Acts 25
Bible in Basic English (BBE)
1 Ref So Festus, having come into that part of the country which was under his rule, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.
2 Ref And the chief priests and the chief men of the Jews made statements against Paul,
3 Ref Requesting Festus to give effect to their design against him, and send him to Jerusalem, when they would be waiting to put him to death on the way.
4 Ref But Festus, in answer, said that Paul was being kept in prison at Caesarea, and that in a short time he himself was going there.
5 Ref So, he said, let those who have authority among you go with me, and if there is any wrong in the man, let them make a statement against him.
6 Ref And when he had been with them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea; and on the day after, he took his place on the judge's seat, and sent for Paul.
7 Ref And when he came, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem came round him, and made all sorts of serious statements against him, which were not supported by the facts.
8 Ref Then Paul, in his answer to them, said, I have done no wrong against the law of the Jews, or against the Temple, or against Caesar.
9 Ref But Festus, desiring to get the approval of the Jews, said to Paul, Will you go up to Jerusalem, and be judged before me there in connection with these things?
10 Ref And Paul said, I am before the seat of Caesar's authority where it is right for me to be judged: I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you are well able to see.
11 Ref If, then, I am a wrongdoer and there is a cause of death in me, I am ready for death: if it is not as they say against me, no man may give me up to them. Let my cause come before Caesar.
12 Ref Then Festus, having had a discussion with the Jews, made answer, You have said, Let my cause come before Caesar; to Caesar you will go.
13 Ref Now when some days had gone by, King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea and went to see Festus.
14 Ref And as they were there for some days, Festus gave them Paul's story, saying, There is a certain man here who was put in prison by Felix:
15 Ref Against whom the chief priests and the rulers of the Jews made a statement when I was at Jerusalem, requesting me to give a decision against him.
16 Ref To whom I gave answer that it is not the Roman way to give a man up, till he has been face to face with those who are attacking him, and has had a chance to give an answer to the statements made against him.
17 Ref So, when they had come together here, straight away, on the day after, I took my place on the judge's seat and sent for the man.
18 But when they got up they said nothing about such crimes as I had in mind:
19 Ref But had certain questions against him in connection with their religion, and about one Jesus, now dead, who, Paul said, was living.
20 Ref And as I had not enough knowledge for the discussion of these things, I made the suggestion to him to go to Jerusalem and be judged there.
21 Ref But when Paul made a request that he might be judged by Caesar, I gave orders for him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar.
22 Ref And Agrippa said to Festus, I have a desire to give the man a hearing myself. Tomorrow, he said, you may give him a hearing.
23 Ref So on the day after, when Agrippa and Bernice in great glory had come into the public place of hearing, with the chief of the army and the chief men of the town, at the order of Festus, Paul was sent for.
24 Ref And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all those who are present here with us, you see this man, about whom all the Jews have made protests to me, at Jerusalem and in this place, saying that it is not right for him to be living any longer.
25 Ref But, in my opinion, there is no cause of death in him, and as he himself has made a request to be judged by Caesar, I have said that I would send him.
26 Ref But I have no certain account of him to send to Caesar. So I have sent for him to come before you, and specially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the business has been gone into, I may have something to put in writing.
27 Ref For it seems to me against reason to send a prisoner without making clear what there is against him.
World English Bible (WEB)
1 Ref Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.
2 Ref Then the high priest and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul, and they begged him,
3 Ref asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem; plotting to kill him on the way.
4 Ref However Festus answered that Paul should be kept in custody at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to depart shortly.
5 Ref "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 Ref 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 Ref 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 Ref 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 Ref 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 Ref 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 Ref 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 Ref Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, "You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you shall go."
13 Ref Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the King and Bernice arrived at Caesarea, and greeted Festus.
14 Ref 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 Ref 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 Ref 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 Ref 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 Concerning whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no charge of such things as I supposed;
19 Ref but had certain questions against him about their own religion, and about one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
20 Ref 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 Ref 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 Ref Agrippa said to Festus, "I also would like to hear the man myself." "Tomorrow," he said, "you shall hear him."
23 Ref 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 Ref 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 Ref 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 Ref Of whom I have no certain thing to write to my lord. Therefore I have brought him forth before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, that, after examination, I may have something to write.
27 Ref For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to also specify the charges against him."
American Standard-ASV1901 (ASV)
1 Ref Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.
2 Ref And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul; and they besought him,
3 Ref asking a favor against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem; laying a plot to kill him on the way.
4 Ref Howbeit Festus answered, that Paul was kept in charge at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to depart `thither' shortly.
5 Ref Let them therefore, saith he, that are of power among you go down with me, and if there is anything amiss in the man, let them accuse him.
6 Ref And when he had tarried among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and on the morrow he sat on the judgment-seat, and commanded Paul to be brought.
7 Ref And when he was come, the Jews that had come down from Jerusalem stood round about him, bringing against him many and grievous charges which they could not prove;
8 Ref while Paul said in his defense, Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I sinned at all.
9 Ref But Festus, desiring to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?
10 Ref But Paul said, I am standing before Caesar's judgment-seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou also very well knowest.
11 Ref If then I am a wrong-doer, and have committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die; but if none of those things is `true' whereof these accuse me, no man can give me up unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.
12 Ref Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Thou hast appealed unto Caesar: unto Caesar shalt thou go.
13 Ref Now when certain days were passed, Agrippa the King and Bernice arrived at Caesarea, and saluted Festus.
14 Ref And as they tarried there many days, Festus laid Paul's case before the King, saying, There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix;
15 Ref about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed `me', asking for sentence against him.
16 Ref To whom I answered, that it is not the custom of the Romans to give up any man, before that the accused have the accusers face to face, and have had opportunity to make his defense concerning the matter laid against him.
17 Ref When therefore they were come together here, I made no delay, but on the next day sat on the judgment-seat, and commanded the man to be brought.
18 Concerning whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no charge of such evil things as I supposed;
19 Ref but had certain questions against him of their own religion, and of one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
20 Ref And I, being perplexed how to inquire concerning these things, asked whether he would go to Jerusalem and there be judged of these matters.
21 Ref But when Paul had appealed to be kept for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be kept till I should send him to Caesar.
22 Ref And Agrippa `said' unto Festus, I also could wish to hear the man myself. To-morrow, saith he, thou shalt hear him.
23 Ref So on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and they were entered into the place of hearing with the chief captains and principal men of the city, at the command of Festus Paul was brought in.
24 Ref And Festus saith, King Agrippa, and all men who are here present with us, ye behold this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews made suit to me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.
25 Ref But I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death: and as he himself appealed to the emperor I determined to send him.
26 Ref Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I may have somewhat to write.
27 Ref For it seemeth to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not withal to signify the charges against him.