Acts 25
1 Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he
ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem.
2Then the high priest and the chief
of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him, 3And desired
favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait
in the way to kill him.
4But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept
at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither. 5Let them
therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with me, and
accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him.
6And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went
down unto Caesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat
commanded Paul to be brought. 7And 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.
8While 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.
9But 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?
10Then 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. 11For 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.
12Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.
13And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto
Caesarea to salute Festus. 14And 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: 15About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the
chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have
judgment against him. 16To 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 licence to answer for himself
concerning the crime laid against him.
17Therefore, 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. 18Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none
accusation of such things as I supposed: 19But had certain questions
against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead,
whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
20And because I doubted of such manner
of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be
judged of these matters. 21But 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.
22Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him. 23And on the morrow, when Agrippa 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.
24And Festus said, King Agrippa, 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. 25But 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.
26Of 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 Agrippa, that, after examination
had, I might have somewhat to write. 27For it seemeth to me unreasonable
to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against
him.
Acts 26
1 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself.
Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:
2 I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for
myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused
of the Jews: 3Especially because I know thee to be expert in all
customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee
to hear me patiently.
4 My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among
mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; 5Which knew me from the
beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of
our religion I lived a Pharisee.
6And now I stand and am judged for the
hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: 7Unto which promise
our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come.
For which hope’s sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews. 8Why
should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise
the dead?
9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things
contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10Which thing I also did in
Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having
received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to
death, I gave my voice against them. 11And I punished them oft in every
synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad
against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
12Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission
from the chief priests, 13At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light
from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and
them which journeyed with me. 14And when we were all fallen to the
earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew
tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick
against the pricks. 15And I said, Who art thou, Lord?
And he said, I am
Jesus whom thou persecutest. 16But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I
have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a
witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things
in the which I will appear unto thee; 17Delivering thee from the people,
and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 18To open their eyes,
and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan
unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance
among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
19Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the
heavenly vision: 20But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at
Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the
Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for
repentance.
21For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went
about to kill me. 22Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue
unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other
things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:
23That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should
rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the
Gentiles.
24And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud
voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
25But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth
the words of truth and soberness. 26For the king knoweth of these
things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of
these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a
corner.
27King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
28Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
29And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all
that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am,
except these bonds.
30And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor,
and Bernice, and they that sat with them: 31And when they were gone
aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing
worthy of death or of bonds. 32Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man
might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.
==========
But it was the will of God for Paul to be sent to Rome to testify.
Acts 23:11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.