1Therefore Festus having come upon the province, after three days went up unto Jerusalem from Caesarea.
2The chief priests and the principal men (latin-principes) of the Jews made a presentation (exhibit) before him against Paul, and entreated him,
3Asking favor against him- that he would summon (send after) him unto Jerusalem- making an ambush to kill him on the way.
4Therefore Festus answered, Paul is to be kept in Caesarea, and he himself is about to set out in quickness (speed).
5Therefore those in power among you, he says, having gone down too, if there is anything wrong in this man, let them accuse him. 6And having spent among them not more than eight or ten days, having gone down unto Caesarea, on the next day having sat upon the judgment seat, he commanded Paul to be brought. 7And he having arrived, those Jews having come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and weighty (heavy) accusations (charges of guilt, complaints) which they were not able (had no strength) to prove. 8Paul making his defense: Neither unto the law of the Jews, nor unto the temple, nor unto Caesar, in anything have I sinned. 9However Festus wishing to acquire favor with the Jews, answering Paul, said, Are you willing to go up unto Jerusalem, there to be judged before (upon) me concerning these things? 10And Paul said, I am standing before (upon) the judgment seat of Caesar where it is necessary for me to be judged. To the Jews I have done nothing wrong (unjust), as also you very well recognize. 11For if indeed I do wrong and have done anything worthy of death, I do not refuse (beg off) to die; however if there is nothing of which they can accuse me, no one can give me up (charisasthai) to them. I appeal (call upon, latin-appello) to Caesar! 12Then Festus having conferred with the council, answered, To Caesar you have appealed, to (upon) Caesar you will go! (You have called upon Caesar, upon Caesar you will go!) 13And some days having passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice came down unto Caesarea, having greeted Festus. 14And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid before the king the things relating to Paul, saying, There is a certain man left by Felix as a prisoner, 15Concerning whom, on my having been in Jerusalem, the chief priests and elders of the Jews made a presentation (exhibit), asking for judgment against him; 16To whom I answered, It is not Roman custom to give up any man before that the one being accused, may have the accusers face to face, and he may take the place of defense concerning the accusation. 17They then having come together here, having made no delay, the next day having sat upon the judgment seat, I commanded the man to be brought, 18Concerning whom the accusers having stood up brought no charge of which I suspected evil things. 19However certain questions concerning their own religion (religious-superstition), they had against (toward) him and concerning a certain Jesus having been dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. 20And I being at a loss (perplexed) concerning this inquiry asked if he was willing to go unto Jerusalem and there be judged concerning these things. 21However Paul having appealed for himself to be kept unto the judicial decision (greek word like diagnosis) of the Emperor, I commanded him to be kept until I might send him to Caesar. 22And Agrippa [said] to Festus, I myself have also been wanting to hear the man. Tomorrow, he says, You will hear him. 23On the next day then Agrippa and Bernice having come with much pomp (show, display) and having entered into the audience hall (latin-auditorium) with commanders and men in prominence in the city and having commanded Festus, Paul was brought in. 24And Festus says, King Agrippa and all being present with us, you see this one concerning whom all the multitude of the Jews pleaded with me here and in Jerusalem, crying out that he ought to no longer live. 25However I comprehend him to have done nothing worthy of death, and this one himself having appealed to the Emperor, I determined to send him, 26Concerning whom I have nothing definite (secure, reliable, certain) to write to my lord. Therefore I have brought him before (upon) you all and especially before (upon) you, King Agrippa, so that the examination having happened, I might have something to write. 27For it seems unreasonable to me in sending a prisoner, and not to specify (signify, indicate) the charges against him. |