| Christian Standard Bible | NET Bible |
| 1Three days after Festus arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. | 1Now three days after Festus arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. |
| 2The chief priests and the leaders of the Jews presented their case against Paul to him; and they appealed, | 2So the chief priests and the most prominent men of the Jews brought formal charges against Paul to him. |
| 3asking for a favor against Paul, that Festus summon him to Jerusalem. They were, in fact, preparing an ambush along the road to kill him. | 3Requesting him to do them a favor against Paul, they urged Festus to summon him to Jerusalem, planning an ambush to kill him along the way. |
| 4Festus, however, answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to go there shortly. | 4Then Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea, and he himself intended to go there shortly. |
| 5"Therefore," he said, "let those of you who have authority go down with me and accuse him, if he has done anything wrong." | 5"So," he said, "let your leaders go down there with me, and if this man has done anything wrong, they may bring charges against him." |
| 6When he had spent not more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea. The next day, seated at the tribunal, he commanded Paul to be brought in. | 6After Festus had stayed not more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea, and the next day he sat on the judgment seat and ordered Paul to be brought. |
| 7When he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him and brought many serious charges that they were not able to prove. | 7When he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges that they were not able to prove. |
| 8Then Paul made his defense: "Neither against the Jewish law, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I sinned in any way." | 8Paul said in his defense, "I have committed no offense against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar." |
| 9But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, replied to Paul, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to be tried before me there on these charges?" | 9But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, asked Paul, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and be tried before me there on these charges?" |
| 10Paul replied: "I am standing at Caesar's tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as even you yourself know very well. | 10Paul replied, "I am standing before Caesar's judgment seat, where I should be tried. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you also know very well. |
| 11If then I did anything wrong and am deserving of death, I am not trying to escape death; but if there is nothing to what these men accuse me of, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!" | 11If then I am in the wrong and have done anything that deserves death, I am not trying to escape dying, but if not one of their charges against me is true, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!" |
| 12Then after Festus conferred with his council, he replied, "You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you will go." | 12Then, after conferring with his council, Festus replied, "You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you will go!" |
| 13Several days later, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea and paid a courtesy call on Festus. | 13After several days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus. |
| 14Since they were staying there several days, Festus presented Paul's case to the king, saying, "There's a man who was left as a prisoner by Felix. | 14While they were staying there many days, Festus explained Paul's case to the king to get his opinion, saying, "There is a man left here as a prisoner by Felix. |
| 15When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews presented their case and asked that he be condemned. | 15When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me about him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him. |
| 16I answered them that it is not the Roman custom to give someone up before the accused faces the accusers and has an opportunity for a defense against the charges. | 16I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to hand over anyone before the accused had met his accusers face to face and had been given an opportunity to make a defense against the accusation. |
| 17So when they had assembled here, I did not delay. The next day I took my seat at the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought in. | 17So after they came back here with me, I did not postpone the case, but the next day I sat on the judgment seat and ordered the man to be brought. |
| 18The accusers stood up but brought no charge against him of the evils I was expecting. | 18When his accusers stood up, they did not charge him with any of the evil deeds I had suspected. |
| 19Instead they had some disagreements with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, a dead man Paul claimed to be alive. | 19Rather they had several points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a man named Jesus who was dead, whom Paul claimed to be alive. |
| 20Since I was at a loss in a dispute over such things, I asked him if he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding these matters. | 20Because I was at a loss how I could investigate these matters, I asked if he were willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried there on these charges. |
| 21But when Paul appealed to be held for trial by the Emperor, I ordered him to be kept in custody until I could send him to Caesar." | 21But when Paul appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of His Majesty the Emperor, I ordered him to be kept under guard until I could send him to Caesar." |
| 22Agrippa said to Festus, "I would like to hear the man myself." "Tomorrow you will hear him," he replied. | 22Agrippa said to Festus, "I would also like to hear the man myself." "Tomorrow," he replied, "you will hear him." |
| 23So the next day, Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the auditorium with the military commanders and prominent men of the city. When Festus gave the command, Paul was brought in. | 23So the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the audience hall, along with the senior military officers and the prominent men of the city. When Festus gave the order, Paul was brought in. |
| 24Then Festus said: "King Agrippa and all men present with us, you see this man. The whole Jewish community has appealed to me concerning him, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he should not live any longer. | 24Then Festus said, "King Agrippa, and all you who are present here with us, you see this man about whom the entire Jewish populace petitioned me both in Jerusalem and here, shouting loudly that he ought not to live any longer. |
| 25I found that he had not done anything deserving of death, but when he himself appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him. | 25But I found that he had done nothing that deserved death, and when he appealed to His Majesty the Emperor, I decided to send him. |
| 26I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore, I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after this examination is over, I may have something to write. | 26But 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 this preliminary hearing I may have something to write. |
| 27For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner without indicating the charges against him." | 27For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner without clearly indicating the charges against him." |
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