CHAPTER XXIII.
PAUL'S TRIAL BEFORE FESTUS, HIS APPEAL TO CÆSAR, AND HIS SUBSEQUENT DEFENSE BEFORE AGRIPPA.—A.D. 61.
1 25:1FESTUS therefore coming into the province, after three days went up from Cæsarea to Jerusalem. 25:2And the chief priests and the first men of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him, 25:3asking favor against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, having provided an ambuscade to kill him on the way. 25:4Then Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Cæsarea, and that he would go down there shortly; 25:5and then, he said, the principal men among you may go down with me; if there is any thing against this man they may prosecute him. 25:6And staying with them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Cæsarea, and on the next day, sitting on the tribunal, commanded Paul to be brought.
2 25:7And when he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and weighty accusations which they could not prove, 25:8while Paul maintained in his defense, Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Cæsar, have I done any wrong.
3 25:9But Festus wishing to gratify the Jews, answered Paul and said, Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem, and there be tried by me for these things? 25:10And Paul said, I stand at the tribunal of Cæsar, where I ought to be tried. I have not injured the Jews, as you also know very well. 25:11If indeed I have done wrong or committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die; but if those things of which they accuse me are nothing, no man may give me up to them; I appeal to Cæsar. 25:12Then Festus having conferred with the council answered, You have appealed to Cæsar; to Cæsar you shall go.
4 25:13But after some days king Agrippa and Bernice came down to Cæsarea to salute Festus. 25:14And when they had staid there many days, Festus proposed the case of Paul to the king, saying, There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix, 25:15concerning whom when I was at Jerusalem the chief priests and elders of the Jews gave me information, asking judgment against him; 25:16to whom I answered, It is not the custom of the Romans to give up any man before the accused has the accusers face to face, and is allowed an opportunity to defend himself against the accusation.
5 25:17When therefore, they came here, making no delay, the next day I sat on the tribunal, and ordered the man to be brought; 25:18concerning whom his accusers standing up brought no charge of such things as I supposed, 25:19but had certain questions with him concerning their religion, and concerning one Jesus that was dead, who Paul said was alive. 25:20Being in doubt on the question concerning these things, I asked if he was willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried by me there on these charges. 25:21But Paul appealing, to be kept for the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I could send him to Cæsar. 25:22And Agrippa [said] to Festus, I should like to hear the man also myself. And he said, To-morrow you shall hear him.
6 25:23On the next day, therefore, Agrippa and Bernice coming with great pomp, and entering into the place of hearing with chiliarchs and men of distinction in the city, at the command of Festus Paul was brought. 25:24And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all the men present with us, you see this man, of whom all the multitude of the Jews besought me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying out that he ought no longer to live. 25:25But finding that he had done nothing deserving death, and he having appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him. 25:26But I have nothing certain to write to the sovereign concerning him, wherefore I have brought him before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, that on examination I may have something to write; 25:27for it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not to signify the charges against him.
7 26:1And Agrippa said to Paul, You are permitted to speak for yourself. Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense. 26:2I think myself happy, King Agrippa, in being allowed to make my defense before you to-day in respect to all things of which I am accused by the Jews, 26:3especially as you are acquainted with all the customs and questions of the Jews; wherefore, I beg you to hear me patiently. 26:4My mode of life from my childhood, the early part of it being with my nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews, 26:5who knew me from the first, if they would testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. 26:6And now I stand on trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers, 26:7which our twelve tribes, serving God continually, day and night, hope to attain; of this hope, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews. 26:8Why is it judged by you incredible that God raises the dead? 26:9I indeed thought with myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus the Nazoraean, 26:10which I also did at Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests, and when they were killed I gave my vote against them. 26:11And punishing them often in all the synagogues, I compelled them to blaspheme, and being exceedingly mad against them, I pursued them even to cities abroad.
8 26:12In which [persecutions] also, going to Damascus with authority, and a commission from the chief priests, 26:13at midday I saw in the way O king, a light from heaven shining around me and those going with me, exceeding the brightness of the sun; 26:14and when we had all fallen on the earth, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? it is hard for you to kick against the goads. 26:15And I said, Who are you, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom you persecute. 26:16But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and witness both of what you have seen and [of visions ] in which I will appear to you, 26:17delivering you from the people, and the gentiles, to whom I send you 26:18to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among the sanctified by faith in me. 26:19Whence, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 26:20but preached first to those at Damascus and Jerusalem, and in all the country of Judea, and to the gentiles, that they should change their minds and turn to God, performing works worthy of a change of mind.
9 26:21On this account the Jews seized me in the temple and endeavored to kill me. 26:22Having obtained therefore help from God, I have continued to this day, testifying to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said should take place; 26:23that the Christ should suffer, and that he first from the resurrection of the dead should proclaim light both to the people and the nations.
10 26:24And when Paul had said these words, Festus said with a loud voice, You are mad, Paul; much learning has driven you to madness. 26:25But he said, I am not mad, most excellent Festus, but utter words of truth and sobriety. 26:26For the king knows of these things, before whom I speak freely; for I am persuaded that none of these things have escaped his notice; for this was not done in a corner. 26:27King Agrippa, believe you the prophets? I know that you believe. 26:28And Agrippa said to Paul, You almost persuade me to be a Christian. 26:29And Paul said, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day were both almost and altogether such as I am, except these bonds. 26:30And the king arose, and the procurator, and Bernice, and those who sat with them, 26:31and departing they conversed with each other, saying, This man has done nothing deserving death or bonds. 26:32And Agrippa said to Festus, If he had not appealed to Cæsar, this man might be released.