Part 32

024:018 While I was busy about these, they found me in the Temple purified, with no crowd around me and no uproar; but there were certain Jews from the province of Asia.

024:019 They ought to have been here before you, and to have been my prosecutors, if they have any charge to bring against me.

024:020 Or let these men themselves say what misdemeanour they found me guilty of when I stood before the Sanhedrin,

024:021 unless it was in that one expression which I made use of when I shouted out as I stood among them, "`The resurrection of the dead is the thing about which I am on my trial before you to-day.'"

024:022 At this point Felix, who was fairly well informed about the new faith, adjourned the trial, saying to the Jews, "When the Tribune Lysias comes down, I will enter carefully into the matter."

024:023 And he gave orders to the Captain that Paul was to be kept in custody, but be treated with indulgence, and that his personal friends were not to be prevented from showing him kindness.

024:024 Not long after this, Felix came with Drusilla his wife, a Jewess, and sending for Paul, listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus.

024:025 But when he dealt with the subjects of justice, self-control, and the judgement which was soon to come, Felix became alarmed and said, "For the present leave me, and when I can find a convenient opportunity I will send for you."

024:026 At the same time he hoped that Paul would give him money; and for this reason he sent for him the oftener to converse with him.

024:027 But after the lapse of fully two years Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and being desirous of gratifying the Jews, Felix left Paul still in prison.

025:001 Festus, having entered on his duties as governor of the province, two days later went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem.

025:002 The High Priests and the leading men among the Jews immediately made representations to him against Paul, and begged him--

025:003 asking it as a favour, to Paul's prejudice--to have him brought to Jerusalem. They were planning an ambush to kill him on the way.

025:004 Festus, however, replied that Paul was in custody in Caesarea, and that he was himself going there very soon.

025:005 "Therefore let those of you," he said, "who can come, go down with me, and impeach the man, if there is anything amiss in him."

025:006 After a stay of eight or ten days in Jerusalem--not more-- he went down to Caesarea; and the next day, taking his seat on the tribunal, he ordered Paul to be brought in.

025:007 Upon Paul's arrival, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood round him, and brought many grave charges against him which they were unable to substantiate.

025:008 But, in reply, Paul said, "Neither against the Jewish Law, nor against the Temple, nor against Caesar, have I committed any offence whatever."

025:009 Then Festus, being anxious to gratify the Jews, asked Paul, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem, and there stand your trial before me on these charges?"

025:010 "I am standing before Caesar's tribunal," replied Paul, "where alone I ought to be tried. The Jews have no real ground of complaint against me, as in fact you yourself are beginning to see more clearly.

025:011 If, however, I have done wrong and have committed any offence for which I deserve to die, I do not ask to be excused that penalty. But if there is no truth in what these men allege against me, no one has the right to give me up to them as a favour. I appeal to Caesar."

025:012 Then, after conferring with the Council, Festus replied, "To Caesar you have appealed: to Caesar you shall go."

025:013 A short time after this, Agrippa the king and Bernice came to Caesarea to pay a complimentary visit to Festus;

025:014 and, during their rather long stay, Festus laid Paul's case before the king. "There is a man here," he said, "whom Felix left a prisoner,

025:015 about whom, when I went to Jerusalem, the High Priests and the Elders of the Jews made representations to me, begging that sentence might be pronounced against him.

025:016 My reply was that it is not the custom among the Romans to give up any one for punishment before the accused has had his accusers face to face, and has had an opportunity of defending himself against the charge which has been brought against him.

025:017 "When, therefore, a number of them came here, the next day I took my seat on the tribunal, without any loss of time, and ordered the man to be brought in.

025:018 But, when his accusers stood up, they did not charge him with the misdemeanours of which I had been suspecting him.