1 非斯都到任三天之后， 就从该撒利亚去耶路撒冷。
2 祭司长和犹太人的首领， 到他面前控告保罗。他们为了对付保罗，
3 就要求非斯都恩准， 把保罗解来耶路撒冷， 他们好埋伏在路上杀死他。
4 非斯都回答： "保罗现今押在该撒利亚， 我就要回到那里去。"
5 又说： "你们中间有权势的， 和我一同去吧！ 那人若有什么不是， 他们就可以告他。"
6 非斯都在他们那里大约逗留了不过十天八天， 就回到该撒利亚去。第二天就开庭， 吩咐把保罗带来。
7 保罗一到， 那些从耶路撒冷来的犹太人， 就站在他周围， 提出许多严重的控告， 可是所控告的他们都不能证实。
8 保罗申辩说： "无论对犹太人的律法、圣殿或凯撒， 我都没有罪。"
9 但非斯都为要讨好犹太人， 就问保罗： "你愿意去耶路撒冷， 让我在那里审问这事吗？"
10 保罗说： "我现在站在凯撒的审判台前， 这里是我应当受审的地方。我对犹太人并没有作过什么不对的事， 这是你清楚知道的。
11 我若作过不对的事， 犯过什么该死的罪， 就是死我也不推辞。不过， 如果这些人告我的事不是真的， 谁也不可以把我送给他们。我要向凯撒上诉。"
12 非斯都同议会商量后， 答复说： "你既然要向凯撒上诉， 可以到凯撒那里去。"
13 过了一些日子， 亚基帕王和百尼基到该撒利亚来， 问候非斯都。
14 他们在那里逗留了许多天， 非斯都把保罗的案情向王陈明， 说： "这里有一个囚犯， 是腓力斯留下来的。
15 我在耶路撒冷的时候， 祭司长和犹太人的长老控告他， 要求把他定罪。
16 我答复他们说， 被告还没有和原告当面对证， 又没有机会为所控的罪申辩， 就被送给对方， 罗马人没有这个规例。
17 后来他们到了这里， 我没有耽延时间， 第二天就开庭， 吩咐把那人提出来。
18 原告都站在那里， 他们所控诉他的， 并不是我所意料的恶事。
19 他们与他争辩的， 只是他们的宗教问题； 还论到一位已经死了的耶稣， 保罗却说他是活着的。
20 关于这些争论， 我不知道怎样处理， 就问他愿不愿意上耶路撒冷去为这些事在那里受审。
21 但保罗要求把他留下， 等待皇上裁判， 我就下令把他押起来， 等候解往凯撒那里。"
22 亚基帕对非斯都说： "我也愿意听听这人说些什么。"非斯都说： "明天就请你来听。"
23 第二天， 亚基帕和百尼基威风凛凛地来了， 同千夫长和城中的显要进了厅堂。非斯都吩咐一声， 就有人把保罗提出来。
24 非斯都说： "亚基帕王和在座的各位， 请看这个人。耶路撒冷和本地的犹太人都向我请求， 嚷着说这个人不该活着。
25 我查明他没有犯什么该死的罪， 但是他自己既然要向皇上上诉， 我就决定把他解去。
26 关于这个人， 我没有什么可以呈奏主上的。所以把他带到你们面前， 特别是你亚基帕王面前， 为要在审查之后， 有所陈奏。
27 因为我认为解送囚犯， 不指明他的罪状， 是不合理的。"
1 Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Cæsarea. 2 And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul; and they besought him, 3 asking a favor against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem; laying a plot to kill him on the way. 4 Howbeit Festus answered, that Paul was kept in charge at Cæsarea, and that he himself was about to depart thither shortly. 5 Let them therefore, saith he, that are of power among you go down with me, and if there is anything amiss in the man, let them accuse him.
6 And when he had tarried among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down unto Cæsarea; and on the morrow he sat on the judgment-seat, and commanded Paul to be brought. 7 And when he was come, the Jews that had come down from Jerusalem stood round about him, bringing against him many and grievous charges which they could not prove; 8 while Paul said in his defence, Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Cæsar, have I sinned at all. 9 But Festus, desiring to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me? 10 But Paul said, I am standing before Cæsar’s judgment-seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou also very well knowest. 11 If then I am a wrong-doer, and have committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die; but if none of those things is true whereof these accuse me, no man can give me up unto them. I appeal unto Cæsar. 12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Thou hast appealed unto Cæsar: unto Cæsar shalt thou go.
13 Now when certain days were passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Cæsarea, and saluted Festus. 14 And as they tarried there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix; 15 about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, asking for sentence against him. 16 To whom I answered, that it is not the custom of the Romans to give up any man, before that the accused have the accusers face to face, and have had opportunity to make his defence concerning the matter laid against him. 17 When therefore they were come together here, I made no delay, but on the next day sat on the judgment-seat, and commanded the man to be brought. 18 Concerning whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no charge of such evil things as I supposed; 19 but had certain questions against him of their own religion, and of one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. 20 And I, being perplexed how to inquire concerning these things, asked whether he would go to Jerusalem and there be judged of these matters. 21 But when Paul had appealed to be kept for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be kept till I should send him to Cæsar. 22 And Agrippa said unto Festus, I also could wish to hear the man myself. To-morrow, saith he, thou shalt hear him.
23 So on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and they were entered into the place of hearing with the chief captains and the principal men of the city, at the command of Festus Paul was brought in. 24 And Festus saith, King Agrippa, and all men who are here present with us, ye behold this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews made suit to me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying that he ought not to live any longer. 25 But I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death: and as he himself appealed to the emperor I determined to send him. 26 Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I may have somewhat to write. 27 For it seemeth to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not withal to signify the charges against him.