| English Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1Now three days after Festus had 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. |
| 2And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews laid out their case against Paul, and they urged him, | 2So the chief priests and the most prominent men of the Jews brought formal charges against Paul to him. |
| 3asking as a favor against Paul that he summon him to Jerusalem—because they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way. | 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 replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly. | 4Then Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea, and 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.” | 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." |
| 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 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 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 he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges that they were not able to 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.” | 8Paul said in his defense, "I have committed no offense against the Jewish law 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, 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?" |
| 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 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 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 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 Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.” | 12Then, after conferring with his council, Festus 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 arrived at 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, | 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. |
| 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. | 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 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 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 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 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. |
| 18When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed. | 18When his accusers stood up, they did not charge him with any of the evil deeds I had suspected. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 20Being at a loss how to investigate these questions, I asked whether he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding them. | 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 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 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." |
| 22Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” said he, “you will hear him.” | 22Agrippa said to Festus, "I would also like to hear the man myself." "Tomorrow," he replied, "you will hear him." |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 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. |
| 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 that he had done nothing that deserved death, and when he appealed to His Majesty 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. | 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 to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to indicate 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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