Acts 25 Free Bible Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
FBV Free Bible Version
WEB World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
PT1904 Patriarchal Text 1904 (accented, eBible edition)
1 Three days after Festus had arrived in the province he left Caesarea to go to Jerusalem.
1 Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.
1 Φῆστος οὖν ἐπιβὰς τῇ ἐπαρχίᾳ μετὰ τρεῖς ἡμέρας ἀνέβη εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα ἀπὸ Καισαρείας·
2 The chief priests and Jewish leaders came to him and brought their charges against Paul.
2 Then the high priest and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul, and they begged him,
2 ἐνεφάνισαν δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ ἀρχιερεὺς καὶ οἱ πρῶτοι τῶν Ἰουδαίων κατὰ τοῦ Παύλου, καὶ παρεκάλουν αὐτόν,
3 They begged Festus as a favor to send Paul to Jerusalem, plotting to ambush and kill him on the way.
3 asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem, plotting to kill him on the way.
3 αἰτούμενοι χάριν κατ᾽ αὐτοῦ, ὅπως μεταπέμψηται αὐτὸν εἰς Ἱερουσαλήμ, ἐνέδραν ποιοῦντες ἀνελεῖν αὐτὸν κατὰ τὴν ὁδόν.
4 But Festus replied that Paul was in custody at Caesarea and that he himself would be there shortly.
4 However Festus answered that Paul should be kept in custody at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to depart shortly.
4 ὁ μὲν οὖν Φῆστος ἀπεκρίθη τηρεῖσθαι τὸν Παῦλον ἐν Καισαρείᾳ, ἑαυτὸν δὲ μέλλειν ἐν τάχει ἐκπορεύεσθαι·
5 “Your leaders can come with me, and make their accusation against this man, if he has done anything wrong,” he told them.
5 “Let them therefore”, he said, “that are in power among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong in the man, let them accuse him.”
5 οἱ οὖν δυνατοὶ ἐν ὑμῖν, φησί, συγκαταβάντες, εἴ τί ἐστιν ἐν τῷ ἀνδρὶ τούτῳ, κατηγορείτωσαν αὐτοῦ.
6 After staying there with them for no more than eight or ten days, Festus returned to Caesarea. The following day he took his seat as judge, and ordered that Paul be brought before him.
6 When he had stayed among them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea, and on the next day he sat on the judgment seat, and commanded Paul to be brought.
6 Διατρίψας δὲ ἐν αὐτοῖς ἡμέρας πλείους ἢ δέκα, καταβὰς εἰς Καισάρειαν, τῇ ἐπαύριον καθίσας ἐπὶ τοῦ βήματος ἐκέλευσε τὸν Παῦλον ἀχθῆναι.
7 When he came in the Jews that had come from Jerusalem surrounded him and brought many serious charges against him that they couldn't prove.
7 When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing against him many and grievous charges which they could not prove,
7 παραγενομένου δὲ αὐτοῦ περιέστησαν οἱ ἀπὸ Ἱεροσολύμων καταβεβηκότες Ἰουδαῖοι, πολλὰ καὶ βαρέα αἰτιώματα φέροντες κατὰ τοῦ Παύλου, ἃ οὐκ ἴσχυον ἀποδεῖξαι,
8 Paul defended himself, telling them, “I have not sinned at all against the Jewish law, the Temple, or Caesar.”
8 while he said in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I sinned at all.”
8 ἀπολογουμένου αὐτοῦ ὅτι οὔτε εἰς τὸν νόμον τῶν Ἰουδαίων οὔτε εἰς τὸ ἱερὸν οὔτε εἰς Καίσαρά τι ἥμαρτον.
9 But Festus, who was looking to gain favor with the Jews, asked Paul, “Are you willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried before me there about these matters?”
9 But Festus, desiring to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and be judged by me there concerning these things?”
9 ὁ Φῆστος δὲ θέλων τοῖς Ἰουδαίοις χάριν καταθέσθαι, ἀποκριθεὶς τῷ Παύλῳ εἶπε· θέλεις εἰς Ἱερουσαλὴμ ἀναβὰς ἐκεῖ περὶ τούτων κρίνεσθαι ἐπ᾽ ἐμοῦ;
10 “I'm standing before Caesar's court to be tried, right where I should be,” Paul replied. “I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you very well know.
10 But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also know very well.
10 εἶπε δὲ ὁ Παῦλος· ἐπὶ τοῦ βήματος Καίσαρος ἑστώς εἰμι, οὗ με δεῖ κρίνεσθαι. Ἰουδαίους οὐδὲν ἠδίκησα, ὡς καὶ σὺ κάλλιον ἐπιγινώσκεις·
11 If I've committed a crime and have done something that deserves death, I do not ask to be pardoned from a death sentence. But if there's no substance to these accusations they're making against me, then nobody has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”
11 For if I have done wrong and have committed anything worthy of death, I don’t refuse to die; but if none of those things is true that they accuse me of, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!”
11 εἰ μὲν γὰρ ἀδικῶ καὶ ἄξιον θανάτου πέπραχά τι, οὐ παραιτοῦμαι τὸ ἀποθανεῖν· εἰ δὲ οὐδέν ἐστιν ὧν οὗτοι κατηγοροῦσί μου, οὐδείς με δύναται αὐτοῖς χαρίσασθαι· Καίσαρα ἐπικαλοῦμαι.
12 Festus then conferred with the council, and replied, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you shall go!”
12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you shall go.”
12 τότε ὁ Φῆστος συλλαλήσας μετὰ τοῦ συμβουλίου ἀπεκρίθη· Καίσαρα ἐπικέκλησαι, ἐπὶ Καίσαρα πορεύσῃ.
13 Several days later, King Agrippa and his sister Bernice arrived in Caesarea and came to pay their respects to Festus.
13 Now when some days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus.
13 Ἡμερῶν δὲ διαγενομένων τινῶν Ἀγρίππας ὁ βασιλεὺς καὶ Βερνίκη κατήντησαν εἰς Καισάρειαν ἀσπασόμενοι τὸν Φῆστον.
14 They were staying some time so Festus presented Paul's case to the king, explaining, “There's a man that Felix left as a prisoner here.
14 As he stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, “There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix;
14 ὡς δὲ πλείους ἡμέρας διέτριβον ἐκεῖ, ὁ Φῆστος τῷ βασιλεῖ ἀνέθετο τὰ κατὰ τὸν Παῦλον λέγων· ἀνήρ τίς ἐστι καταλελειμμένος ὑπὸ Φήλικος δέσμιος,
15 When I was in Jerusalem, the Jewish chief priests and leaders came and made accusations against him and asked me to sentence him.
15 about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, asking for a sentence against him.
15 περὶ οὗ γενομένου μου εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα ἐνεφάνισαν οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι τῶν Ἰουδαίων αἰτούμενοι κατ᾽ αὐτοῦ δίκην·
16 I replied that it is not according to Roman law to convict anyone without having them face their accusers and giving them the opportunity to defend themselves against the charges.
16 I answered them that it is not the custom of the Romans to give up any man to destruction before the accused has met the accusers face to face and has had opportunity to make his defense concerning the matter laid against him.
16 πρὸς οὓς ἀπεκρίθην ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ἔθος Ῥωμαίοις χαρίζεσθαί τινα ἄνθρωπον εἰς ἀπώλειαν πρὶν ἢ ὁ κατηγορούμενος κατὰ πρόσωπον ἔχοι τοὺς κατηγόρους τόπον τε ἀπολογίας λάβοι περὶ τοῦ ἐγκλήματος.
17 So when his accusers arrived here, I wasted no time and convened the court the very next day. I ordered the man to be brought in.
17 When therefore they had come together here, I didn’t delay, but on the next day sat on the judgment seat and commanded the man to be brought.
17 συνελθόντων οὖν αὐτῶν ἐνθάδε ἀναβολὴν μηδεμίαν ποιησάμενος τῇ ἑξῆς καθίσας ἐπὶ τοῦ βήματος ἐκέλευσα ἀχθῆναι τὸν ἄνδρα·
18 However, when the accusers got up they didn't bring charges of criminal acts as I expected.
18 When the accusers stood up, they brought no charges against him of such things as I supposed;
18 περὶ οὗ σταθέντες οἱ κατήγοροι οὐδεμίαν αἰτίαν ἐπέφερον ὧν ὑπενόουν ἐγώ,
19 Instead they brought up controversies over religious questions, and over a man called Jesus who was dead but whom Paul insisted was alive.
19 but had certain questions against him about their own religion and about one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
19 ζητήματα δέ τινα περὶ τῆς ἰδίας δεισιδαιμονίας εἶχον πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ περί τινος Ἰησοῦ τεθνηκότος, ὃν ἔφασκεν ὁ Παῦλος ζῆν.
20 Since I was undecided as to how to proceed in investigating such matters, I asked him if he was willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried there.
20 Being perplexed how to inquire concerning these things, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there be judged concerning these matters.
20 ἀπορούμενος δὲ ἐγὼ τὴν περὶ τούτου ζήτησιν ἔλεγον εἰ βούλοιτο πορεύεσθαι εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα κἀκεῖ κρίνεσθαι περὶ τούτων.
21 However, Paul appealed for his case to be heard by the emperor, so I ordered him detained until I could send him to Caesar.”
21 But when Paul had appealed to be kept for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be kept until I could send him to Caesar.”
21 τοῦ δὲ Παύλου ἐπικαλεσαμένου τηρηθῆναι αὐτὸν εἰς τὴν τοῦ Σεβαστοῦ διάγνωσιν, ἐκέλευσα τηρεῖσθαι αὐτὸν ἕως οὗ πέμψω αὐτὸν πρὸς Καίσαρα.
22 “I would like to hear the man myself,” Agrippa told Festus. “I'll arrange for you to hear him tomorrow,” Festus replied.
22 Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “you shall hear him.”
22 Ἀγρίππας δὲ πρὸς τὸν Φῆστον ἔφη· ἐβουλόμην καὶ αὐτὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἀκοῦσαι. ὁ δέ, αὔριον, φησίν, ἀκούσῃ αὐτοῦ.
23 The next day Agrippa arrived with Bernice in great ceremonial splendor and entered the auditorium with the commanders and leading citizens. Then Festus ordered Paul to be brought in.
23 So on the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp, and they had entered into the place of hearing with the commanding officers and the principal men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.
23 Τῇ οὖν ἐπαύριον ἐλθόντος τοῦ Ἀγρίππα καὶ τῆς Βερνίκης μετὰ πολλῆς φαντασίας καὶ εἰσελθόντων εἰς τὸ ἀκροατήριον σύν τε τοῖς χιλιάρχοις καὶ ἀνδράσι τοῖς κατ᾽ ἐξοχὴν οὖσι τῆς πόλεως, καὶ κελεύσαντος τοῦ Φήστου ἤχθη ὁ Παῦλος.
24 “King Agrippa, and everyone who is present here with us,” Festus began, “you see before you this man whom all the Jewish people, both here and in Jerusalem, have complained to me about, shouting that he shouldn't be allowed to live.
24 Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all men who are here present with us, you see this man about whom all the multitude of the Jews petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.
24 καί φησιν ὁ Φῆστος· Ἀγρίππα βασιλεῦ καὶ πάντες οἱ συμπαρόντες ἡμῖν ἄνδρες, θεωρεῖτε τοῦτον περὶ οὗ πᾶν τὸ πλῆθος τῶν Ἰουδαίων ἐνέτυχόν μοι ἔν τε Ἱεροσολύμοις καὶ ἐνθάδε, ἐπιβοῶντες μὴ δεῖν ζῆν αὐτὸν μηκέτι.
25 However, I discovered he has not committed any crime that deserves death, and since he has appealed to the emperor I decided to send him there.
25 But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and as he himself appealed to the emperor, I determined to send him,
25 ἐγὼ δὲ καταλαβόμενος μηδὲν ἄξιον θανάτου αὐτὸν πεπραχέναι, καὶ αὐτοῦ δὲ τούτου ἐπικαλεσαμένου τὸν Σεβαστόν, ἔκρινα πέμπειν αὐτόν.
26 But I don't have anything specific to write about him to His Imperial Majesty. That's why I have brought him before you so I can have something definite to write.
26 of whom I have no certain thing to write to my lord. Therefore I have brought him out before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, that, after examination I may have something to write.
26 περὶ οὗ ἀσφαλές τι γράψαι τῷ κυρίῳ οὐκ ἔχω· διὸ προήγαγον αὐτὸν ἐφ᾽ ὑμῶν καὶ μάλιστα ἐπὶ σοῦ, βασιλεῦ Ἀγρίππα, ὅπως τῆς ἀνακρίσεως γενομένης σχῶ τι γράψαι.
27 It doesn't seem fair to me to send on a prisoner without explaining the charges made against him.”
27 For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to also specify the charges against him.”
27 ἄλογον γάρ μοι δοκεῖ πέμποντα δέσμιον μὴ καὶ τὰς κατ᾽ αὐτοῦ αἰτίας σημᾶναι.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Agrippa
King Agrippa, who with Bernice visited Festus and heard Paul's defense, replying that Paul almost persuaded him to become a Christian.
Cited in the guide: Acts 25:13; Acts 26:1; Acts 26:28
Bernice
Arrived with King Agrippa at Caesarea to pay respects to Festus and sat with him to hear Paul.
Cited in the guide: Acts 25:13; Acts 25:23; Acts 26:30
Festus
Succeeded Felix as governor, heard Paul's case, and sent him to Caesar after Paul appealed; he was told Paul was beside himself.
Cited in the guide: Acts 24:27; Acts 25:1; Acts 25:12
Places
Caesarea Maritima
The Roman administrative capital of Judea. Peter brought the gospel to the Gentile Cornelius here, and Paul was imprisoned before appealing his case to Caesar.
Cited in the guide: Acts 10:1; Acts 23:23; Acts 25:11
Cross references (26)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Acts 23:34; Acts 25:5; Acts 21:15; Acts 18:22; Acts 8:40
- 2 Acts 25:15; Proverbs 4:16; Acts 24:1; Romans 3:12–19; Job 31:31
- 3 Acts 23:12–15; Acts 9:24; Mark 6:23–25; Psalm 37:32–33; Acts 9:2
- 4 Acts 24:23
- 5 Acts 25:16; Acts 25:25; Acts 25:18–19; John 18:29–30; Psalm 7:3–5
- 6 Acts 25:10; Acts 25:17; Matthew 27:19; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Acts 18:12–17
- 7 Acts 24:13; Luke 23:10; Luke 23:2; Acts 25:24; Acts 24:5–6
- 8 Acts 28:17; Acts 24:12; 2 Corinthians 1:12; Acts 28:21; Jeremiah 37:18
- 9 Acts 24:27; Acts 12:3; Acts 25:20; Mark 15:15; Acts 25:3
- 10 Matthew 27:18; 2 Corinthians 4:2; Acts 28:18; Acts 26:31; Acts 25:25
- 11 Acts 28:19; Psalm 7:3–5; Acts 26:32; Acts 25:25; Joshua 22:22
- 12 Acts 19:21; Philippians 1:12–14; Philippians 1:20; Daniel 4:35; Acts 26:32–27:1
- 13 1 Samuel 25:14; 2 Samuel 8:10; Acts 26:27–28; Acts 25:22–23; Acts 8:40
- 14 Acts 24:27
- 15 Luke 18:3–5; Acts 25:1–3; Luke 23:23; Esther 3:9; Acts 24:1
- 16 John 7:51; Deuteronomy 19:17–18; Acts 23:30; Proverbs 18:17; Acts 25:4–5
- 17 Acts 25:6; Acts 25:10
- 19 Acts 23:29; Acts 18:15; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4; Acts 25:7; 1 Corinthians 15:14–20
- 20 Acts 25:9
- 21 2 Timothy 4:16; Acts 26:32–27:1; Acts 25:10–11; Luke 2:1
- 22 Acts 9:15; Isaiah 52:15; Matthew 10:18; Luke 21:12
- 23 Acts 25:13; Acts 26:30; 1 John 2:16; Esther 1:4; 1 Peter 1:24
- 24 Acts 25:7; Acts 22:22; Acts 25:2–3; Luke 23:21–23
- 25 Acts 23:29; Acts 25:11–12; Acts 23:9; Luke 23:4; Acts 26:31
- 26 Acts 26:2–3
- 27 John 7:51; Proverbs 18:13
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
See what an audience is gathered together for Paul. Having collected all his guards, the governor is come, and the king, and the tribunes, "with the principal men," it says, "of the city." Then Paul being brought forth, see how he is proclaimed as conqueror. Festus himself acquits him from the charges, for what says Festus?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 11 (1889)