Acts 25 :: New Living Translation (NLT)

Paul Appears before Festus

Act 25:1

Act 25:1Three days after Festus arrived in Caesarea to take over his new responsibilities, he left for Jerusalem,

Act 25:2

Act 25:2where the leading priests and other Jewish leaders met with him and made their accusations against Paul.

Act 25:3

Act 25:3They asked Festus as a favor to transfer Paul to Jerusalem (planning to ambush and kill him on the way).

Act 25:4

Act 25:4But Festus replied that Paul was at Caesarea and he himself would be returning there soon.

Act 25:5

Act 25:5So he said, “Those of you in authority can return with me. If Paul has done anything wrong, you can make your accusations.”

Act 25:6

Act 25:6About eight or ten days later Festus returned to Caesarea, and on the following day he took his seat in court and ordered that Paul be brought in.

Act 25:7

Act 25:7When Paul arrived, the Jewish leaders from Jerusalem gathered around and made many serious accusations they couldn’t prove.

Act 25:8

Act 25:8Paul denied the charges. “I am not guilty of any crime against the Jewish laws or the Temple or the Roman government,” he said.

Act 25:9

Act 25:9Then Festus, wanting to please the Jews, asked him, “Are you willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there?”

Act 25:10

Act 25:10But Paul replied, “No! This is the official Roman court, so I ought to be tried right here. You know very well I am not guilty of harming the Jews.

Act 25:11

Act 25:11If I have done something worthy of death, I don’t refuse to die. But if I am innocent, no one has a right to turn me over to these men to kill me. I appeal to Caesar!”

Act 25:12

Act 25:12Festus conferred with his advisers and then replied, “Very well! You have appealed to Caesar, and to Caesar you will go!”

Act 25:13

Act 25:13A few days later King Agrippa arrived with his sister, Bernice,[fn] to pay their respects to Festus.

Act 25:14

Act 25:14During their stay of several days, Festus discussed Paul’s case with the king. “There is a prisoner here,” he told him, “whose case was left for me by Felix.

Act 25:15

Act 25:15When I was in Jerusalem, the leading priests and Jewish elders pressed charges against him and asked me to condemn him.

Act 25:16

Act 25:16I pointed out to them that Roman law does not convict people without a trial. They must be given an opportunity to confront their accusers and defend themselves.

Act 25:17

Act 25:17“When his accusers came here for the trial, I didn’t delay. I called the case the very next day and ordered Paul brought in.

Act 25:18

Act 25:18But the accusations made against him weren’t any of the crimes I expected.

Act 25:19

Act 25:19Instead, it was something about their religion and a dead man named Jesus, who Paul insists is alive.

Act 25:20

Act 25:20I was at a loss to know how to investigate these things, so I asked him whether he would be willing to stand trial on these charges in Jerusalem.

Act 25:21

Act 25:21But Paul appealed to have his case decided by the emperor. So I ordered that he be held in custody until I could arrange to send him to Caesar.”

Act 25:22

Act 25:22“I’d like to hear the man myself,” Agrippa said.
And Festus replied, “You will—tomorrow!”

Paul Speaks to Agrippa

Act 25:23

Act 25:23So the next day Agrippa and Bernice arrived at the auditorium with great pomp, accompanied by military officers and prominent men of the city. Festus ordered that Paul be brought in.

Act 25:24

Act 25:24Then Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are here, this is the man whose death is demanded by all the Jews, both here and in Jerusalem.

Act 25:25

Act 25:25But in my opinion he has done nothing deserving death. However, since he appealed his case to the emperor, I have decided to send him to Rome.

Act 25:26

Act 25:26“But what shall I write the emperor? For there is no clear charge against him. So I have brought him before all of you, and especially you, King Agrippa, so that after we examine him, I might have something to write.

Act 25:27

Act 25:27For it makes no sense to send a prisoner to the emperor without specifying the charges against him!”

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NLT Footnotes

(25:13)

Greek Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived.

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