Ma'ashym (Acts) — 25
Shaul Appears before Festus
1 Three days after Festus arrived in Caesarea to take over his new responsibilities, he left for Yahushalam,
2 Where the leading Kuhanym and other Yahudym leaders met with him and made their accusations against Shaul.
3 They asked Festus as a favor to transfer Shaul to Yahushalam (planning to ambush and kill him on the way).
4 But Festus replied that Shaul was at Caesarea and he himself would be returning there soon.
5 So Festus said, “Those of you in authority can return with me. If Shaul has done anything wrong, you can make your accusations.”
6 About eight or ten days later Festus returned to Caesarea, and on the following day he took his seat in court and ordered that Shaul be brought in.
7 When Shaul arrived, the Yahudym leaders from Yahushalam gathered around and made many serious accusations they could not prove.
8 Shaul denied the charges. “I am not guilty of any crime against the Yahudym laws or the Temple or the Roman government,” Shaul said.
9 Then Festus, wanting to please the Yahudym, asked him, “Are you willing to go to Yahushalam and stand trial before me there?”
10 But Shaul replied, “No! This is the official Roman court, so I ought to be tried right here. You know very well I am not guilty of harming the Yahudym.
11 If I have done something worthy of death, I do not object of dying. But if I am innocent, no one has a right to turn me over to these men to kill me. I appeal to Caesar!”
12 Festus conferred with his advisers and then replied, “Very well! You have appealed to Caesar, and to Caesar you will go!”
13 A few days later King Agrippa arrived with his sister, Bernice, to pay their respects to Festus.
14 During their stay of several days, Festus discussed Shaul’s case with the king. “There is a prisoner here,” he told him, “whose case was left for me by Felix.
15 When I was in Yahushalam, the leading Kuhanym and Yahudym elders pressed charges against the prisoner and asked me to condemn him.
16 I pointed out to them that Roman law does not convict people without a trial. They must be given an opportunity to confront their accusers and defend themselves.
17 “When Shaul‘s accusers came here for the trial, I did not delay. I called the case the very next day and ordered Shaul to be brought in.
18 But the accusations made against him were not any of the crimes I expected.
19 Instead, it was something about their religion and a dead man named 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏_YAHUSHA, who Shaul insists is alive.
20 I was at a loss to know how to investigate these things, so I asked Shaul whether he would be willing to stand trial on these charges in Yahushalam.
21 But Shaul appealed to have his case decided by the emperor. So I ordered that he be held in custody until I could arrange to send him to Caesar.”
22 “Then Agrippa said to Festus; I would like to hear from the man myself,” And Festus replied, “You will hear him tomorrow!”
Shaul Speaks to Agrippa
23 So the next day Agrippa and Bernice arrived at the auditorium with great pomp, accompanied by military officers and prominent men of the city. Festus ordered that Shaul be brought in.
24 Then Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are here, this is the man whose death is demanded by all the Yahudym, both here and in Yahushalam.
25 But in my opinion he has done nothing deserving death. However, since he appealed his case to the emperor, I have decided to send him to Rome.
26 “But what shall I write the emperor? For there is no clear charge against him. So I have brought him before all of you, and especially you, King Agrippa, so that after we examine him, I might have something to write.
27 For it makes no sense to send a prisoner to the emperor without specifying the charges against him!”