Acts 25

³⁴The governor read the letter and asked what province Paul was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,

⁵So if this man has done anything wrong, let some of your leaders come down with me and accuse him there.”

¹⁵After these days, we packed up and went on to Jerusalem.

²²When Paul had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church at Jerusalem. Then he went down to Antioch.

⁴⁰But Philip appeared at Azotus and traveled through that region, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

¹⁵While I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and elders of the Jews presented their case and requested a judgment against him.

¹⁶For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall.

¹Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, who presented to the governor their case against Paul.

¹²All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”

¹³“Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The venom of vipers is on their lips.”

³¹if the men of my house have not said, ‘Who is there who has not had his fill?’—

¹²When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.

¹³More than forty of them were involved in this plot.

²⁴but Saul learned of their plot. Day and night they watched the city gates in order to kill him.

²³And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom!”

²⁴Then she went out and asked her mother, “What should I request?” And her mother answered, “The head of John the Baptist.”

³²Though the wicked lie in wait for the righteous, and seek to slay them,

³³the Lord will not leave them in their power or let them be condemned under judgment.

²and requested letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

⁹So then, I too was convinced that I ought to do all I could to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

¹⁰And that is what I did in Jerusalem. With authority from the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were condemned to death, I cast my vote against them.

²³He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard, but to allow him some freedom and permit his friends to minister to his needs.

¹⁶I 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.

²⁵But I found he had done nothing worthy of death, and since he has now appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.

¹⁸But when his accusers rose to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected.

¹⁹They only had some contentions with him regarding their own religion and a certain Jesus who had died, but whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

²⁹So Pilate went out to them and asked, “What accusation are you bringing against this man?”

³⁰“If He were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed Him over to you.”

³O Lord my God, if I have done this, if injustice is on my hands,

⁴if I have rewarded my ally with evil, if I have plundered my foe without cause,

³⁰When I was informed that there was a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also instructed his accusers to present their case against him before you.

¹⁰Paul 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.

¹⁷So 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.

¹⁹While Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered terribly in a dream today because of Him.”

¹⁰For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.

¹²While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews coordinated an attack on Paul and brought him before the judgment seat.

¹³“This man is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law,” they said.

¹³When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat on the judgment seat at a place called the Stone Pavement, which in Hebrew is Gabbatha.

¹³Nor can they prove to you any of their charges against me.

¹⁰Meanwhile, the chief priests and scribes stood there, vehemently accusing Him.

²And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man subverting our nation, forbidding payment of taxes to Caesar, and proclaiming Himself to be Christ, a King.”

²⁴Then 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.

⁵We have found this man to be a pestilence, stirring up dissension among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes,

⁶and he even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him.

¹²Do not hand me over to the will of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence.

¹⁷After three days, he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had gathered, he said to them, “Brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, I was taken prisoner in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans.

¹²Yet my accusers did not find me debating with anyone in the temple or riling up a crowd in the synagogues or in the city.

¹²For this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God—not in worldly wisdom, but in the grace of God.

²¹The leaders replied, “We have not received any letters about you from Judea, nor have any of the brothers from there reported or even mentioned anything bad about you.

¹⁸Then Jeremiah asked King Zedekiah, “How have I sinned against you or your servants or these people, that you have put me in prison?

¹³where they presented false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law.

¹⁴For we have heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.”

²⁷After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.

³And seeing that this pleased the Jews, Herod proceeded to seize Peter during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

²⁰Since 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.

¹⁵And wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.

³to grant them a concession against Paul by summoning him to Jerusalem, because they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way.

¹⁸For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.

²Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

¹⁸They examined me and wanted to release me, because there was no basis for a death sentence against me.

³¹On their way out, they said to one another, “This man has done nothing worthy of death or imprisonment.”

²⁵But I found he had done nothing worthy of death, and since he has now appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.

²³“Why?” asked Pilate. “What evil has He done?” But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify Him!”

²⁴When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but that instead a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “You bear the responsibility.”

¹⁹But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, even though I have no charge to bring against my nation.

³O Lord my God, if I have done this, if injustice is on my hands,

⁴if I have rewarded my ally with evil, if I have plundered my foe without cause,

³²And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

²⁵But I found he had done nothing worthy of death, and since he has now appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.

²²“The Lord, the Mighty One, is God! The Lord, the Mighty One, is God! He knows, and may Israel also know. If this was in rebellion or breach of faith against the Lord, do not spare us today.

²¹But 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.”

²¹After these things had happened, Paul resolved in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. “After I have been there,” he said, “I must see Rome as well.”

¹²Now I want you to know, brothers, that my circumstances have actually served to advance the gospel.

¹³As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.

²⁰I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

³⁵All the peoples of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does as He pleases with the army of heaven and the peoples of the earth. There is no one who can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’”

³²And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

¹⁶When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to stay by himself, with a soldier to guard him.

¹⁴Meanwhile, one of Nabal’s young men informed Nabal’s wife Abigail, “Look, David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master, but he screamed at them.

¹⁰he sent his son Joram to greet King David and bless him for fighting and defeating Hadadezer, who had been at war with Toi. Joram brought with him articles of silver and gold and bronze,

²⁷King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”

²⁸Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Can you persuade me in such a short time to become a Christian?”

²²Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man myself.” “Tomorrow you will hear him,” Festus declared.

²³The 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.

⁴⁰But Philip appeared at Azotus and traveled through that region, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

¹⁰Just as he finished offering the burnt offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him.

²⁷After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.

³And there was a widow in that town who kept appealing to him, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’

⁴For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect men,

¹Three days after his arrival in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem,

²where the chief priests and Jewish leaders presented their case against Paul. They urged Festus

²³But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices for Jesus to be crucified. And their clamor prevailed.

⁹If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will deposit ten thousand talents of silver into the royal treasury to pay those who carry it out.”

¹Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, who presented to the governor their case against Paul.

⁵¹“Does our law convict a man without first hearing from him to determine what he has done?”

¹⁷both parties to the dispute must stand in the presence of the Lord, before the priests and judges who are in office at that time.

¹⁸The judges shall investigate thoroughly, and if the witness is proven to be a liar who has falsely accused his brother,

³⁰When I was informed that there was a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also instructed his accusers to present their case against him before you.

¹⁷The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

⁴But Festus replied, “Paul is being held in Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon.

⁵So if this man has done anything wrong, let some of your leaders come down with me and accuse him there.”

¹³He who answers a matter before he hears it—this is folly and disgrace to him.

⁶After 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.

¹⁰Paul 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.

²⁹I found that the accusation involved questions about their own law, but there was no charge worthy of death or imprisonment.

¹⁵But since it is a dispute about words and names and your own law, settle it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of such things.”

³For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

⁴that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

⁷When Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges that they could not prove.

¹⁴And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is worthless, and so is your faith.

¹⁵In that case, we are also exposed as false witnesses about God. For we have testified about God that He raised Christ from the dead, but He did not raise Him if in fact the dead are not raised.

¹⁸the Living One. I was dead, and behold, now I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of Death and of Hades.

⁹But 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?”

¹⁶At my first defense, no one stood with me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be charged against them.

³²And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

¹⁰Paul 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.

¹¹If, 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!”

¹Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire.

¹⁵“Go!” said the Lord. “This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings, and before the people of Israel.

¹⁵so He will sprinkle many nations. Kings will shut their mouths because of Him. For they will see what they have not been told, and they will understand what they have not heard.

¹⁸On My account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.

¹²But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. On account of My name they will deliver you to the synagogues and prisons, and they will bring you before kings and governors.

¹³After several days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice came down to Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus.

³⁰Then the king and the governor rose, along with Bernice and those seated with them.

¹⁶For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world.

⁴And for a full 180 days he displayed the glorious riches of his kingdom and the magnificent splendor of his greatness.

²⁴For, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,

²⁴So I will bring the most wicked of nations to take possession of their houses. I will end the pride of the mighty, and their holy places will be profaned.

⁷When Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges that they could not prove.

²²The crowd listened to Paul until he made this statement. Then they lifted up their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He is not fit to live!”

²where the chief priests and Jewish leaders presented their case against Paul. They urged Festus

³to grant them a concession against Paul by summoning him to Jerusalem, because they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way.

²¹but they kept shouting, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

²²A third time he said to them, “What evil has this man done? I have found in Him no offense worthy of death. So after I punish Him, I will release Him.”

²⁹I found that the accusation involved questions about their own law, but there was no charge worthy of death or imprisonment.

¹¹If, 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!”

¹²Then Festus conferred with his council and replied, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”

⁹A great clamor arose, and some scribes from the party of the Pharisees got up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”

⁴Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”

³¹On their way out, they said to one another, “This man has done nothing worthy of death or imprisonment.”

¹⁴and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined Him here in your presence and found Him not guilty of your charges against Him.

²“King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today to defend myself against all the accusations of the Jews,

³especially since you are acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. I beg you, therefore, to listen to me patiently.

⁵¹“Does our law convict a man without first hearing from him to determine what he has done?”

¹³He who answers a matter before he hears it—this is folly and disgrace to him.