But Festus replied, “Paul is being held in Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon.
Parallel translations
- WEB However Festus answered that Paul should be kept in custody at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to depart shortly.
- KJV But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither.
- NKJV But Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself was going there shortly.
- NASB Festus then answered that Paul was being kept in custody in Caesarea, and that he himself was about to leave shortly.
- NLT But Festus replied that Paul was at Caesarea and he himself would be returning there soon.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Festus declines, saying Paul will remain at Caesarea and that he himself is soon returning there. His answer unknowingly frustrates the plot against Paul.
Overview
Whether from procedure or instinct, Festus insists the case be heard in Caesarea rather than Jerusalem. His refusal, made for administrative reasons, providentially foils the planned ambush. Once more God uses an unbelieving official's ordinary decisions to shield his servant and keep his redemptive purposes on course.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 1
- Acts 24:23He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard, but to allow him some freedom and permit his friends to minister to his needs.
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 25:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.