Acts 25:1-26:14

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."

Acts 26

Paul's Defense Before Agrippa

1 So l Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speak for yourself." Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense:

2 "I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today m against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 especially because you are familiar with all the n customs and o controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.

4 p "My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among q my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. 5 They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that r according to the strictest s party of our t religion I have lived as u a Pharisee. 6 And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in v the promise made by God to our fathers, 7 w to which x our twelve tribes hope to y attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope z I am accused by Jews, O king! 8 Why is it thought a incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?

9 b "I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of c Jesus of Nazareth. 10 d And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority e from the chief priests, but f when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. 11 And g I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them h blaspheme, and i in raging fury against them I j persecuted them even to foreign cities.

Paul Tells of His Conversion

12 "In this connection k I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. 14 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me l in the Hebrew language, 2 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'

  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.
  30. 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.
  31. 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 25:19
    Rather they had certain points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive.
    Acts 26:7
    To which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king!
  32. Cross References
    Acts 6:14
    For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.
  33. 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.
  34. Cross References
    Galatians 1:13
    For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it.
  35. Cross References
    Acts 24:17
    Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings.
    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.
  36. Cross References
    Acts 22:3
    I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day.
  37. Cross References
    Acts 24:5
    For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.
  38. Cross References
    James 1:26 - 27
    If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.
  39. Cross References
    Acts 23:6
    Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.
  40. Cross References
    Acts 13:32
    And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers.
  41. Cross References
    Acts 2:33
    Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.
    Hebrews 10:36
    For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.
    Hebrews 11:13
    These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
    Hebrews 11:39
    And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised.
  42. Cross References
    Matthew 19:28
    Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
    Luke 22:30
    That you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
    James 1:1
    James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.
    Revelation 21:12
    It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed -
    Ezra 6:17
    They offered at the dedication of this house of God 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel 12 male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.
  43. Cross References
    Philippians 3:11
    That by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
  44. Cross References
    Acts 26:2
    I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews.
  45. Cross References
    Acts 17:3
    Explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.
    1 Corinthians 15:12
    Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
  46. Cross References
    1 Timothy 1:13
    Though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief.
    John 16:2
    They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.
    Acts 3:17
    And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers.
  47. Cross References
    Acts 22:8
    And I answered, 'Who are you, Lord?' And he said to me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.
  48. Cross References
    Acts 8:3
    But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.
  49. Cross References
    Acts 26:12
    In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests.
    Acts 9:1 - 2
    But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest
    Acts 9:14
    And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.
    Acts 9:21
    And all who heard him were amazed and said, "Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?
    Acts 22:4 - 5
    I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women.
  50. Cross References
    Acts 22:20
    And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him.
  51. Cross References
    Acts 22:19
    And I said, 'Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you.
  52. Cross References
    Acts 13:45
    But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him.
  53. Cross References
    Acts 9:1
    But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest
  54. Cross References
    Acts 22:5
    As the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.
  55. Cross References
    Acts 26:12 - 18
    In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests.
    Acts 9:3 - 8
    Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
    Acts 22:6 - 11
    As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me.
  56. Cross References
    Acts 21:40
    And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying:
    Acts 22:2
    And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said:
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.