Paul’s Trial before Festus 1 WBS Now when Festus had come into the province, after three days he ascended from Cesarea to Jerusalem. BSB BSB: Three days after his arrival in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem,
2 WBS Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him, BSB BSB: where the chief priests and Jewish leaders presented their case against Paul. They urged Festus
3 WBS And desired favor against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him. 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 WBS But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Cesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither . BSB BSB: But Festus replied, “Paul is being held in Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon.
5 WBS Let them therefore, said he, who among you are able, go down with me , and accuse this man, if there is any wickedness in 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 WBS And when he had come, the Jews who came down from Jerusalem stood around, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not 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 WBS While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Cesar have I committed any offense. 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 WBS But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go to Jerusalem, and there be judged concerning these things before me? 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 WBS Then said Paul, I stand at Cesar's tribunal, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou 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 WBS For if I am an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there is none of these things of which these accuse me, no man may deliver me to them. I appeal to Cesar. 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 WBS Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed to Cesar? to Cesar thou shalt 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 WBS And after certain days, king Agrippa and Bernice came to Cesarea, 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 WBS And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause to the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds 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 WBS About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me , desiring to have 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 WBS To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before he who is accused hath the accusers face to face, and hath license to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him. 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 WBS Therefore, when they had come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment-seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth; 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 WBS Against whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation of such things 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 WBS But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus who was dead, whom Paul affirmed 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 WBS And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged concerning these matters. 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 WBS But when Paul had appealed to be reserved to the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Cesar. 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 WBS Then Agrippa said to Festus, I would also hear the man myself. 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 WBS And on the morrow, when Agrippa had come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and had entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains and principal men of the city, at the command of Festus Paul was brought forth. 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 WBS And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men who are here present with us, ye see this man about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying 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 WBS But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined 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 WBS Of whom I have no certain thing to write to my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that after examination had, I may have somewhat 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 WBS For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not also to signify the crimes laid against him. BSB BSB: For it seems unreasonable to me to send on a prisoner without specifying the charges against him.”