Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible RHE
New Revised Standard NRS
1 Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days, he went up to Jerusalem from Cesarea.
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Three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem
2 And the chief priests and principal men of the Jews went unto him against Paul: and they besought him,
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where the chief priests and the leaders of the Jews gave him a report against Paul. They appealed to him
3 Requesting favour against him, that he would command him to be brought to Jerusalem, laying wait to kill him in the way.
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and requested, as a favor to them against Paul, to have him transferred to Jerusalem. They were, in fact, planning an ambush to kill him along the way.
4 But Festus answered: That Paul was kept in Caesarea: and that he himself would very shortly depart thither.
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Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea, and that he himself intended to go there shortly.
5 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.
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"So," he said, "let those of you who have the authority come down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them accuse him."
6 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.
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After he had stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea; the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought.
7 Who being brought, the Jews stood about him, who were come down from Jerusalem, objecting many and grievous causes, which they could not prove:
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When he arrived, the Jews who had gone down from Jerusalem surrounded him, bringing many serious charges against him, which they could not prove.
8 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.
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Paul said in his defense, "I have in no way committed an offense against the law of the Jews, or against the temple, or against the emperor."
9 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?
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But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, asked Paul, "Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and be tried there before me on these charges?"
10 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.
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Paul said, "I am appealing to the emperor's tribunal; this is where I should be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you very well know.
11 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.
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Now if I am in the wrong and have committed something for which I deserve to die, I am not trying to escape death; but if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can turn me over to them. I appeal to the emperor."
12 Then Festus, having conferred with the council, answered: Hast thou appealed to Caesar? To Caesar shalt thou go.
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Then Festus, after he had conferred with his council, replied, "You have appealed to the emperor; to the emperor you will go."
13 And after some days, king Agrippa and Bernice came down to Caesarea, to salute Festus.
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After several days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to welcome Festus.
14 And as they tarried there many days, Festus told the king of Paul, saying: A certain man was left prisoner by Felix.
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Since they were staying there several days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king, saying, "There is a man here who was left in prison by Felix.
15 About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the ancients of the Jews came unto me, desiring condemnation against him.
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When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me about him and asked for a sentence against him.
16 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.
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I told them that it was not the custom of the Romans to hand over anyone before the accused had met the accusers face to face and had been given an opportunity to make a defense against the charge.
17 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.
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So when they met here, I lost no time, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought.
18 Against whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation of this which I thought ill of:
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When the accusers stood up, they did not charge him with any of the crimes that I was expecting.
19 But had certain questions of their own superstition against him, and of one Jesus deceased, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
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Instead they had certain points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who had died, but whom Paul asserted to be alive.
20 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.
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Since I was at a loss how to investigate these questions, I asked whether he wished to go to Jerusalem and be tried there on these charges.
21 But Paul, appealing to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept, till I might send him to Caesar.
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But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of his Imperial Majesty, I ordered him to be held until I could send him to the emperor."
22 And Agrippa said to Festus: I would also hear the man, myself. To-morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.
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Agrippa said to Festus, "I would like to hear the man myself." "Tomorrow," he said, "you will hear him."
23 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.
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So on the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then Festus gave the order and Paul was brought in.
24 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.
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And Festus said, "King Agrippa and all here present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish community petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer.
25 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.
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But I found that he had done nothing deserving death; and when he appealed to his Imperial Majesty, I decided to send him.
26 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.
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But I have nothing definite to write to our sovereign about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after we have examined him, I may have something to write—
27 For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner and not to signify the things laid to his charge.
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for it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner without indicating the charges against him."
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New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.