1Now when Festus arrived at Keysarya, after three days he went up to Yerushalayim. 2Then the chief Kohanim and leaders of the Y’hudim informed him against Pavlos. 3They besought him as a favor to send for him and bring him to Yerushalayim, for they were plotting to kill him on the way. 4But Festus answered that Pavlos should be kept at Keysarya, and that he himself was shortly going there. 5“Therefore,” said he, “let those who are able among you come down with us and accuse the man about any offense which can be found against him.” 6And when he had tarried in Yerushalayim eight or ten days, he went down to Keysarya, and the next day he sat on the judgment seat and commanded Pavlos to be brought. 7And when he was come, the Y’hudim who had come from Yerushalayim surrounded him and brought against him many serious charges which they could not prove. 8Then Pavlos answered, “I have committed no offense against the Torah of the Yehudim, or against the Heikhal, or against Caesar.” 9But Festus, because he was willing to do the Y’hudim a favor, said to Pavlos, “Would you be willing to go to Yerushalayim and there be tried of these things before me?” 10Pavlos answered, saying, “I stand before Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be tried; I have done no wrong to the Y’hudim, as you very well know. 11If I had committed any crime or had done anything worthy of death, I should not refuse to die; but if there is no truth in the charges made against me, then no man may deliver me to them just to please them. I appeal to Caesar.” 12Festus, when he had conferred with his counsellors, decreed, “You have appealed to Caesar. You will go to Caesar.”
13Some days later, King Agrippa and Bernice came down to Keysarya to greet Festus. 14And when they had been with him several days, Festus related Sha’ul’s case to the king, saying, “There is a certain prisoner left by Felix; 15and when I was in Yerushalayim, the chief Kohanim and the elders of the Y’hudim informed me about him, and asked to have judgment against him. 16I told them it is not the Roman custom to give up a man to be slain, until his accusers come and accuse him face to face and give him a chance to defend himself against the charges. 17So when I arrived here the following day, without any delay, I sat on the judgment seat and commanded the man to be brought before me. 18When his accusers stood up with him, they were unable to prove, as I had expected, any serious charges against him. 19But they had certain grievances against him relative to their own worship and to one named Yeshua, now dead, whom Pavlos affirmed to be alive. 20And because I was not well acquainted with their controversy, I said to Pavlos ‘Would you be willing to go to Yerushalayim and there be tried of these matters?’ 21But he appealed to be kept as a prisoner for a trial before Caesar. I accordingly commanded him to be kept in custody until I might send him to Caesar.” 22Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man myself.” And Festus replied, “Tomorrow, you shall hear him.” 23The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and entered into the court house accompanied by the chief captains and principal men of the city. Festus commanded and Pavlos was brought in. 24Then Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all men who are here present with us, against this man whom you see, all the Y’hudim have complained to me both at Yerushalayim and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer. 25But when I found he had done nothing worthy of death, and because he himself had appealed to be kept in custody for a trial before Caesar, I commanded to send him. 26But I do not know what to write Caesar concerning him, therefore I was pleased to bring him before you, and especially before you, O King Agrippa, so that when he is questioned I may find something to write. 27For it is not proper to send a prisoner without writing down the charges against him.”
Coming Soon! We are working daily on translating the remainder of the Brit Khadashah from Aramaic to Hebrew. Check back soon for this chapter’s Hebrew version!
D'var יהוה , The Word of יהוה 