# Acts 25

> Lumin Translation

Source: https://www.lumin.faith/read/acts/25

Lumin’s own translation, drafted with AI from the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, checked verse by verse against them, and approved by Lumin. Brackets mark verses not found in the earliest manuscripts.

How it was made: https://www.lumin.faith/lumin-translation.md

1. Three days after Festus arrived in the province, he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem,
2. where the chief priests and the leaders of the Jews presented their case against Paul. They urged Festus
3. to do them a favor against Paul by having him transferred to Jerusalem, for they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way.
4. Festus answered that Paul was being held at Caesarea and that he himself would be going there soon.
5. “So,” he said, “let those of you who are in authority come down with me, and if the man has done anything wrong, let them bring charges against him.”
6. After staying among them no more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. The next day he took his seat on the judgment bench and ordered Paul to be brought in.
7. When Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges against him that they could not prove.
8. Paul said in his defense, “I have done nothing wrong against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.”
9. But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?”
10. Paul replied, “I am standing before Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well.
11. If I am guilty and have done anything that deserves death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is nothing to the charges these men are bringing against me, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar.”
12. Then Festus, after conferring with his council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you will go.”
13. A few days later King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus.
14. Since they were staying there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king. He said, “There is a man here whom Felix left in prison.
15. When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him and asked for a sentence of condemnation against him.
16. I told them that it is not the custom of the Romans to hand over anyone before the accused has met his accusers face to face and has had an opportunity to defend himself against the charge.
17. So when they had assembled here, I did not delay. The next day I took my seat on the judgment bench and ordered the man to be brought in.
18. When his accusers stood up, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected.
19. Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus who had died, but who Paul claimed was alive.
20. Since I was at a loss how to investigate these matters, I asked whether he would be willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial there on these charges.
21. But when Paul appealed to be held for the emperor’s decision, I ordered him to be held until I could send him to Caesar.”
22. Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he replied, “you will hear him.”
23. So the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the audience hall with the military commanders and the prominent men of the city. At Festus’s command, Paul was brought in.
24. Then Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all who are present here with us, you see this man. The whole Jewish community petitioned me about him, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer.
25. But I found that he had done nothing deserving death, and since he himself appealed to the emperor, I decided to send him.
26. Yet I have nothing definite to write about him to my lord the emperor. So I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after this examination I may have something to write.
27. For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner without also specifying the charges against him.”

## Nearby chapters

[Acts 24](https://www.lumin.faith/read/acts/24.md)
[Acts 26](https://www.lumin.faith/read/acts/26.md)

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