Acts 25 Unlocked Literal Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 Now, Festus entered the province, and after three days, he went from Caesarea up to Jerusalem.
1 Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.
2 The chief priest and the prominent Jews brought accusations against Paul, and they urged him
2 Then the high priest and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul, and they begged him,
3 and asked him for a favor that would put Paul in danger—that Festus might summon Paul to Jerusalem so that they could kill him along the way.
3 asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem, plotting to kill him on the way.
4 Festus answered that Paul was being held at Caesarea, and that he himself was going there soon.
4 However Festus answered that Paul should be kept in custody at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to depart shortly.
5 “Therefore, those who can,” he said, “should go there with us. If there is something wrong with the man, you should accuse him.”
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.”
6 Festus stayed not more than eight or ten days and then he went down to Caesarea, and on the next day he sat in the judgment seat and commanded Paul to be brought to 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.
7 When he arrived, the Jews from Jerusalem stood nearby, and they brought many serious charges which they could not 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,
8 Paul defended himself and said, “I have done nothing wrong against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against 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.”
9 But Festus wanted to gain the favor of the Jews, and so he answered Paul and said, “Do you want to go up to Jerusalem and to be judged by me about these things there?”
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?”
10 Paul said, “I stand before the judgment seat of Caesar where I must be judged. I have wronged no Jews, just as you also 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.
11 Though if I have done wrong and if I have done what is worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if their accusations are nothing, no one may 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!”
12 After Festus talked with the council, he answered, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”
12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you shall go.”
13 Now after some days, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay an official visit to Festus.
13 Now when some days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus.
14 After he had been there for many days, Festus presented Paul's case to the king; he said, “A certain man was left behind here by Felix as a prisoner.
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;
15 When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against this man to me, and they asked for a sentence of condemnation against 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.
16 I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to hand over anyone before the accused had faced his accusers and had an opportunity to defend himself 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.
17 Therefore, when they came together here, I did not wait, but the next day I sat in the judgment seat and 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.
18 When the accusers stood up and accused him, I thought that none of the charges that they brought against him were serious.
18 When the accusers stood up, they brought no charges against him of such things as I supposed;
19 Instead, they had certain disputes with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus who was dead, whom Paul claims to be 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.
20 I was not certain about how to investigate this matter, and so I asked him if he was willing to go to Jerusalem to stand trial there about these charges.
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.
21 But when Paul appealed to be kept in custody while awaiting the decision of the emperor, I ordered him to be held in custody 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.”
22 Agrippa spoke to Festus, “I would also like to listen to this man.” “Tomorrow,” Festus said, “you will hear him.”
22 Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “you shall hear him.”
23 So on the next day, Agrippa and Bernice came with much ceremony; they came into the hall with the military officers and with the prominent men of the city. When Festus spoke the command, Paul was brought to them.
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.
24 Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all you men who are here with us, you see this man; all the multitude of Jews consulted with me in Jerusalem and here also, and they shouted to me that he should no longer 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.
25 I learned that he had done nothing worthy of death; but because he appealed to the emperor, I decided to send him.
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,
26 But I do not have something definite to write to the emperor. For this reason, I have brought him to you, especially to you, King Agrippa, so that I might have something more to write about the case.
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.
27 For it seems unreasonable for me to send a prisoner and to not also state the charges against him.”
27 For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to also specify the charges against him.”
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)