^25:26But I have nothing definite¹⁰⁰ to write to my lord¹⁰¹ about him.¹⁰² Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa,¹⁰³ so that after this preliminary hearing¹⁰⁴ I may have something to write. ^25:27For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner without clearly indicating¹⁰⁵ the charges against him.”

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Footnotes

100 There is irony here. How can Festus write anything definite about Paul, if he is guilty of nothing.
101 To my lord means “to His Majesty the Emperor.”
102 Grk “about whom I have nothing definite …” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative pronoun (“whom”) was replaced with a personal pronoun (“him”) and a new sentence begun in the translation at the beginning of v. 26.
103 See the note on King Agrippa in .
104 Or “investigation.” ἀνάκρισις has “a judicial hearing, investigation, hearing, esp. preliminary hearing … τῆς ἀ. γενομένης Ac 25:26.” This is technical legal language.
105 L&N 33.153 σημαίνω, “to cause something to be both specific and clear—‘to indicate clearly, to make clear’ … ‘for it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner without clearly indicating the charges against him’ Ac 25:27.” Without clearly indicating the charges against him. Again the point is made by Festus himself that there is difficulty even in articulating a charge against Paul.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

But I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after we have examined him, I may have something to write. For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him.”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

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. For I think it is unreasonable to send a prisoner on to Rome without specifying the charges against him.”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore, I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after this examination is over, I may have something to write. For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner without indicating the charges against him.”

NLTNew Living Translation

“But what shall I write the emperor? For there is no clear charge against him. So I have brought him before all of you, and especially you, King Agrippa, so that after we examine him, I might have something to write. For it makes no sense to send a prisoner to the emperor without specifying the charges against him!”

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

I do not have anything definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I have brought him before you all—and especially before you, King Agrippa—so that after this preliminary hearing has taken place, I may have something to write. For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner and not to indicate the charges against him.”

KJV 1900King James Version

Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to write. For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him.

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