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Chapter 25
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1
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Now when Festus was come into the province, after three
days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem. |
2
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Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed
him against Paul, and besought him, |
3
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And desired favour against him, that he would send
for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill
him. |
4
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But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea,
and that he himself would depart shortly thither. |
5
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Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able,
go down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any
wickedness in him. |
6
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And when he had tarried among them more than ten days,
he went down unto Caesarea; and the next day sitting
on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought. |
7
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And when he was come, the Jews which came down from
Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous
complaints against Paul, which they could not prove. |
8
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While he answered for himself, Neither against the
law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet
against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all. |
9
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But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered
Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there
be judged of these things before me? |
10
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Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat,
where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no
wrong, as thou very well knowest. |
11
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For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing
worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be
none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man
may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar. |
12
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Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council,
answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar
shalt thou go. |
13
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And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came
unto Caesarea to salute Festus. |
14
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And when they had been there many days, Festus declared
Paul's cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain
man left in bonds by Felix: |
15
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About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests
and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have
judgment against him. |
16
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To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans
to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused
have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer
for himself concerning the crime laid against him. |
17
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Therefore, when they were come hither, without any
delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded
the man to be brought forth. |
18
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Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought
none accusation of such things as I supposed: |
19
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But had certain questions against him of their own
superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom
Paul affirmed to be alive. |
20
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And because I doubted of such manner of questions,
I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there
be judged of these matters. |
21
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But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the
hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till
I might send him to Caesar. |
22
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Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the
man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him. |
23
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And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice,
with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing,
with the chief captains, and principal men of the city,
at Festus' commandment Paul was brought forth. |
24
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And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are
here present with us, ye see this man, about whom all
the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at
Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought not to
live any longer. |
25
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But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy
of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus,
I have determined to send him. |
26
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Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord.
Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially
before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination
had, I might have somewhat to write. |
27
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For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner,
and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him. |
