Acts 25:1-27 CEV

[1] Three days after Festus had become governor, he went from Caesarea to Jerusalem. [2] There the chief priests and some Jewish leaders told him about their charges against Paul. They also asked Festus [3] if he would be willing to bring Paul to Jerusalem. They begged him to do this because they were planning to attack and kill Paul on the way. [4] But Festus told them, "Paul will be kept in Caesarea, and I am soon going there myself. [5] If he has done anything wrong, let your leaders go with me and bring charges against him there." [6] Festus stayed in Jerusalem for eight or ten more days before going to Caesarea. Then the next day he took his place as judge and had Paul brought into court. [7] As soon as Paul came in, the Jewish leaders from Jerusalem crowded around him and said he was guilty of many serious crimes. But they could not prove anything. [8] Then Paul spoke in his own defense, "I have not broken the Law of my people. And I have not done anything against either the temple or the Emperor." [9] Festus wanted to please the leaders. So he asked Paul, "Are you willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried by me on these charges?" [10] Paul replied, "I am on trial in the Emperor's court, and that's where I should be tried. You know very well that I have not done anything to harm the Jewish nation. [11] If I had done something deserving death, I would not ask to escape the death penalty. But I am not guilty of any of these crimes, and no one has the right to hand me over to these people. I now ask to be tried by the Emperor himself." [12] After Festus had talked this over with members of his council, he told Paul, "You have asked to be tried by the Emperor, and to the Emperor you will go!" [13] A few days later King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to visit Festus. [14] They had been there for several days, when Festus told the king about the charges against Paul. He said: Felix left a man here in jail, [15] and when I went to Jerusalem, the chief priests and the Jewish leaders came and asked me to find him guilty. [16] I told them that it isn't the Roman custom to hand a man over to people who are bringing charges against him. He must first have the chance to meet them face to face and to defend himself against their charges. [17] So when they came here with me, I wasted no time. On the very next day I took my place on the judge's bench and ordered him to be brought in. [18] But when the men stood up to make their charges against him, they did not accuse him of any of the crimes that I thought they would. [19] Instead, they argued with him about some of their beliefs and about a dead man named Jesus, who Paul said was alive. [20] Since I did not know how to find out the truth about all this, I asked Paul if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem and be put on trial there. [21] But Paul asked to be kept in jail until the Emperor could decide his case. So I ordered him to be kept here until I could send him to the Emperor. [22] Then Agrippa said to Festus, "I would also like to hear what this man has to say." Festus answered, "You can hear him tomorrow." [23] The next day Agrippa and Bernice made a big show as they came into the meeting room. High ranking army officers and leading citizens of the town were also there. Festus then ordered Paul to be brought in [24] and said: King Agrippa and other guests, look at this man! Every Jew from Jerusalem and Caesarea has come to me, demanding for him to be put to death. [25] I have not found him guilty of any crime deserving death. But because he has asked to be judged by the Emperor, I have decided to send him to Rome. [26] I have to write some facts about this man to the Emperor. So I have brought him before all of you, but especially before you, King Agrippa. After we have talked about his case, I will then have something to write. [27] It makes no sense to send a prisoner to the Emperor without stating the charges against him.