Paul’s Trial before Festus 1 DBY Festus therefore, being come into the eparchy, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. BSB BSB: Three days after his arrival in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem,
2 DBY And the chief priests and the chief of the Jews laid informations before him against Paul, and besought him, BSB BSB: where the chief priests and Jewish leaders presented their case against Paul. They urged Festus
3 DBY asking as a grace against him that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying people in wait to kill him on the way. BSB BSB: to grant them a concession against Paul by summoning him to Jerusalem, because they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way.
4 DBY Festus therefore answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to set out shortly. BSB BSB: But Festus replied, “Paul is being held in Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon.
5 DBY Let therefore the persons of authority among you, says he, going down too, if there be anything in this man, accuse him. BSB BSB: So if this man has done anything wrong, let some of your leaders come down with me and accuse him there.”
7 DBY And 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: BSB BSB: When Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges that they could not prove.
8 DBY Paul answering for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I offended in anything. BSB BSB: Then Paul made his defense: “I have committed no offense against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.”
9 DBY But 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? BSB BSB: But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to stand trial before me on these charges?”
Paul Appeals to Caesar 10 DBY But 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. BSB BSB: Paul replied, “I am standing before the judgment seat of Caesar, where I ought to be tried. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well.
11 DBY If 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. BSB BSB: If, however, I am guilty of anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is no truth to their accusations against me, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”
12 DBY Then Festus, having conferred with the council, answered, Thou hast appealed to Caesar. To Caesar shalt thou go. BSB BSB: Then Festus conferred with his council and replied, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”
Festus Consults Agrippa 13 DBY And when certain days had elapsed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to salute Festus. BSB BSB: After several days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice came down to Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus.
14 DBY And 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, BSB BSB: Since they were staying several days, Festus laid out Paul’s case before the king: “There is a certain man whom Felix left in prison.
15 DBY concerning whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews laid informations, requiring judgment against him: BSB BSB: While I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and elders of the Jews presented their case and requested a judgment against him.
16 DBY to whom I answered, It is not the 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. BSB BSB: I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand a man over before he has had an opportunity to face his accusers and defend himself against their charges.
17 DBY When 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: BSB BSB: So when they came here with me, I did not delay. The next day I sat on the judgment seat and ordered that the man be brought in.
18 DBY concerning whom the accusers, standing up, brought no such accusation of guilt as I supposed; BSB BSB: But when his accusers rose to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected.
19 DBY but 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. BSB BSB: They only had some contentions with him regarding their own religion and a certain Jesus who had died, but whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
20 DBY And 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? BSB BSB: Since I was at a loss as to how to investigate these matters, I asked if he was willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried there on these charges.
21 DBY But Paul having appealed to be kept for the cognisance of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I shall send him to Caesar. BSB BSB: But when Paul appealed to be held over for the decision of the Emperor, I ordered that he be held until I could send him to Caesar.”
22 DBY And Agrippa said to Festus, I myself also would desire to hear the man. To-morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him. BSB BSB: Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man myself.” “Tomorrow you will hear him,” Festus declared.
Paul before Agrippa and Bernice 23 DBY On 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. BSB BSB: The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the auditorium, along with the commanders and leading men of the city. And Festus ordered that Paul be brought in.
24 DBY And 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 him that he ought not to live any longer. BSB BSB: Then Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man. The whole Jewish community has petitioned me about him, both here and in Jerusalem, crying out that he ought not to live any longer.
25 DBY But I, having found that he had done nothing worthy of death, and this man himself having appealed to Augustus, I have decided to send him; BSB BSB: But I found he had done nothing worthy of death, and since he has now appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.
26 DBY concerning 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: BSB BSB: I have nothing definite to write to our sovereign about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after this inquiry I may have something to write.
27 DBY for it seems to me senseless, sending a prisoner, not also to signify the charges against him. BSB BSB: For it seems unreasonable to me to send on a prisoner without specifying the charges against him.”
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.