Acts 25 Geneva Bible (1599)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (1)
- Original 16th-century spelling.
1 When Festus was then come into the prouince, after three dayes he went vp from Caesarea vnto Hierusalem.
1 Φῆστος οὖν ἐπιβὰς τῇ ἐπαρχίᾳ μετὰ τρεῖς ἡμέρας ἀνέβη εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα ἀπὸ Καισαρείας·
2 Then the high Priest, and the chiefe of the Iewes appeared before him against Paul: and they besought him,
2 ἐνεφάνισαν δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ ἀρχιερεὺς καὶ οἱ πρῶτοι τῶν Ἰουδαίων κατὰ τοῦ Παύλου, καὶ παρεκάλουν αὐτόν,
3 And desired fauour against him, that hee would send for him to Hierusalem: and they layd waite to kill him by the way.
3 αἰτούμενοι χάριν κατ᾽ αὐτοῦ, ὅπως μεταπέμψηται αὐτὸν εἰς Ἱερουσαλήμ, ἐνέδραν ποιοῦντες ἀνελεῖν αὐτὸν κατὰ τὴν ὁδόν.
4 But Festus answered, that Paul should bee kept at Caesarea, and that he himselfe would shortly depart thither.
4 ὁ μὲν οὖν Φῆστος ἀπεκρίθη τηρεῖσθαι τὸν Παῦλον ἐν Καισαρείᾳ, ἑαυτὸν δὲ μέλλειν ἐν τάχει ἐκπορεύεσθαι·
5 Let them therefore, saide he, which among you are able, come downe with vs: and if there be any wickednes 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 Now when he had taried among them no more then ten dayes, hee went downe to Caesarea, and the next day sate in the iudgement 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 And when hee was come, the Iewes which were come from Hierusalem, stoode about him and layd many and grieuous complaints against Paul, whereof they could make no plaine proofe,
7 παραγενομένου δὲ αὐτοῦ περιέστησαν οἱ ἀπὸ Ἱεροσολύμων καταβεβηκότες Ἰουδαῖοι, πολλὰ καὶ βαρέα αἰτιώματα φέροντες κατὰ τοῦ Παύλου, ἃ οὐκ ἴσχυον ἀποδεῖξαι,
8 Forasmuch as he answered, that he had neither offended any thing against the lawe of the Iewes, neither against ye temple, nor against Caesar.
8 ἀπολογουμένου αὐτοῦ ὅτι οὔτε εἰς τὸν νόμον τῶν Ἰουδαίων οὔτε εἰς τὸ ἱερὸν οὔτε εἰς Καίσαρά τι ἥμαρτον.
9 Yet Festus willing to get fauour of the Iewes, answered Paul and saide, Wilt thou goe vp to Hierusalem, and there be iudged of these things before mee?
9 ὁ Φῆστος δὲ θέλων τοῖς Ἰουδαίοις χάριν καταθέσθαι, ἀποκριθεὶς τῷ Παύλῳ εἶπε· θέλεις εἰς Ἱερουσαλὴμ ἀναβὰς ἐκεῖ περὶ τούτων κρίνεσθαι ἐπ᾽ ἐμοῦ;
10 Then said Paul, I stand at Caesars iudgment seate, where I ought to be iudged: to the Iewes I haue done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.
10 εἶπε δὲ ὁ Παῦλος· ἐπὶ τοῦ βήματος Καίσαρος ἑστώς εἰμι, οὗ με δεῖ κρίνεσθαι. Ἰουδαίους οὐδὲν ἠδίκησα, ὡς καὶ σὺ κάλλιον ἐπιγινώσκεις·
11 For if I haue done wrong, or committed any thing worthie of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof they accuse me, no man, to pleasure them, can deliuer me to them: I appeale vnto 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 Then when Festus had spoken with the Council, hee answered, Hast thou appealed vnto Caesar? vnto Caesar shalt thou goe.
12 τότε ὁ Φῆστος συλλαλήσας μετὰ τοῦ συμβουλίου ἀπεκρίθη· Καίσαρα ἐπικέκλησαι, ἐπὶ Καίσαρα πορεύσῃ.
13 And after certaine dayes, King Agrippa and Bernice came downe to Caesarea to salute Festus.
13 Ἡμερῶν δὲ διαγενομένων τινῶν Ἀγρίππας ὁ βασιλεὺς καὶ Βερνίκη κατήντησαν εἰς Καισάρειαν ἀσπασόμενοι τὸν Φῆστον.
14 And when they had remained there many dayes, Festus declared Pauls cause vnto the King, saying, There is a certaine man left in prison 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 Of whom when I came to Hierusalem, the high Priestes and Elders of the Iewes informed me, and desired to haue iudgement against him.
15 περὶ οὗ γενομένου μου εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα ἐνεφάνισαν οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι τῶν Ἰουδαίων αἰτούμενοι κατ᾽ αὐτοῦ δίκην·
16 To whome I answered, that it is not the maner of the Romanes for fauour to deliuer any man to the death, before that hee which is accused, haue the accusers before him, and haue place to defend himselfe, concerning the crime.
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 Therefore when they were come hither, without delay the day following I sate on the iudgement seate, and commanded the man to be brought foorth.
17 συνελθόντων οὖν αὐτῶν ἐνθάδε ἀναβολὴν μηδεμίαν ποιησάμενος τῇ ἑξῆς καθίσας ἐπὶ τοῦ βήματος ἐκέλευσα ἀχθῆναι τὸν ἄνδρα·
18 Against whom when the accusers stood vp, they brought no crime of such things as I supposed:
18 περὶ οὗ σταθέντες οἱ κατήγοροι οὐδεμίαν αἰτίαν ἐπέφερον ὧν ὑπενόουν ἐγώ,
19 But had certaine questions against him of their owne superstition, and of one Iesus which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be aliue.
19 ζητήματα δέ τινα περὶ τῆς ἰδίας δεισιδαιμονίας εἶχον πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ περί τινος Ἰησοῦ τεθνηκότος, ὃν ἔφασκεν ὁ Παῦλος ζῆν.
20 And because I doubted of such maner of question, I asked him whether he would goe to Hierusalem, and there be iudged of these things.
20 ἀπορούμενος δὲ ἐγὼ τὴν περὶ τούτου ζήτησιν ἔλεγον εἰ βούλοιτο πορεύεσθαι εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα κἀκεῖ κρίνεσθαι περὶ τούτων.
21 But because he appealed to be reserued to the examination of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept, till I mght send him to Cesar.
21 τοῦ δὲ Παύλου ἐπικαλεσαμένου τηρηθῆναι αὐτὸν εἰς τὴν τοῦ Σεβαστοῦ διάγνωσιν, ἐκέλευσα τηρεῖσθαι αὐτὸν ἕως οὗ πέμψω αὐτὸν πρὸς Καίσαρα.
22 Then Agrippa sayd vnto Festus, I would also heare the man my selfe. To morowe, sayd he, thou shalt heare him.
22 Ἀγρίππας δὲ πρὸς τὸν Φῆστον ἔφη· ἐβουλόμην καὶ αὐτὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἀκοῦσαι. ὁ δέ, αὔριον, φησίν, ἀκούσῃ αὐτοῦ.
23 And on the morowe when Agrippa was come and Bernice with great pompe, and were entred into the Common hall with the chiefe captaines and chiefe men of the citie, at Festus commandement Paul was brought forth.
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 And Festus sayd, King Agrippa, and all men which are present with vs, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Iewes haue called vpon me, both at Hierusalem, and here, crying, that he ought not to liue 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 Yet haue I found nothing worthy of death, that he hath committed: neuertheles, seeing that he hath appealed to Augustus, I haue determined to send him.
25 ἐγὼ δὲ καταλαβόμενος μηδὲν ἄξιον θανάτου αὐτὸν πεπραχέναι, καὶ αὐτοῦ δὲ τούτου ἐπικαλεσαμένου τὸν Σεβαστόν, ἔκρινα πέμπειν αὐτόν.
26 Of whome I haue no certaine thing to write vnto my Lord: wherefore I haue brought him forth vnto you, and specially vnto thee, King Agrippa, that after examination had, I might haue somewhat 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 For me thinketh it vnreasonable to send a prisoner, and not to shewe the causes which are layde 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)