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

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

2 A nd the chief priests and the chief of the Jews laid informations before him against Paul, and besought him,

Then the high priest and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul, and they begged him,

3 a sking as a grace against him that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying people in wait to kill him on the way.

asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem; plotting to kill him on the way.

4 F estus therefore answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to set out shortly.

However Festus answered that Paul should be kept in custody at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to depart shortly.

5 L et therefore the persons of authority among you, says he, going down too, if there be anything in this man, accuse him.

“Let them therefore”, said he, “that are in power among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong in the man, let them accuse him.”

6 A nd having remained among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea; and on the next day, having sat down on the judgment-seat, commanded Paul to be brought.

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.

7 A nd when he was come, the Jews who were come down from Jerusalem stood round, bringing many and grievous charges which they were not able to prove:

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,

8 P aul answering for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I offended anything.

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.”

9 B ut Festus, desirous of obliging the Jews, to acquire their favour, answering Paul, said, Art thou willing to go up to Jerusalem, there to be judged before me concerning these things?

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?”

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

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.

11 I f then I have done any wrong and committed anything worthy of death, I do not deprecate dying; but if there is nothing of those things of which they accuse me, no man can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.

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!”

12 T hen Festus, having conferred with the council, answered, Thou hast appealed to Caesar. To Caesar shalt thou go.

Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you shall go.”

13 A nd when certain days had elapsed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to salute Festus.

Now when some days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea, and greeted Festus.

14 A nd when they had spent many days there, Festus laid before the king the matters relating to Paul, saying, There is a certain man left prisoner by Felix,

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;

15 c oncerning whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews laid informations, requiring judgment against him:

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

16 t o whom I answered, It is not custom of the Romans to give up any man before that the accused have the accusers face to face, and he have got opportunity of defence touching the charge.

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.

17 W hen therefore they had come together here, without putting it off, I sat the next day on the judgment-seat and commanded the man to be brought:

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.

18 c oncerning whom the accusers, standing up, brought no such accusation of guilt as I supposed;

Concerning whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no charge of such things as I supposed;

19 b ut had against him certain questions of their own system of worship, and concerning a certain Jesus who is dead, whom Paul affirmed to be living.

but had certain questions against him about their own religion, and about one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

20 A nd as I myself was at a loss as to an inquiry into these things, I said, Was he willing to go to Jerusalem and there to be judged concerning these things?

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.

21 B ut Paul having appealed to be kept for the cognisance of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I shall send him to Caesar.

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.”

22 A nd Agrippa to Festus, I myself also would desire to hear the man. To-morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.

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

23 O n the morrow therefore, Agrippa being come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and having entered into the hall of audience, with the chiliarchs and the men of distinction of the city, and Festus having given command, Paul was brought.

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 principal men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.

24 A nd Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men who are here present with us, ye see this person, concerning whom all the multitude of the Jews applied to me both in Jerusalem and here, crying out against that he ought not to live any longer.

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.

25 B ut I, having found that he had done nothing worthy of death, and this himself having appealed to Augustus, I have decided to send him;

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.

26 c oncerning whom I have nothing certain to write to my lord. Wherefore I have brought him before you, and specially before thee, king Agrippa, so that an examination having been gone into I may have something to write:

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.

27 f or it seems to me senseless, sending a prisoner, not also to signify the charges against him.

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