Acts 25
Paul Appeals to
Caesar |
1 |
Now when Festus was come into the
province, after three days he ascended from Caesare'a to
Jerusalem.
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2 |
Then the high priest and the chief of the
Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him,
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3 |
and desired favor against him, that he
would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill
him.
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4 |
But Festus answered, that Paul should be
kept at Caesare'a, and that he himself would depart shortly thither.
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5 |
Let them therefore, said he, which among
you are able, go down with me, and accuse this man, if there
be any wickedness in him.
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6 |
And when he had tarried among them more
than ten days, he went down unto Caesare'a; and the next day sitting
on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought.
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7 |
And 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.
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8 |
While 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.
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9 |
But 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?
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10 |
Then 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.
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11 |
For 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.
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12 |
Then Festus, when he had conferred with
the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar
shalt thou go.
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Paul Brought before
Agrippa and Bernice |
13 |
And after certain days king Agrip'pa
and Bernice came unto Caesare'a to salute Festus.
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14 |
And 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:
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15 |
about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the
chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him.
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16 |
To 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 license to answer
for himself concerning the crime laid against him.
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17 |
Therefore, 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.
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18 |
Against whom when the accusers stood up,
they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed:
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19 |
but had certain questions against him of
their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul
affirmed to be alive.
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20 |
And because I doubted of such manner of
questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and
there be judged of these matters.
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21 |
But 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.
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22 |
Then Agrip'pa said unto Festus, I would
also hear the man myself. Tomorrow, said he, thou shalt hear
him.
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23 |
And on the morrow, when Agrip'pa 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.
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24 |
And Festus said, King Agrip'pa, 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.
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25 |
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.
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26 |
Of 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 Agrip'pa, that, after examination had,
I might have somewhat to write.
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27 |
For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send
a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against
him.
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