Acts 25 Clementine Vulgate
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 Festus ergo cum venisset in provinciam, post triduum ascendit Jerosolymam a Cæsarea.
1 Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.
2 Adieruntque eum principes sacerdotum et primi Judæorum adversus Paulum: et rogabant eum,
2 Then the high priest and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul, and they begged him,
3 postulantes gratiam adversus eum, ut juberet perduci eum in Jerusalem, insidias tendentes ut interficerent eum in via.
3 asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem, plotting to kill him on the way.
4 Festus autem respondit servari Paulum in Cæsarea: se autem maturius profecturum.
4 However Festus answered that Paul should be kept in custody at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to depart shortly.
5 Qui ergo in vobis, ait, potentes sunt, descendentes simul, si quod est in viro crimen, accusent eum.
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 Demoratus autem inter eos dies non amplius quam octo aut decem, descendit Cæsaream, et altera die sedit pro tribunali, et jussit Paulum adduci.
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 Qui cum perductus esset, circumsteterunt eum, qui ab Jerosolyma descenderant Judæi, multas et graves causas objicientes, quas non poterant probare:
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 Paulo rationem reddente: Quoniam neque in legem Judæorum, neque in templum, neque in Cæsarem quidquam peccavi.
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 Festus autem volens gratiam præstare Judæis, respondens Paulo, dixit: Vis Jerosolymam ascendere, et ibi de his judicari apud me?
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 Dixit autem Paulus: Ad tribunal Cæsaris sto: ibi me oportet judicari: Judæis non nocui, sicut tu melius nosti.
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 Si enim nocui, aut dignum morte aliquid feci, non recuso mori: si vero nihil est eorum quæ hi accusant me, nemo potest me illis donare. Cæsarem appello.
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 Tunc Festus cum concilio locutus, respondit: Cæsarem appellasti? ad Cæsarem ibis.
12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you shall go.”
13 Et cum dies aliquot transacti essent, Agrippa rex et Bernice descenderunt Cæsaream ad salutandum Festum.
13 Now when some days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus.
14 Et cum dies plures ibi demorarentur, Festus regi indicavit de Paulo, dicens: Vir quidam est derelictus a Felice vinctus,
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 de quo cum essem Jerosolymis, adierunt me principes sacerdotum et seniores Judæorum, postulantes adversus illum damnationem.
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 Ad quos respondi: Quia non est Romanis consuetudo damnare aliquem hominem priusquam is qui accusatur præsentes habeat accusatores, locumque defendendi accipiat ad abluenda crimina.
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 Cum ergo huc convenissent sine ulla dilatione, sequenti die sedens pro tribunali, jussi adduci virum.
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 De quo, cum stetissent accusatores, nullam causam deferebant, de quibus ego suspicabar malum.
18 When the accusers stood up, they brought no charges against him of such things as I supposed;
19 Quæstiones vero quasdam de sua superstitione habebant adversus eum, et de quodam Jesu defuncto, quem affirmabat Paulus vivere.
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 Hæsitans autem ego de hujusmodi quæstione, dicebam si vellet ire Jerosolymam, et ibi judicari de istis.
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 Paulo autem appellante ut servaretur ad Augusti cognitionem, jussi servari eum, donec mittam eum ad Cæsarem.
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 autem dixit ad Festum: Volebam et ipse hominem audire. Cras, inquit, audies eum.
22 Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “you shall hear him.”
23 Altera autem die cum venisset Agrippa et Bernice cum multa ambitione, et introissent in auditorium cum tribunis et viris principalibus civitatis, jubente Festo, adductus est Paulus.
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 Et dicit Festus: Agrippa rex, et omnes qui simul adestis nobiscum viri, videtis hunc de quo omnis multitudo Judæorum interpellavit me Jerosolymis, petentes et acclamantes non oportere eum vivere amplius.
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 Ego vere comperi nihil dignum morte eum admisisse. Ipso autem hoc appellante ad Augustum, judicavi mittere.
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 De quo quid certum scribam domino, non habeo. Propter quod produxi eum ad vos, et maxime ad te, rex Agrippa, ut interrogatione facta habeam quid scribam.
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 Sine ratione enim mihi videtur mittere vinctum, et causas ejus non significare.
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)