ACT 25:13-22

Festus Consults Agrippa

13After some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and paid their respects to Festus. [25:14] As they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king, saying, "There is a man left as a prisoner by Felix, [25:15] about whom, when I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and elders of the Jews brought charges, asking for a sentence against him. [25:16] I answered them that it is not Roman custom to hand anyone over before the accused has met his accusers face to face and has had opportunity to make a defense concerning the charge. [25:17] So when they gathered here, I made no delay — the next day I took my seat on the judgment bench and ordered the man brought in. [25:18] When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge of such evil things as I had supposed. [25:19] Instead they had certain disputes with him about their own religion and about a certain dead man, Jesus, whom Paul claimed was alive. [25:20] Being at a loss how to investigate these matters, I asked whether he wished to go to Jerusalem and be tried there on these charges. [25:21] But when Paul appealed to be held for the decision of the Emperor, I ordered him held until I could send him up to Caesar." [25:22] Agrippa said to Festus, "I would like to hear the man myself." "Tomorrow," he said, "you will hear him."

In the world it was spoken into

In the Roman provincial system, governors like Festus were responsible for maintaining order and administering justice, often navigating complex local dynamics. Festus’s consultation with Agrippa II, a client king with Jewish heritage, reflects the Roman practice of leveraging local rulers to manage ethnic tensions. Agrippa’s presence underscores his role as a mediator between Roman authority and Jewish concerns. Festus’s mention of Roman legal custom—refusing to hand over a prisoner without a formal accusation—highlights the Roman emphasis on procedural fairness, contrasting with the Jewish leaders’ demand for Paul’s execution. The term (made a presentation) suggests a formal legal accusation, while (to grant as a favor) reveals Festus’s reluctance to appease the Jewish leaders at the expense of Roman legal integrity. Agrippa’s interest in hearing Paul aligns with his reputation as a patron of Jewish religious matters, though his Roman-aligned position complicates his role. This scene illustrates the tension between Roman legal norms and local Jewish expectations in a politically charged environment.

›See the receipts

How other translations render this

ACT 25:13

KJV: And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus.
BSB: After several days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice came down to Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus.
Koinōnos: After some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and paid their respects to Festus.

ACT 25:14

KJV: And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul’s cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix:
BSB: Since they were staying several days, Festus laid out Paulʼs case before the king: “There is a certain man whom Felix left in prison.
Koinōnos: As they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king, saying, "There is a man left as a prisoner by Felix,

ACT 25:15

KJV: About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him.
BSB: While I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and elders of the Jews presented their case and requested a judgment against him.
Koinōnos: about whom, when I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and elders of the Jews brought charges, asking for a sentence against him.

ACT 25:16

KJV: To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.
BSB: 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.
Koinōnos: I answered them that it is not Roman custom to hand anyone over before the accused has met his accusers face to face and has had opportunity to make a defense concerning the charge.

ACT 25:17

KJV: Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth.
BSB: 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.
Koinōnos: So when they gathered here, I made no delay — the next day I took my seat on the judgment bench and ordered the man brought in.

ACT 25:18

KJV: Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed:
BSB: But when his accusers rose to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected.
Koinōnos: When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge of such evil things as I had supposed.

ACT 25:19

KJV: But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
BSB: 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.
Koinōnos: Instead they had certain disputes with him about their own religion and about a certain dead man, Jesus, whom Paul claimed was alive.

ACT 25:20

KJV: And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters.
BSB: 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.
Koinōnos: Being at a loss how to investigate these matters, I asked whether he wished to go to Jerusalem and be tried there on these charges.

ACT 25:21

KJV: But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar.
BSB: 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.”
Koinōnos: But when Paul appealed to be held for the decision of the Emperor, I ordered him held until I could send him up to Caesar.

ACT 25:22

KJV: Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.
BSB: Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man myself.” “Tomorrow you will hear him,” Festus declared.
Koinōnos: Agrippa said to Festus, "I would like to hear the man myself." "Tomorrow," he said, "you will hear him.

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

Where the historical framing draws from

Josephus, WarsWars 2.12.7
Josephus, AntiquitiesAntiquities 20.6.3
Josephus, WarsWars 2.8.1

›Josephus, Wars Wars 2.12.7

“where it was done in the hearing of Agrippa, who zealously espoused the cause of the Jews, as in like manner many of the great men stood by Cumanus”

Cited to ground: Agrippa II, a client king with Jewish heritage, reflects the Roman practice of leveraging local rulers to manage ethnic tensions.

›Josephus, Antiquities Antiquities 20.6.3

“unless Agrippa, junior, who was then at Rome, had seen the principal of the Jews hard set, and had earnestly entreated Agrippina, the emperor's wife, to persuade her husband to hear the cause”

Cited to ground: Agrippa’s interest in hearing Paul aligns with his reputation as a patron of Jewish religious matters

›Josephus, Wars Wars 2.8.1

“Coponius, one of the equestrian order among the Romans, was sent as a procurator, having the power of [life and] death put into his hands by Caesar”

Cited to ground: governors like Festus were responsible for maintaining order and administering justice

Translator's notes

ACT 25:15

made a presentation:The word translated 'made a presentation' implies a formal, public accusation or declaration, often in a legal or official context, rather than a casual statement.

ACT 25:16

to give up:The word translated 'to give up' carries the sense of granting a favor or showing grace, implying a voluntary act of concession rather than a forced surrender.

ACT 25:19

religion:The word translated 'religion' could be used neutrally for religious feeling, but often carried a negative connotation of superstition or excessive fear of the gods in the ancient world.

ACT 25:21

decision:The word translated 'decision' refers to a thorough investigation or a careful discernment process leading to a judgment, not just a simple choice.