New International Version NIV
Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible RHE
1 Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem,
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Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days, he went up to Jerusalem from Cesarea.
2 where the chief priests and the Jewish leaders appeared before him and presented the charges against Paul.
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And the chief priests and principal men of the Jews went unto him against Paul: and they besought him,
3 They requested Festus, as a favor to them, to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem, for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way.
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Requesting favour against him, that he would command him to be brought to Jerusalem, laying wait to kill him in the way.
4 Festus answered, “Paul is being held at Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon.
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But Festus answered: That Paul was kept in Caesarea: and that he himself would very shortly depart thither.
5 Let some of your leaders come with me, and if the man has done anything wrong, they can press charges against him there.”
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Let them, therefore, saith he, among you that are able, go down with me and accuse him, if there be any crime in the man.
6 After spending eight or ten days with them, Festus went down to Caesarea. The next day he convened the court and ordered that Paul be brought before him.
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And having tarried among them no more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day, he sat in the judgment seat and commanded Paul to be brought.
7 When Paul came in, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him. They brought many serious charges against him, but they could not prove them.
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Who being brought, the Jews stood about him, who were come down from Jerusalem, objecting many and grievous causes, which they could not prove:
8 Then Paul made his defense: “I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.”
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Paul making answer for himself: Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I offended in any thing.
9 Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?”
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But Festus, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, answering Paul, said: Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem and there be judged of these things before me?
10 Paul answered: “I am now standing before Caesar’s court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well.
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Then Paul said: I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no injury, as thou very well knowest.
11 If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”
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For if I have injured them or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die. But if there be none of these things whereof they accuse me, no man may deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar.
12 After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”
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Then Festus, having conferred with the council, answered: Hast thou appealed to Caesar? To Caesar shalt thou go.
13 A few days later King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus.
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And after some days, king Agrippa and Bernice came down to Caesarea, to salute Festus.
14 Since they were spending many days there, Festus discussed Paul’s case with the king. He said: “There is a man here whom Felix left as a prisoner.
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And as they tarried there many days, Festus told the king of Paul, saying: A certain man was left prisoner by Felix.
15 When I went to Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him and asked that he be condemned.
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About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the ancients of the Jews came unto me, desiring condemnation against him.
16 “I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand over anyone before they have faced their accusers and have had an opportunity to defend themselves against the charges.
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To whom I answered: it is not the custom of the Romans to condemn any man, before that he who is accused have his accusers present and have liberty to make his answer, to clear himself of the things laid to his charge.
17 When they came here with me, I did not delay the case, but convened the court the next day and ordered the man to be brought in.
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When therefore they were come hither, without any delay, on the day following, sitting in the judgment seat, I commanded the man to be brought.
18 When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected.
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Against whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation of this which I thought ill of:
19 Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive.
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But had certain questions of their own superstition against him, and of one Jesus deceased, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
20 I was at a loss how to investigate such matters; so I asked if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial there on these charges.
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I therefore being in a doubt of this manner of question, asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem and there be judged of these things.
21 But when Paul made his appeal to be held over for the Emperor’s decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar.”
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But Paul, appealing to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept, till I might send him to Caesar.
22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man myself.” He replied, “Tomorrow you will hear him.”
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And Agrippa said to Festus: I would also hear the man, myself. To-morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.
23 The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the audience room with the high-ranking military officers and the prominent men of the city. At the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.
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And on the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice were come with great pomp and had entered into the hall of audience with the tribunes and principal men of the city, at Festus’ commandment, Paul was brought forth.
24 Festus said: “King Agrippa, and all who are present with us, you see this man! The whole Jewish community has petitioned me about him in Jerusalem and here in Caesarea, shouting that he ought not to live any longer.
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And Festus saith: King Agrippa and all ye men who are here present with us, you see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews dealt with me at Jerusalem, requesting and crying out that he ought not to live any longer.
25 I found he had done nothing deserving of death, but because he made his appeal to the Emperor I decided to send him to Rome.
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Yet have I found nothing that he hath committed worthy of death. But forasmuch as he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.
26 But I have nothing definite to write to His Majesty about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that as a result of this investigation I may have something to write.
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Of whom I have nothing certain to write to my lord. For which cause, I have brought him forth before you, and especially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, examination being made, I may have what to write.
27 For I think it is unreasonable to send a prisoner on to Rome without specifying the charges against him.”
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For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner and not to signify the things laid to his charge.
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