Paul’s Trial before Festus 1 ULT Now Festus, having set foot in the province, went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem after three days. BSB BSB: Three days after his arrival in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem,
2 ULT And the chief priests and the first of the Jews appeared to him against Paul, and they were begging him, BSB BSB: where the chief priests and Jewish leaders presented their case against Paul. They urged Festus
3 ULT requesting a favor against him, that he might summon him to Jerusalem, making an ambush to kill him along 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 ULT Then Festus answered that Paul was being held at Caesarea but that he himself was about to depart soon. BSB BSB: But Festus replied, “Paul is being held in Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon.
5 ULT He said,“Therefore, the powerful among you, having come down together, if there is something wrong with the man, let them 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 ULT And when he had come, the Jews having come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges that 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 ULT as Paul was saying in defense,“Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I committed any sin.” 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 ULT But Festus, wanting to lay down a favor for the Jews, answering Paul, said,“Are you willing, having gone up to Jerusalem, to be judged before me there about 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 ULT But Paul said,“I am standing before the judgment seat of Caesar, where it is necessary for me to be judged. I have done no harm to the Jews, as you also know very well. 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 ULT Therefore, if I am doing harm and have done something worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if{ the things} of which they are accusing me are nothing, no one is able to give me to them as a favor. 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 ULT Then Festus, having spoken with the council, answered,“To Caesar you have appealed, to Caesar you will 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 ULT Now after some days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice, having come down to Caesarea, greeted Festus. BSB BSB: After several days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice came down to Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus.
14 ULT And as they were staying there for many days, Festus presented to the king the things concerning Paul, saying,“A certain man has been left a 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 ULT about whom, when I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews appeared, requesting a 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 ULT to whom I replied that the custom of the Romans is not to give any man as a favor before the one being accused may have the accusers by face and receive an opportunity of a defense concerning the accusation. 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 ULT Therefore, when they had come together here, causing no delay, the next day, having sat in the judgment seat, I 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 ULT about whom the accusers, having stood up, brought no charge of the evils that I was expecting. BSB BSB: But when his accusers rose to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected.
19 ULT Instead, they were having certain disputes with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, having died, whom Paul asserted to be alive. 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 ULT And I, doubting the investigation about these things, asked if he might be willing to go to Jerusalem and be judged there about 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 ULT But when Paul appealed that he be kept for the decision of the August one, I commanded him to be kept until I might 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 ULT And Agrippa{ replied} to Festus,“I myself was also wanting to hear this man.”“Tomorrow,” he says,“you will 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 ULT So on the next day, Agrippa and Bernice having come with much ceremony and having entered into the hall with both chiliarchs and men of distinction of the city, then, having been commanded by Festus, 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 ULT And Festus said,“King Agrippa and all the men being present with us, you see this one concerning whom the whole multitude of the Jews petitioned me both in Jerusalem and here, shouting 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 ULT But I learned that he had done nothing worthy of death. But this one himself having appealed to the August one, I 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 ULT about whom I do not have anything definite to write to the lord. Therefore I have brought him before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, the examination having happened, I might have something that I might 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 ULT For it seems unreasonable to me, sending a prisoner and not 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.