Acts 25

Paul Appeals to Caesar

1 Now three days after Festus had arrived in i the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. 2 And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews j laid out their case against Paul, and they urged him, 3 asking as a favor against Paul 1 that he summon him to Jerusalem - because k they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way. 4 Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly. 5 "So," said he, "let the men of authority among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them bring charges against him."

6 After he stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day he took his seat on l the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought. 7 When he had arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him m that they could not prove. 8 Paul argued in his defense, "Neither n against o the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor p against Caesar have I committed any offense." 9 But Festus, q wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, "Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and there be tried on these charges before me?" 10 But Paul said, "I am standing before Caesar's r tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well. 11 If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. s I appeal to Caesar." 12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, "To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go."

Paul Before Agrippa and Bernice

13 Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus. 14 And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king, saying, t "There is a man left prisoner by Felix, 15 and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews laid out their case u against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him. 16 v I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone w before the accused met the accusers face to face and had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against him. 17 x So when they came together here, I made no delay, but on the next day took my seat on y the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought. 18 When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed. 19 Rather they z had certain points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive. 20 Being at a loss how to investigate these questions, I b asked whether he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding them. 21 But c when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of d the emperor, I ordered him to be held until I could send him to Caesar." 22 Then e Agrippa said to Festus, "I would like to hear the man myself." "Tomorrow," said he, "you will hear him."

23 So on the next day f Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. 24 And Festus said, "King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom g the whole Jewish people petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, h shouting that he ought not to live any longer. 25 But I found that i he had done nothing deserving death. And j as he himself appealed to k the emperor, I decided to go ahead and send him. 26 But I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after we have examined him, I may have something to write. 27 For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him."

  1. Cross References
    Acts 23:34
    On reading the letter, he asked what province he was from. And when he learned that he was from Cilicia.
  2. Cross References
    Acts 25:15
    And when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews laid out their case against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him.
  3. Cross References
    Acts 9:24
    But their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him.
  4. Cross References
    Acts 25:10
    But Paul said, "I am standing before Caesar's tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well.
    Acts 25:17
    So when they came together here, I made no delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought.
    Matthew 27:19
    Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, "Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.
  5. Cross References
    Acts 24:13
    Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me.
  6. Cross References
    Acts 24:12
    And they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city.
    Acts 28:17
    After three days he called together the local leaders of the Jews, and when they had gathered, he said to them, "Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.
    Acts 6:13
    And they set up false witnesses who said, "This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law.
  7. Cross References
    John 7:19
    Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?
    John 19:7
    The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.
  8. Cross References
    John 19:12
    From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, "If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.
  9. Cross References
    Acts 24:27
    When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.
  10. Cross References
    Acts 25:6
    After he stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought.
    Acts 25:17
    So when they came together here, I made no delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought.
  11. Cross References
    Acts 26:32
    And Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.
    Acts 28:19
    But because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar - though I had no charge to bring against my nation.
  12. Cross References
    Acts 24:27
    When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.
  13. Cross References
    Acts 25:2 - 3
    And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews laid out their case against Paul, and they urged him.
  14. Cross References
    Acts 25:4 - 5
    Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly.
  15. Cross References
    John 7:51
    "Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?"
    Acts 23:30
    And when it was disclosed to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him.
  16. Cross References
    Acts 25:7
    When he had arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him that they could not prove.
    Acts 25:24
    And Festus said, "King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish people petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer.
  17. Cross References
    Acts 25:6
    After he stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought.
    Acts 25:10
    But Paul said, "I am standing before Caesar's tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well.
  18. Cross References
    Acts 18:15
    But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things.
    Acts 23:29
    I found that he was being accused about questions of their law, but charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment.
  19. Cross References
    Acts 17:18
    Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, "What does this babbler wish to say?" Others said, "He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities" - because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.
  20. Cross References
    Acts 25:9
    But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, "Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and there be tried on these charges before me?
  21. Cross References
    Acts 25:11
    If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.
  22. Cross References
    Acts 25:25
    But I found that he had done nothing deserving death. And as he himself appealed to the emperor, I decided to go ahead and send him.
  23. Cross References
    Acts 9:15
    But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.
  24. Cross References
    Acts 25:13
    Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus.
    Acts 26:30
    Then the king rose, and the governor and Bernice and those who were sitting with them.
  25. Cross References
    Acts 25:2
    And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews laid out their case against Paul, and they urged him.
    Acts 25:7
    When he had arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him that they could not prove.
  26. Cross References
    Acts 22:22
    Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, "Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.
  27. Cross References
    Acts 23:29
    I found that he was being accused about questions of their law, but charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment.
  28. Cross References
    Acts 25:11 - 12
    If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.
  29. Cross References
    Acts 25:21
    But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of the emperor, I ordered him to be held until I could send him to Caesar.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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