Acts Chapter 25
Other Translations
asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM
1
For Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus, that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.
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And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called to him the elders of the church.
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And when they were come to him, he said unto them,
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Ye yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, after what manner I was with you all the time,
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serving the Lord with all lowliness of mind, and with tears, and with trials which befell me by the plots of the Jews;
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how I shrank not from declaring unto you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly, and from house to house,
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testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
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And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:
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save that the Holy Spirit testifieth unto me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
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But I hold not my life of any account as dear unto myself, so that I may accomplish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
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And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, shall see my face no more.
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Wherefore I testify unto you this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.
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For I shrank not from declaring unto you the whole counsel of God.
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Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord which he purchased with his own blood.
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I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock;
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and from among your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.
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Wherefore watch ye, remembering that by the space of three years I ceased not to admonish every one night and day with tears.
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And now I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build
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you up, and to give
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you the inheritance among all them that are sanctified.
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I coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel.
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Ye yourselves know that these hands ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
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In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring ye ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
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And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down and prayed with them all.
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And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him,
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sorrowing most of all for the word which he had spoken, that they should behold his face no more. And they brought him on his way unto the ship.
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And when it came to pass that we were parted from them and had set sail, we came with a straight course unto Cos, and the next day unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara:
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
1
Festus therefore, being come into the eparchy, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.
2
And the chief priests and the chief of the Jews laid informations before him against Paul, and besought him,
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asking as a grace against him that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying people in wait to kill him on the way.
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Festus therefore answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to set out shortly.
5
Let therefore the persons of authority among you, says he, going down too, if there be anything in this man, accuse him.
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And having remained among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea; and on the next day, having sat down on the judgment-seat, commanded Paul to be brought.
7
And when he was come, the Jews who were come down from Jerusalem stood round, bringing many and grievous charges which they were not able to prove:
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Paul answering for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I offended [in] anything.
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But Festus, desirous of obliging the Jews, to acquire their favour, answering Paul, said, Art thou willing to go up to Jerusalem, there to be judged before me concerning these things?
10
But Paul said, I am standing before the judgment-seat of Caesar, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou also very well knowest.
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If then I have done any wrong and committed anything worthy of death, I do not deprecate dying; but if there is nothing of those things of which they accuse me, no man can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.
12
Then Festus, having conferred with the council, answered, Thou hast appealed to Caesar. To Caesar shalt thou go.
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And when certain days had elapsed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to salute Festus.
14
And when they had spent many days there, Festus laid before the king the matters relating to Paul, saying, There is a certain man left prisoner by Felix,
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concerning whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews laid informations, requiring judgment against him:
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to whom I answered, It is not [the] custom of the Romans to give up any man before that the accused have the accusers face to face, and he have got opportunity of defence touching the charge.
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When therefore they had come together here, without putting it off, I sat the next day on the judgment-seat and commanded the man to be brought:
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concerning whom the accusers, standing up, brought no such accusation of guilt as I supposed;
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but had against him certain questions of their own system of worship, and concerning a certain Jesus who is dead, whom Paul affirmed to be living.
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And as I myself was at a loss as to an inquiry into these things, I said, Was he willing to go to Jerusalem and there to be judged concerning these things?
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But Paul having appealed to be kept for the cognisance of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I shall send him to Caesar.
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And Agrippa [said] to Festus, I myself also would desire to hear the man. To-morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.
23
On the morrow therefore, Agrippa being come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and having entered into the hall of audience, with the chiliarchs and the men of distinction of the city, and Festus having given command, Paul was brought.
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And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men who are here present with us, ye see this person, concerning whom all the multitude of the Jews applied to me both in Jerusalem and here, crying out against [him] that he ought not to live any longer.
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But I, having found that he had done nothing worthy of death, and this [man] himself having appealed to Augustus, I have decided to send him;
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concerning whom I have nothing certain to write to my lord. Wherefore I have brought him before you, and specially before thee, king Agrippa, so that an examination having been gone into I may have something to write:
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for it seems to me senseless, sending a prisoner, not also to signify the charges against him.
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
1
Festus ergo cum venisset in provinciam, post triduum ascendit Ierosolymam a Cæsarea.
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Adieruntque eum principes sacerdotum, et primi Iudæorum adversus Paulum: et rogabant eum,
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postulantes gratiam adversus eum, ut iuberet perduci eum in Ierusalem, insidias tendentes ut interficerent eum in via.
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Festus autem respondit servari Paulum in Cæsarea: se autem maturius profecturum.
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Qui ergo in vobis (ait) potentes sunt, descendentes simul, si quod est in viro crimen, accusent eum.
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Demoratus autem inter eos dies non amplius quam octo, aut decem, descendit Cæsaream, et altera die sedit pro tribunali, et iussit Paulum adduci.
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Qui cum perductus esset, circumsteterunt eum, qui ab Ierosolyma descenderant Iudæi, multas, et graves causas obiicientes, quas non poterant probare.
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Paulo rationem reddente: Quoniam neque in legem Iudæorum, neque in templum, neque in Cæsarem quidquam peccavi.
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Festus autem volens gratiam præstare Iudæis, respondens Paulo, dixit: Vis Ierosolymam ascendere, et ibi de his iudicari apud me?
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Dixit autem Paulus: Ad tribunal Cæsaris sto, ibi me oportet iudicari: Iudæis non nocui, sicut tu melius nosti.
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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.
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Tunc Festus cum concilio locutus, respondit: Cæsarem appellasti? ad Cæsarem ibis.
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Et cum dies aliquot transacti essent: Agrippa rex, et Bernice descenderunt Cæsaream ad salutandum Festum.
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Et cum dies plures ibi demorarentur, Festus regi indicavit de Paulo, dicens: Vir quidam est derelictus a Felice vinctus,
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de quo cum essem Ierosolymis, adierunt me principes sacerdotum, et seniores Iudæorum, postulantes adversus illum damnationem.
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Ad quos respondi: Quia non est Romanis consuetudo damnare aliquem hominem prius quam is, qui accusatur, præsentes habeat accusatores, locumque defendendi accipiat ad abluenda crimina.
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Cum ergo huc convenissent sine ulla dilatione, sequenti die sedens pro tribunali, iussi adduci virum.
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De quo, cum stetissent accusatores, nullam causam deferebant, de quibus ego suspicabar malum:
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Quæstiones vero quasdam de sua superstitione habebant adversus eum, et de quodam Iesu defuncto, quem affirmabat Paulus vivere.
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Hæsitans autem ego de huiusmodi quæstione, dicebam si vellet ire Ierosolymam, et ibi iudicari de istis.
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Paulo autem appellante ut servaretur ad Augusti cognitionem, iussi servari eum, donec mittam eum ad Cæsarem.
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Agrippa autem dixit ad Festum: Volebam et ipse hominem audire. Cras, inquit, audies eum.
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Altera autem die cum venisset Agrippa, et Bernice cum multa ambitione, et introissent in auditorium cum tribunis, et viris principalibus civitatis, iubente Festo, adductus est Paulus.
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Et dicit Festus: Agrippa rex, et omnes, qui simul adestis nobiscum viri, videtis hunc, de quo omnis multitudo Iudæorum interpellavit me Ierosolymis, petentes et acclamantes non oportere eum vivere amplius.
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Ego vere comperi nihil dignum morte eum admisisse. Ipso autem hoc appellante ad Augustum, iudicavi mittere.
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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.
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Sine ratione enim mihi videtur mittere vinctum, et causas eius non significare.
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
1
Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.
2
Then the high priest and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul, and they begged him,
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asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem, plotting to kill him on the way.
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However Festus answered that Paul should be kept in custody at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to depart shortly.
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
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 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,
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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, 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
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.
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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
Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you shall go.”
13
Now when some days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus.
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;
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about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, asking for a sentence against him.
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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.
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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.
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When the accusers stood up, they brought no charges against him of such things as I supposed;
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but had certain questions against him about their own religion and about one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
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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.
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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.”
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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, 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 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.
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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,
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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.
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For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to also specify the charges against him.”
wh1881 (wh1881) - Westcott-Hort Greek NT 1881 eBible USFM
1
φηστος ουν επιβας τη επαρχεια μετα τρεις ημερας ανεβη εις ιεροσολυμα απο καισαριας
2
ενεφανισαν τε αυτω οι αρχιερεις και οι πρωτοι των ιουδαιων κατα του παυλου και παρεκαλουν αυτον
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αιτουμενοι χαριν κατ αυτου οπως μεταπεμψηται αυτον εις ιερουσαλημ ενεδραν ποιουντες ανελειν αυτον κατα την οδον
4
ο μεν ουν φηστος απεκριθη τηρεισθαι τον παυλον εις καισαριαν εαυτον δε μελλειν εν ταχει εκπορευεσθαι
5
οι ουν εν υμιν φησιν δυνατοι συγκαταβαντες ει τι εστιν εν τω ανδρι ατοπον κατηγορειτωσαν αυτου
6
διατριψας δε εν αυτοις ημερας ου πλειους οκτω η δεκα καταβας εις καισαριαν τη επαυριον καθισας επι του βηματος εκελευσεν τον παυλον αχθηναι
7
παραγενομενου δε αυτου περιεστησαν αυτον οι απο ιεροσολυμων καταβεβηκοτες ιουδαιοι πολλα και βαρεα αιτιωματα καταφεροντες α ουκ ισχυον αποδειξαι
8
του παυλου απολογουμενου οτι ουτε εις τον νομον των ιουδαιων ουτε εις το ιερον ουτε εις καισαρα τι ημαρτον
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ο φηστος δε θελων τοις ιουδαιοις χαριν καταθεσθαι αποκριθεις τω παυλω ειπεν θελεις εις ιεροσολυμα αναβας εκει περι τουτων κριθηναι επ εμου
10
ειπεν δε ο παυλος εστως επι του βηματος καισαρος ειμι ου με δει κρινεσθαι ιουδαιους ουδεν ηδικηκα ως και συ καλλιον επιγινωσκεις
11
ει μεν ουν αδικω και αξιον θανατου πεπραχα τι ου παραιτουμαι το αποθανειν ει δε ουδεν εστιν ων ουτοι κατηγορουσιν μου ουδεις με δυναται αυτοις χαρισασθαι καισαρα επικαλουμαι
12
τοτε ο φηστος συλλαλησας μετα του συμβουλιου απεκριθη καισαρα επικεκλησαι επι καισαρα πορευση
13
ημερων δε διαγενομενων τινων αγριππας ο βασιλευς και βερνικη κατηντησαν εις καισαριαν ασπασαμενοι τον φηστον
14
ως δε πλειους ημερας διετριβον εκει ο φηστος τω βασιλει ανεθετο τα κατα τον παυλον λεγων ανηρ τις εστιν καταλελειμμενος υπο φηλικος δεσμιος
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περι ου γενομενου μου εις ιεροσολυμα ενεφανισαν οι αρχιερεις και οι πρεσβυτεροι των ιουδαιων αιτουμενοι κατ αυτου καταδικην
16
προς ους απεκριθην οτι ουκ εστιν εθος ρωμαιοις χαριζεσθαι τινα ανθρωπον πριν η ο κατηγορουμενος κατα προσωπον εχοι τους κατηγορους τοπον τε απολογιας λαβοι περι του εγκληματος
17
συνελθοντων ουν ενθαδε αναβολην μηδεμιαν ποιησαμενος τη εξης καθισας επι του βηματος εκελευσα αχθηναι τον ανδρα
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περι ου σταθεντες οι κατηγοροι ουδεμιαν αιτιαν εφερον ων εγω υπενοουν πονηρων
19
ζητηματα δε τινα περι της ιδιας δεισιδαιμονιας ειχον προς αυτον και περι τινος ιησου τεθνηκοτος ον εφασκεν ο παυλος ζην
20
απορουμενος δε εγω την περι τουτων ζητησιν ελεγον ει βουλοιτο πορευεσθαι εις ιεροσολυμα κακει κρινεσθαι περι τουτων
21
του δε παυλου επικαλεσαμενου τηρηθηναι αυτον εις την του σεβαστου διαγνωσιν εκελευσα τηρεισθαι αυτον εως ου αναπεμψω αυτον προς καισαρα
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αγριππας δε προς τον φηστον εβουλομην και αυτος του ανθρωπου ακουσαι αυριον φησιν ακουση αυτου
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τη ουν επαυριον ελθοντος του αγριππα και της βερνικης μετα πολλης φαντασιας και εισελθοντων εις το ακροατηριον συν τε χιλιαρχοις και ανδρασιν τοις κατ εξοχην της πολεως και κελευσαντος του φηστου ηχθη ο παυλος
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και φησιν ο φηστος αγριππα βασιλευ και παντες οι συμπαροντες ημιν ανδρες θεωρειτε τουτον περι ου απαν το πληθος των ιουδαιων ενετυχεν μοι εν τε ιεροσολυμοις και ενθαδε βοωντες μη δειν αυτον ζην μηκετι
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εγω δε κατελαβομην μηδεν αξιον αυτον θανατου πεπραχεναι αυτου δε τουτου επικαλεσαμενου τον σεβαστον εκρινα πεμπειν
26
περι ου ασφαλες τι γραψαι τω κυριω ουκ εχω διο προηγαγον αυτον εφ υμων και μαλιστα επι σου βασιλευ αγριππα οπως της ανακρισεως γενομενης σχω τι γραψω
27
αλογον γαρ μοι δοκει πεμποντα δεσμιον μη και τας κατ αυτου αιτιας σημαναι
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
1
Festus, therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea,
2
and the chief priest and the principal men of the Jews made manifest to him <FI>the things<Fi> against Paul, and were calling on him,
3
asking favour against him, that he may send for him to Jerusalem, making an ambush to put him to death in the way.
4
Then, indeed, Festus answered that Paul is kept in Caesarea, and himself is about speedily to go on thither,
5
`Therefore those able among you--saith he--having come down together, if there be anything in this man--let them accuse him;'
6
and having tarried among them more than ten days, having gone down to Caesarea, on the morrow having sat upon the tribunal, he commanded Paul to be brought;
7
and he having come, there stood round about the Jews who have come down from Jerusalem--many and weighty charges they are bringing against Paul, which they were not able to prove,
8
he making defence--`Neither in regard to the law of the Jews, nor in regard to the temple, nor in regard to Caesar--did I commit any sin.'
9
And Festus willing to lay on the Jews a favour, answering Paul, said, `Art thou willing, to Jerusalem having gone up, there concerning these things to be judged before me?'
10
and Paul said, `At the tribunal of Caesar I am standing, where it behoveth me to be judged; to Jews I did no unrighteousness, as thou dost also very well know;
11
for if indeed I am unrighteous, and anything worthy of death have done, I deprecate not to die; and if there is none of the things of which these accuse me, no one is able to make a favour of me to them; to Caesar I appeal!'
12
then Festus, having communed with the council, answered, `To Caesar thou hast appealed; to Caesar thou shalt go.'
13
And certain days having passed, Agrippa the king, and Bernice, came down to Caesarea saluting Festus,
14
and as they were continuing there more days, Festus submitted to the king the things concerning Paul, saying, `There is a certain man, left by Felix, a prisoner,
15
about whom, in my being at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews laid information, asking a decision against him,
16
unto whom I answered, that it is not a custom of Romans to make a favour of any man to die, before that he who is accused may have the accusers face to face, and may receive place of defence in regard to the charge laid against <FI> him<Fi> .
17
`They, therefore, having come together--I, making no delay, on the succeeding <FI>day<Fi> having sat upon the tribunal, did command the man to be brought,
18
concerning whom the accusers, having stood up, were bringing against <FI>him<Fi> no accusation of the things I was thinking of,
19
but certain questions concerning their own religion they had against him, and concerning a certain Jesus who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive;
20
and I, doubting in regard to the question concerning this, said, If he would wish to go on to Jerusalem, and there to be judged concerning these things--
21
but Paul having appealed to be kept to the hearing of Sebastus, I did command him to be kept till I might send him unto Caesar.'
22
And Agrippa said unto Festus, `I was wishing also myself to hear the man;' and he said, `To-morrow thou shalt hear him;'
23
on the morrow, therefore--on the coming of Agrippa and Bernice with much display, and they having entered into the audience chamber, with the chief captains also, and the principal men of the city, and Festus having ordered--Paul was brought forth.
24
And Festus said, `King Agrippa, and all men who are present with us, ye see this one, about whom all the multitude of the Jews did deal with me, both in Jerusalem and here, crying out, He ought not to live any longer;
25
and I, having found him to have done nothing worthy of death, and he also himself having appealed to Sebastus, I decided to send him,
26
concerning whom I have no certain thing to write to <FI>my<Fi> lord, wherefore I brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, king Agrippa, that the examination having been made, I may have something to write;
27
for it doth seem to me irrational, sending a prisoner, not also to signify the charges against him.'
Explanations by Age Level
Explain Like I'm 5
A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!
Explain Like I'm 10
Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.
Explain Like I'm 15
Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).