MODERN LITERAL VERSION

25:1 Therefore after three days, having stepped into the province, Festus went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.
25:2 And the high-priest and the foremost ones of the Jews disclosed to him things against Paul, and they pleaded with him,
25:3 asking a favor against him, that he might send for him to come to Jerusalem; making* a plot to assassinate him on the road.

25:4 Therefore indeed, Festus answered, that Paul was to be kept in Caesarea and that he himself was about to go out there shortly.
25:5 Therefore he says, let those who are of power among you* go down with me and if there is anything in this man, let them accuse him.

25:6 And when he had stayed with them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And on the next-day he sat upon the judicial-seat and commanded Paul to be brought before him.
25:7 And when he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and cruel accusations against Paul, which they were not strong-enough to show.

25:8 Then Paul, making his defense, said, Neither against the law of the Jews nor against the temple nor against Caesar, have I sinned in anything.

25:9 But Festus, wishing to lay up a favor for himself with the Jews, answering Paul, said, Are you willing to go to Jerusalem and to be judged there concerning these things before me?

25:10 But Paul said, I am standing before Caesar's judicial-seat, where I ought to be judged. I did not wrong the Jews, as you also fully well know.
25:11 For* if I indeed do wrong and have practiced anything worthy of death, I do not renounce to die, but if none of those things is true of which they are accusing me, no one is able to grant me to them. I appeal to Caesar.
25:12 Then Festus, when he had spoken with the council, answered, You have appealed to Caesar, then to Caesar you will go.

25:13 Now when some days had elapsed, Agrippa the King and Bernice arrived in Caesarea and greeted Festus.
25:14 And as they stayed there many days, Festus submitted to the King, the things according to Paul 's case, saying, There is a certain man, a prisoner, left by Felix;
25:15 concerning whom, when I happened to be in Jerusalem, the high-priests and the elders of the Jews disclosed things to me, asking for a sentence against him.
25:16 To whom I answered, It is not a custom of the Romans to grant any man to destruction, before he who is accused might have the accusers face to face and might receive a chance for defense concerning the accusation.
25:17 Therefore when they had come together here, I did not postpone their meeting, but on the following- day sat upon the judicial-seat and commanded the man to be brought.
25:18 Concerning whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation of things as I perceived;
25:19 but had some debates with him concerning their own religion and concerning a certain Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul claimed to be alive.
25:20 But I, being perplexed about the debate concerning this, asked if he was willing to go to Jerusalem and to be judged there concerning these things.
25:21 But when Paul had appealed to be kept *for the decision of {F} the Emperor, I commanded him to be kept until I might send him to Caesar.
25:22 And Agrippa said to Festus, I was also wishing to hear the man myself.
And he says, Tomorrow you will hear him.

25:23 Then* on the next-day with much pomp, Agrippa and Bernice came and entered into the auditorium with both the commanders and men according to prominence, who are from the city and Festus having commanded, Paul was brought before him.
25:24 And Festus says, King Agrippa and all who are here with us, you* view this man, concerning whom all the crowd of the Jews petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, crying that it is essential for him to not live any longer.
25:25 But I comprehended that he had practiced nothing worthy of death and I decided to send him since he himself also appealed to {F} the Emperor;
25:26 concerning whom I do not have any certainty as what to write to my lord. Hence I have brought him before you* and especially before you, King Agrippa, that, after his examination happens, I may have something to write.
25:27 For* it seems unreasonable to me to be sending a prisoner and not to signify the accusations against him.
{Footnotes: Acts 25:2, 5; 27:1- This is the Greek word ‘sebastos', Latin is Augustus. See footnote on Luke 2:1. This could be translated as Reverend, His Majesty, all meaning the Emperor.}
{August, AD 61. Paul before Agrippa.}