23So the next day Agrippa and Bernice arrived with great pomp and entered the audience hall along with the military commanders and the prominent men of the city. At Festus's command Paul was brought in. [25:24] Festus said, "King Agrippa, and all men present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish community appealed to me, both in Jerusalem and here, crying out that he ought not to live any longer. [25:25] I found that he had done nothing deserving death. But as he himself appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him. [25:26] Yet I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after examination has taken place I may have something to write. [25:27] For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner without also indicating the charges against him."
ACT 25:23-27
Paul before Agrippa and Bernice
In the world it was spoken into
In the Roman imperial context, Agrippa II and Bernice’s arrival with 'great pomp' would have signaled their status as client rulers under Roman authority. Agrippa, a descendant of Herod the Great, held nominal power over parts of Galilee and Perea, while Bernice, his sister, was known for her political maneuvering and controversial reputation. Their entrance into the , a formal hearing space, underscored the gravity of the occasion. Festus, the Roman procurator, convened this assembly to resolve Paul’s case, which had become a political liability due to Jewish agitation. The presence of military commanders and prominent city leaders (' ) highlighted the Roman practice of leveraging local elites to maintain order. Festus’s framing of the situation—acknowledging Jewish demands for Paul’s execution while admitting no legal basis for it—reflects the delicate balance Roman officials struck between placating local factions and upholding Roman law. For Agrippa, this hearing was also an opportunity to demonstrate his loyalty to Rome and his role as a mediator in Jewish-Roman tensions.
›See the receipts
How other translations render this
ACT 25:23
- KJV
- And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus’ commandment Paul was brought forth.
- BSB
- 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.
- Koinōnos
- So the next day Agrippa and Bernice arrived with great pomp and entered the audience hall along with the military commanders and the prominent men of the city. At Festus's command Paul was brought in.
ACT 25:24
- KJV
- And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.
- BSB
- 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.
- Koinōnos
- Festus said, "King Agrippa, and all men present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish community appealed to me, both in Jerusalem and here, crying out that he ought not to live any longer.
ACT 25:25
- KJV
- But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.
- BSB
- But I found he had done nothing worthy of death, and since he has now appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.
- Koinōnos
- I found that he had done nothing deserving death. But as he himself appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.
ACT 25:26
- KJV
- Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to write.
- BSB
- I have nothing definite to write to our sovereign 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.
- Koinōnos
- Yet I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after examination has taken place I may have something to write.
ACT 25:27
- KJV
- For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him.
- BSB
- For it seems unreasonable to me to send on a prisoner without specifying the charges against him.”
- Koinōnos
- For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner without also indicating the charges against him.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Where the historical framing draws from
- Josephus, AntiquitiesAntiquities 20.6.3
- Josephus, WarsWars 2.9.2
- Josephus, WarsWars 2.8.1
›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, a descendant of Herod the Great, held nominal power over parts of Galilee and Perea
›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: Festus, the Roman procurator, convened this assembly to resolve Paul’s case
›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 Roman procurator, convened this assembly to resolve Paul’s case
Translator's notes
ACT 25:23
- pomp:The word translated 'pomp' refers to a spectacular display or show, often with an element of ostentation or grandiosity, designed to impress onlookers.
- audience hall:The term used here for 'audience hall' specifically denotes a place designed for hearing, such as a lecture hall or a room where official hearings or public addresses would take place.
- in:The phrase translated 'in' here, when referring to Agrippa and Bernice, suggests they entered with a sense of prominence or distinction, highlighting their elevated status.
ACT 25:24
- they pleaded:The word translated 'they pleaded' implies making an earnest appeal or intercession, often with a sense of urgency or strong advocacy on behalf of someone or something.