Acts 25 : King James Version

25 1Now when Festus was come into the province, after
three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem. 2Then
the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul,
and besought him, 3And desired favour against him, that
he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill
him. 4But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at
Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither. 5Let
them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with me,
and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him. 6And
when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto
Caesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded
Paul to be brought. 7And when he was come, the Jews which
came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and
grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove. 8While
he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews,
neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended
any thing at all. 9But Festus, willing to do the Jews a
pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and
there be judged of these things before me? 10Then said
Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged:
to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest. 11For
if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I
refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof
these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto
Caesar. 12Then Festus, when he had conferred with the
council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt
thou go. 13And after certain days king Agrippa and
Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus. 14And when
they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the
king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix: 15About
whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of
the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him. 16To
whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any
man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face
to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime
laid against him. 17Therefore, when they were come
hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat,
and commanded the man to be brought forth. 18Against whom
when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such
things as I supposed: 19But had certain questions against
him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead,
whom Paul affirmed to be alive. 20And because I doubted
of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to
Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters. 21But
when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus,
I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar. 22Then
Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To
morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him. 23And on the
morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was
entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and
principal men of the city, at Festus' commandment Paul was brought
forth. 24And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which
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. 25But
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.
26Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord.
Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before
thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have
somewhat to write. 27For it seemeth to me unreasonable to
send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against
him.