I may have somewhat to write.

I have nothing certain to write to my lord concerning him. Therefore I have brought him out before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the examination has taken place I may have something to write.

27 F or it seemeth to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not withal to signify the charges against him.

For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner and not to specify the charges against him.”