| English Standard Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Now three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. | 1Three days after his arrival in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem, |
| 2And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews laid out their case against Paul, and they urged him, | 2where the chief priests and Jewish leaders presented their case against Paul. They urged Festus |
| 3asking as a favor against Paul that he summon him to Jerusalem—because they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way. | 3to grant them a concession against Paul by summoning him to Jerusalem, because they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way. |
| 4Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly. | 4But Festus replied, “Paul is being held in Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon. |
| 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.” | 5So if this man has done anything wrong, let some of your leaders come down with me and accuse him there.” |
| 6After 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. | 6After spending no more than eight or ten days with them, Festus went down to Caesarea. The next day he sat on the judgment seat and ordered that Paul be brought in. |
| 7When 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. | 7When Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges that they could not prove. |
| 8Paul argued in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I committed any offense.” | 8Then Paul made his defense: “I have committed no offense against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.” |
| 9But 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?” | 9But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to stand trial before me on these charges?” |
| 10But 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. | 10Paul replied, “I am standing before the judgment seat of Caesar, where I ought to be tried. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. |
| 11If 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.” | 11If, however, I am guilty of anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is no truth to their accusations against me, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!” |
| 12Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.” | 12Then Festus conferred with his council and replied, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!” |
| 13Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus. | 13After several days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice came down to Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus. |
| 14And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, “There is a man left prisoner by Felix, | 14Since they were staying several days, Festus laid out Paul’s case before the king: “There is a certain man whom Felix left in prison. |
| 15and 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. | 15While I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and elders of the Jews presented their case and requested a judgment against him. |
| 16I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone before the accused met the accusers face to face and had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against him. | 16I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand a man over before he has had an opportunity to face his accusers and defend himself against their charges. |
| 17So 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. | 17So when they came here with me, I did not delay. The next day I sat on the judgment seat and ordered that the man be brought in. |
| 18When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed. | 18But when his accusers rose to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. |
| 19Rather 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. | 19They only had some contentions with him regarding their own religion and a certain Jesus who had died, but whom Paul affirmed to be alive. |
| 20Being at a loss how to investigate these questions, I asked whether he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding them. | 20Since I was at a loss as to how to investigate these matters, I asked if he was willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried there on these charges. |
| 21But 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.” | 21But when Paul appealed to be held over for the decision of the Emperor, I ordered that he be held until I could send him to Caesar.” |
| 22Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” said he, “you will hear him.” | 22Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man myself.” “Tomorrow you will hear him,” Festus declared. |
| 23So on the next day 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. | 23The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the auditorium, along with the commanders and leading men of the city. And Festus ordered that Paul be brought in. |
| 24And 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. | 24Then Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man. The whole Jewish community has petitioned me about him, both here and in Jerusalem, crying out that he ought not to live any longer. |
| 25But 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. | 25But I found he had done nothing worthy of death, and since he has now appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him. |
| 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 we have examined him, I may have something to write. | 26I have nothing definite to write to our sovereign one about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after this inquiry I may have something to write. |
| 27For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him.” | 27For it seems unreasonable to me to send on a prisoner without specifying the charges against him.” |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | The Berean Bible (Berean Study Bible (BSB) © 2016, 2018 by Bible Hub and Berean.Bible. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. |
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