Acts 25

Acts 25:1

Three days after his arrival in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem,

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the province By the province , Judea is meant; for after the death of Herod Agrippa , Claudius thought it imprudent to trust the government in the hands of his son Agrippa , who was then but seventeen years of age; and therefore , Cuspius Fadus was sent to be procurator. And when afterwards Claudius had given to Agrippa the tetrarchy of Philip , he nevertheless kept the province of Judea in his own hands , and governed it by procurators sent from Rome.

Acts 25:2

where the chief priests and Jewish leaders presented their case against Paul. They urged Festus

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Acts 25:3

to grant them a concession against Paul by summoning him to Jerusalem, because they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way.

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Acts 25:4

But Festus replied, “Paul is being held in Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon.

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Acts 25:5

So if this man has done anything wrong, let some of your leaders come down with me and accuse him there.”

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Acts 25:6

After spending no more than eight or ten days with them, Festus went down to Caesarea. The next day he sat on the judgment seat and ordered that Paul be brought in.

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more than ten days or , as some copies read no more than eight or ten days

Acts 25:7

When Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges that they could not prove.

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Acts 25:8

Then Paul made his defense: “I have committed no offense against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.”

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Acts 25:9

But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to stand trial before me on these charges?”

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Acts 25:10

Paul replied, “I am standing before the judgment seat of Caesar, where I ought to be tried. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well.

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Acts 25:11

If, however, I am guilty of anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is no truth to their accusations against me, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”

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Acts 25:12

Then Festus conferred with his council and replied, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”

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Acts 25:13

After several days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice came down to Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus.

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Acts 25:14

Since they were staying several days, Festus laid out Paul’s case before the king: “There is a certain man whom Felix left in prison.

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Acts 25:15

While I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and elders of the Jews presented their case and requested a judgment against him.

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Acts 25:16

I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand a man over before he has had an opportunity to face his accusers and defend himself against their charges.

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Acts 25:17

So when they came here with me, I did not delay. The next day I sat on the judgment seat and ordered that the man be brought in.

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Acts 25:18

But when his accusers rose to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected.

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Acts 25:19

They only had some contentions with him regarding their own religion and a certain Jesus who had died, but whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

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Acts 25:20

Since I was at a loss as to how to investigate these matters, I asked if he was willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried there on these charges.

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doubted of such manner of questions or , was doubtful how to enquire hereof , etc

Acts 25:21

But when Paul appealed to be held over for the decision of the Emperor, I ordered that he be held until I could send him to Caesar.”

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hearing or , judgment

Acts 25:22

Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man myself.” “Tomorrow you will hear him,” Festus declared.

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Acts 25:23

The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the auditorium, along with the commanders and leading men of the city. And Festus ordered that Paul be brought in.

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Acts 25:24

Then Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man. The whole Jewish community has petitioned me about him, both here and in Jerusalem, crying out that he ought not to live any longer.

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King Agrippa King Agrippa was the son of Herod Agrippa; who upon the death of his uncle Herod , king of Chalcis , ad 28 , succeeded to his dominions , by the favour of the emperor Claudius. Four years afterwards , Claudius removed him from that kingdom to a larger one; giving him the tetrarchy of Philip , that of Lysanias , and the province which Varus governed. Nero afterwards added Julias in Peraea , Tarichaea , and Tiberias. Claudius gave him the power of appointing the high priest among the Jews; and instances of his exercising this power may be seen in Josephus. He was strongly attached to the Romans , and did every thing in his power to prevent the Jews from rebelling; and when he could not prevail , he united his troops to those of Titus , and assisted at the siege of Jerusalem. After the ruin of his country , he retired with his sister Berenice to Rome where he died , aged 70 , about ad 90.

Acts 25:25

But I found he had done nothing worthy of death, and since he has now appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.

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Augustus The honourable title of וגבףפןע [Strong's G4575] , or Augustus , that is venerable or august , which was first conferred by the senate on Octavius Caesar , was afterwards assumed by succeeding Roman emperors.

Acts 25:26

I have nothing definite to write to our sovereign one about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after this inquiry I may have something to write.

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Acts 25:27

For it seems unreasonable to me to send on a prisoner without specifying the charges against him.”

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