1 Festus {Phestos: new Roman governor}, therefore, when he had arrived in the province {eparcheia: Judean jurisdiction}, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.
2 The chief priests and the leading men {protoi: prominent officials} of the Jews made accusations to him against Paul, and they were urging him {parekaloun: earnestly requesting}.
3 They were asking a favor {charin: special concession} against him so that he might send for him to Jerusalem, making an ambush to kill him along the road {hodon: travel route}.
4 But Festus {Phestos: Roman governor} answered that Paul {Paulos: Apostolic prisoner} was to be kept in Caesarea, and that he himself intended to depart there soon.
5 Therefore he said, “Let those among you who are in positions of authority {dynatoi: men of standing} go down together {synkatabantes: travel for hearing}, and if there is anything improper in the man, let them bring charges against him.”
6 And after spending not more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea; on the next day, having taken his seat on the judgment seat {bema: Roman tribunal}, he ordered Paul {Paulos: Christian defendant} to be brought.
7 When Paul arrived, the Jews {Ioudaioi: Jewish leaders} who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious accusations {aitiōmata: formal legal charges} against him, which they were not able to prove.
8 As Paul {Paulos: Defense Speaker} was making his defense, he said, “Neither against the law of the Jews nor against the temple nor against Caesar {Kaisar: Roman ruler} have I committed any offense.”
9 But Festus {Phestos: Roman governor}, wanting to grant a favor {charin: gracious benefit} to the Jews, answered Paul and said, “Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and be judged there concerning these matters before me?”
10 But Paul said, “I am standing at Caesar {Kaisar: Roman emperor}’s judgment seat {bema: official tribunal}, where I ought to be judged; I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know better.”
11 If therefore I do wrong and have committed anything worthy of death {thanatos: legal execution}, I do not refuse to die. But if there is nothing of the things these men accuse {kategoreo: bring formal charges} me of, no one is able to grant me to them. I appeal to Caesar.
12 Then Festus {Festos: Roman provincial governor}, after conferring with the council {sumboulion: official advisory group}, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you shall go.”
13 But after some days had passed, Agrippa {Agrippas: Herodian client king} the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to greet {aspazomai: formal diplomatic greeting} Festus.
14 As they spent many days there, Festus {Phestos: Roman governor} presented the matters concerning Paul to the king, saying, "There is a certain man who has been left a prisoner {desmios: bound captive} by Felix."
15 Concerning whom, when I arrived in Jerusalem {Hierosolyma: central holy city}, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews made a formal charge, requesting a sentence of condemnation {katadiken: judicial conviction} against him.
16 I answered them that it is not the custom {ethos: established legal practice} for Romans to hand over any person as a favor before the accused has his accusers face to face and has received an opportunity {topos: proper occasion} for a defense concerning the accusation.
17 Therefore, when they had come together here, without making any delay {anabole: procedural postponement}, on the next day, having taken my seat upon the tribunal {bema: formal court seat}, I commanded the man to be brought.
18 Concerning him, when the accusers {kategoros: formal Roman prosecutors} had stood, they brought no charge of the evil things that I was supposing {hypenooun: prior expectations}.
19 But they had certain questions with him concerning their own religion {deisidaimonia: ancestral worship} and about a certain Jesus {Iesous, disputed figure} who had died, whom Paul claimed to be alive.
20 But as I was at a loss concerning the inquiry {zetesin: formal legal investigation} about these things, I was saying whether he might wish to go to Jerusalem and there be judged {krinesthai: undergo official trial} about these matters.
21 But when Paul had appealed {epikaleomai: formal legal request} to be kept for the decision of the Emperor {Sebastos: imperial authority}, I ordered him to be kept until I could send him to Caesar.
22 Then Agrippa {Agrippas: visiting king} said to Festus, “I myself was wishing to hear the man {anthropos: accused prisoner} also.” And he said, “Tomorrow {aurion: next day session} you will hear him.”
23 So on the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with much pomp {phantasia: elaborate public display}, and had entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the leading men of the city, at the command of Festus {Phestos: Roman governor}, Paul was brought in.
24 And Festus said, “King {basileus: Roman-appointed ruler} Agrippa and all men who are present with us, you see this man about whom the whole multitude {plethos: assembled crowd} of the Jews appealed to me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that it was not right for him to live any longer.”
25 But I found that he had done nothing worthy of death; however, since this man himself appealed {epikalesamenou: made legal appeal} to the Augustus {Sebastos: Imperial Title}, I decided to send him.
26 Concerning whom I have nothing certain to write to the lord {kyrios: Roman imperial title}, therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after an examination {anakrisis: formal judicial inquiry} has taken place I might have something to write.
27 For it seems unreasonable {alogon: without logical basis} to me, when sending a prisoner, not also to indicate the charges {aitia: legal accusations} against him.