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ACT 25:1-9

Paulʼs Trial before Festus

1So Festus, having arrived in the province, went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea after three days.

2The chief priests and the leading men of the Judean authorities presented their case against Paul to him, and they were urging him,

3requesting a favor against him — that he would have him summoned to Jerusalem — while they were preparing an ambush to execute him along the way.

4So Festus answered that Paul was being held in custody in Caesarea, and that he himself was about to depart there shortly.

5"So let those among you who have authority," he said, "come down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them bring charges against him."

6Having spent no more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea. On the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought.

7When he arrived, the Judean authorities who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges against him that they were not able to prove.

8Paul said in his defense, "I have committed no offense against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar."

9But Festus, wanting to do the Judean authorities a favor, answered Paul and said, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and be judged there before me concerning these things?"

In the world it was spoken into

In Acts 25:1-9, Festus, the newly appointed Roman procurator, arrives in Judea and faces immediate pressure from the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem. The chief priests and elders request a favor from Festus, asking him to transfer Paul to Jerusalem. Their intent, however, is to ambush and kill Paul on the way. This reflects the Roman system of patronage, where local elites sought concessions from Roman officials to maintain their influence. Festus, aware of the political dynamics, refuses their request, insisting Paul remain in Caesarea, the Roman administrative center. His decision underscores the Roman emphasis on legal procedure and the avoidance of mob justice. Festus also offers the Jewish leaders the opportunity to present their accusations formally, aligning with Roman legal norms that required evidence for charges. This interaction highlights the tension between Roman authority and Jewish leaders, as well as Festus’s attempt to balance local interests with Roman legal integrity.

›See the receipts

How other translations render this

ACT 25:1

KJV
Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem.
BSB
Three days after his arrival in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem,
Koinōnos
So Festus, having arrived in the province, went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea after three days.

ACT 25:2

KJV
Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him,
BSB
where the chief priests and Jewish leaders presented their case against Paul. They urged Festus
Koinōnos
The chief priests and the leading men of the Judean authorities presented their case against Paul to him, and they were urging him,

ACT 25:3

KJV
And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.
BSB
to grant them a concession against Paul by summoning him to Jerusalem, because they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way.
Koinōnos
requesting a favor against him — that he would have him summoned to Jerusalem — while they were preparing an ambush to execute him along the way.

ACT 25:4

KJV
But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither.
BSB
But Festus replied, “Paul is being held in Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon.
Koinōnos
So Festus answered that Paul was being held in custody in Caesarea, and that he himself was about to depart there shortly.

ACT 25:5

KJV
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.
BSB
So if this man has done anything wrong, let some of your leaders come down with me and accuse him there.”
Koinōnos
So let those among you who have authority," he said, "come down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them bring charges against him.

ACT 25:6

KJV
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.
BSB
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.
Koinōnos
Having spent no more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea. On the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought.

ACT 25:7

KJV
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.
BSB
When Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges that they could not prove.
Koinōnos
When he arrived, the Judean authorities who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges against him that they were not able to prove.

ACT 25:8

KJV
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.
BSB
Then Paul made his defense: “I have committed no offense against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.”
Koinōnos
Paul said in his defense, "I have committed no offense against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar.

ACT 25:9

KJV
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?
BSB
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?”
Koinōnos
But Festus, wanting to do the Judean authorities a favor, answered Paul and said, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and be judged there before me concerning these things?

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Where the historical framing draws from

  • Josephus, WarsWars 2.8.1
  • Josephus, AntiquitiesAntiquities 18.3.1
  • Josephus, WarsWars 2.9.2
›Josephus, Wars Wars 2.8.1

“And now Archelaus's part of Judea was reduced into a province, and Coponius, one of the equestrian order among the Romans, was sent as a procurator”

Cited to ground: Festus, the newly appointed Roman procurator, arrives in Judea

›Josephus, Antiquities Antiquities 18.3.1

“But now Pilate, the procurator of Judea, removed the army from Cæsarea to Jerusalem, to take their winter quarters there”

Cited to ground: Pilate, the procurator of Judea

›Josephus, Wars Wars 2.9.2

“Now Pilate, who was sent as procurator into Judea by Tiberius, sent by night those images of Caesar that are called ensigns into Jerusalem.”

Cited to ground: Pilate, who was sent as procurator into Judea by Tiberius

Translator's notes

ACT 25:3

  • a favor:The word translated 'a favor' here often carried the sense of 'grace' or 'goodwill,' implying an unmerited kindness or a gift freely given, rather than a simple request.
  • to execute:The term translated 'to execute' literally means 'to take up' or 'to take away,' and in this context, it refers to putting someone to death, often with the implication of violence or removal.

ACT 25:4

  • ensuing:The word translated 'ensuing' indicates an immediate future action or an event that is 'about to happen,' conveying a sense of imminence and certainty.

ACT 25:9

  • a favor:The word translated 'a favor' here often carried the sense of 'grace' or 'goodwill,' implying an unmerited kindness or a gift freely given, rather than a simple request.