Modern Literal Version
[Acts 25]


    {July, 61 AD. PaulМs appear to Caesar.}

     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 indicated to him thingsagainst 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 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 judgment-seat and commanded Paul to be brought before him. 25:7And 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 said in his defense, I have not sinned any against either the law of the Jews nor the temple nor Caesar.

     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 judgment-seat, where I ought to be judged. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also fully well know. 25:11 For* if indeed I do wrong and have practiced anything worthy of death, I do not renounce to die; but if none of those things istrue of which they are accusing me, no one is able to grant me to them. I appeal to Caesar. 25:12Then Festus, when he had spoken with the council, answered, You have appealed to Caesar, thento 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 PaulМs case, saying, There is a certain man, a prisoner, left by Felix; 25:15 concerning whom, when I was in Jerusalem, the high-priests and the elders of the Jews indicated 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 judgment-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 great pomp, Agrippa and Bernice came and entered into the auditorium with both the commanders and men of 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 he ought not to live any longer. 25:25 But I felt 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 hisexamination happens, I may have something to write. 25:27 For* it seems unreasonable to me to besending a prisoner and not to signify the accusations against him.


    {Footnotes: Acts 25:2, 5; 27:1- This is the Greek word НsebastosМ, Latin is Augustus. See footnote on Luke 2:1. This could be translated as Reverend, His Majesty, all meaning the Emperor.}



Modern Literal Version Preface & Appendix , copyright 1987, 1999, 2013 by G. Allen Walker for the MLV New Testament Committee.
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