Professor Horner’s Reading Plan

¹Before the Passover Festival, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

²Now when it was time for supper, the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son, to betray him.

³Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into his hands, that he had come from God, and that he was going back to God.

⁴So he got up from supper, laid aside his outer clothing, took a towel, and tied it around himself.

⁵Next, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel tied around him.

⁶He came to Simon Peter, who asked him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

⁷Jesus answered him, “What I’m doing you don’t realize now, but afterward you will understand.”

⁸“You will never wash my feet,” Peter said. Jesus replied, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.”

⁹Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.”

¹⁰“One who has bathed,” Jesus told him, “doesn’t need to wash anything except his feet, but he is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you.”

¹¹For he knew who would betray him. This is why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

¹²When Jesus had washed their feet and put on his outer clothing, he reclined again and said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you?

¹³You call me Teacher and Lord — and you are speaking rightly, since that is what I am.

¹⁴So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.

¹⁵For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done for you.

¹⁶“Truly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his master, and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him.

¹⁷If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

¹⁸“I’m not speaking about all of you; I know those I have chosen. But the Scripture must be fulfilled: The one who eats my bread has raised his heel against me.

¹⁹I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am he.

²⁰Truly I tell you, whoever receives anyone I send receives me, and the one who receives me receives him who sent me.”

²¹When Jesus had said this, he was troubled in his spirit and testified, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”

²²The disciples started looking at one another — uncertain which one he was speaking about.

²³One of his disciples, the one Jesus loved, was reclining close beside Jesus.

²⁴Simon Peter motioned to him to find out who it was he was talking about.

²⁵So he leaned back against Jesus and asked him, “Lord, who is it?”

²⁶Jesus replied, “He’s the one I give the piece of bread to after I have dipped it.” When he had dipped the bread, he gave it to Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son.

²⁷After Judas ate the piece of bread, Satan entered him. So Jesus told him, “What you’re doing, do quickly.”

²⁸None of those reclining at the table knew why he said this to him.

²⁹Since Judas kept the money-bag, some thought that Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival,” or that he should give something to the poor.

³⁰After receiving the piece of bread, he immediately left. And it was night.

³¹When he had left, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in him.

³²If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once.

³³Children, I am with you a little while longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so now I tell you: ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’

³⁴“I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another.

³⁵By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

³⁶“Lord,” Simon Peter said to him, “where are you going?” Jesus answered, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow later.”

³⁷“Lord,” Peter asked, “why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”

³⁸Jesus replied, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly I tell you, a rooster will not crow until you have denied me three times.

¹The LORD also spoke to Moses:

²“Look, I have appointed by name Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.

³I have filled him with God’s Spirit, with wisdom, understanding, and ability in every craft

⁴to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze,

⁵to cut gemstones for mounting, and to carve wood for work in every craft.

⁶I have also selected Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to be with him. I have put wisdom in the heart of every skilled artisan in order to make all that I have commanded you:

⁷the tent of meeting, the ark of the testimony, the mercy seat that is on top of it, and all the other furnishings of the tent  —

⁸the table with its utensils, the pure gold lampstand with all its utensils, the altar of incense,

⁹the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, the basin with its stand —

¹⁰the specially woven garments, both the holy garments for the priest Aaron and the garments for his sons to serve as priests,

¹¹the anointing oil, and the fragrant incense for the sanctuary. They must make them according to all that I have commanded you.”

¹²The LORD said to Moses:

¹³“Tell the Israelites: You must observe my Sabbaths, for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, so that you will know that I am the LORD who consecrates you.

¹⁴Observe the Sabbath, for it is holy to you. Whoever profanes it must be put to death. If anyone does work on it, that person must be cut off from his people.

¹⁵Work may be done for six days, but on the seventh day there must be a Sabbath of complete rest, holy to the LORD. Anyone who does work on the Sabbath day must be put to death.

¹⁶The Israelites must observe the Sabbath, celebrating it throughout their generations as a permanent covenant.

¹⁷It is a sign forever between me and the Israelites, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.”

¹⁸When he finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the testimony, stone tablets inscribed by the finger of God.

¹So what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the benefit of circumcision?

²Considerable in every way. First, they were entrusted with the very words of God.

³What then? If some were unfaithful, will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness?

⁴Absolutely not! Let God be true, even though everyone is a liar, as it is written: That you may be justified in your words and triumph when you judge.

⁵But if our unrighteousness highlights God’s righteousness, what are we to say? I am using a human argument: Is God unrighteous to inflict wrath?

⁶Absolutely not! Otherwise, how will God judge the world?

⁷But if by my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, why am I also still being judged as a sinner?

⁸And why not say, just as some people slanderously claim we say, “Let us do what is evil so that good may come”? Their condemnation is deserved!

⁹What then? Are we any better off? Not at all! For we have already charged that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin,

¹⁰as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one.

¹¹There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.

¹²All have turned away; all alike have become worthless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one.

¹³Their throat is an open grave; they deceive with their tongues. Vipers’ venom is under their lips.

¹⁴Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.

¹⁵Their feet are swift to shed blood;

¹⁶ruin and wretchedness are in their paths,

¹⁷and the path of peace they have not known.

¹⁸There is no fear of God before their eyes.

¹⁹Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are subject to the law, so that every mouth may be shut and the whole world may become subject to God’s judgment.

²⁰For no one will be justified in his sight by the works of the law, because the knowledge of sin comes through the law.

²¹But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, attested by the Law and the Prophets.

²²The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, since there is no distinction.

²³For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

²⁴They are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

²⁵God presented him as an atoning sacrifice in his blood, received through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed.

²⁶God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be righteous and declare righteous the one who has faith in Jesus.

²⁷Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By one of works? No, on the contrary, by a law of faith.

²⁸For we conclude that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

²⁹Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too,

³⁰since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.

³¹Do we then nullify the law through faith? Absolutely not! On the contrary, we uphold the law.

¹You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

²What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

³Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

⁴No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of civilian life; he seeks to please the commanding officer.

⁵Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

⁶The hardworking farmer ought to be the first to get a share of the crops.

⁷Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

⁸Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead and descended from David, according to my gospel,

⁹for which I suffer to the point of being bound like a criminal. But the word of God is not bound.

¹⁰This is why I endure all things for the elect: so that they also may obtain salvation, which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

¹¹This saying is trustworthy: For if we died with him, we will also live with him;

¹²if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us;

¹³if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.

¹⁴Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to fight about words. This is useless and leads to the ruin of those who listen.

¹⁵Be diligent to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.

¹⁶Avoid irreverent and empty speech, since those who engage in it will produce even more godlessness,

¹⁷and their teaching will spread like gangrene. Hymenaeus and Philetus are among them.

¹⁸They have departed from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and are ruining the faith of some.

¹⁹Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, bearing this inscription: The Lord knows those who are his, and let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord turn away from wickedness.

²⁰Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also those of wood and clay; some for honorable use and some for dishonorable.

²¹So if anyone purifies himself from anything dishonorable, he will be a special instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.

²²Flee from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

²³But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, because you know that they breed quarrels.

²⁴The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient,

²⁵instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth.

²⁶Then they may come to their senses and escape the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

¹Then Job answered:

²How long will you torment me and crush me with words?

³You have humiliated me ten times now, and you mistreat me without shame.

⁴Even if it is true that I have sinned, my mistake concerns only me.

⁵If you really want to appear superior to me and would use my disgrace as evidence against me,

⁶then understand that it is God who has wronged me and caught me in his net.

⁷I cry out: “Violence!” but get no response; I call for help, but there is no justice.

⁸He has blocked my way so that I cannot pass through; he has veiled my paths with darkness.

⁹He has stripped me of my honor and removed the crown from my head.

¹⁰He tears me down on every side so that I am ruined. He uproots my hope like a tree.

¹¹His anger burns against me, and he regards me as one of his enemies.

¹²His troops advance together; they construct a ramp against me and camp around my tent.

¹³He has removed my brothers from me; my acquaintances have abandoned me.

¹⁴My relatives stop coming by, and my close friends have forgotten me.

¹⁵My house guests and female servants regard me as a stranger; I am a foreigner in their sight.

¹⁶I call for my servant, but he does not answer, even if I beg him with my own mouth.

¹⁷My breath is offensive to my wife, and my own family finds me repulsive.

¹⁸Even young boys scorn me. When I stand up, they mock me.

¹⁹All of my best friends despise me, and those I love have turned against me.

²⁰My skin and my flesh cling to my bones; I have escaped with only the skin of my teeth.

²¹Have mercy on me, my friends, have mercy, for God’s hand has struck me.

²²Why do you persecute me as God does? Will you never get enough of my flesh?

²³I wish that my words were written down, that they were recorded on a scroll

²⁴or were inscribed in stone forever by an iron stylus and lead!

²⁵But I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the end he will stand on the dust.

²⁶Even after my skin has been destroyed, yet I will see God in my flesh.

²⁷I will see him myself; my eyes will look at him, and not as a stranger. My heart longs within me.

²⁸If you say, “How will we pursue him, since the root of the problem lies with him?”

²⁹then be afraid of the sword, because wrath brings punishment by the sword, so that you may know there is a judgment.

¹For the choir director: on the . Of Asaph. [1] Sing for joy to God our strength; shout in triumph to the God of Jacob.

²Lift up a song — play the tambourine, the melodious lyre, and the harp.

³Blow the horn on the day of our feasts during the new moon and during the full moon.

⁴For this is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob.

⁵He set it up as a decree for Joseph when he went throughout the land of Egypt. I heard an unfamiliar language:

⁶“I relieved his shoulder from the burden; his hands were freed from carrying the basket.

⁷You called out in distress, and I rescued you; I answered you from the thundercloud. I tested you at the Waters of Meribah. Selah

⁸Listen, my people, and I will admonish you. Israel, if you would only listen to me!

⁹There must not be a strange god among you; you must not bow down to a foreign god.

¹⁰I am the LORD  your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

¹¹“But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel did not obey me.

¹²So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own plans.

¹³If only my people would listen to me and Israel would follow my ways,

¹⁴I would quickly subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes.”

¹⁵Those who hate the LORD would cower to him; their doom would last forever.

¹⁶But he would feed Israel with the best wheat. “I would satisfy you with honey from the rock.”

¹Better a poor person who lives with integrity than someone who has deceitful lips and is a fool.

²Even zeal is not good without knowledge, and the one who acts hastily sins.

³A person’s own foolishness leads him astray, yet his heart rages against the LORD.

⁴Wealth attracts many friends, but a poor person is separated from his friend.

⁵A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape.

⁶Many seek a ruler’s favor, and everyone is a friend of one who gives gifts.

⁷All the brothers of a poor person hate him; how much more do his friends keep their distance from him! He may pursue them with words, but they are not there.

⁸The one who acquires good sense loves himself; one who safeguards understanding finds success.

⁹A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies perishes.

¹⁰Luxury is not appropriate for a fool —  how much less for a slave to rule over princes!

¹¹A person’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.

¹²A king’s rage is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.

¹³A foolish son is his father’s ruin, and a wife’s nagging is an endless dripping.

¹⁴A house and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.

¹⁵Laziness induces deep sleep, and a lazy person will go hungry.

¹⁶The one who keeps commands preserves himself; one who disregards his ways will die.

¹⁷Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and he will give a reward to the lender.

¹⁸Discipline your son while there is hope; don’t set your heart on being the cause of his death.

¹⁹A person with intense anger bears the penalty; if you rescue him, you’ll have to do it again.

²⁰Listen to counsel and receive instruction so that you may be wise later in life.

²¹Many plans are in a person’s heart, but the LORD’s decree will prevail.

²²What is desirable in a person is his fidelity; better to be a poor person than a liar.

²³The fear of the LORD leads to life; one will sleep at night without danger.

²⁴The slacker buries his hand in the bowl; he doesn’t even bring it back to his mouth!

²⁵Strike a mocker, and the inexperienced learn a lesson; rebuke the discerning, and he gains knowledge.

²⁶The one who plunders his father and evicts his mother is a disgraceful and shameful son.

²⁷If you stop listening to correction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge.

²⁸A worthless witness mocks justice, and a wicked mouth swallows iniquity.

²⁹Judgments are prepared for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools.

¹After the death of Saul, David returned from defeating the Amalekites and stayed at Ziklag two days.

²On the third day a man with torn clothes and dust on his head came from Saul’s camp. When he came to David, he fell to the ground and paid homage.

³David asked him, “Where have you come from?” He replied to him, “I’ve escaped from the Israelite camp.”

⁴“What was the outcome? Tell me,” David asked him. “The troops fled from the battle,” he answered. “Many of the troops have fallen and are dead. Also, Saul and his son Jonathan are dead.”

⁵David asked the young man who had brought him the report, “How do you know Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”

⁶“I happened to be on Mount Gilboa,” he replied, “and there was Saul, leaning on his spear. At that very moment the chariots and the cavalry were closing in on him.

⁷When he turned around and saw me, he called out to me, so I answered: I’m at your service.

⁸He asked me, ‘Who are you? ’ I told him: I’m an Amalekite.

⁹Then he begged me, ‘Stand over me and kill me, for I’m mortally wounded, but my life still lingers.’

¹⁰So I stood over him and killed him because I knew that after he had fallen he couldn’t survive. I took the crown that was on his head and the armband that was on his arm, and I’ve brought them here to my lord.”

¹¹Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and all the men with him did the same.

¹²They mourned, wept, and fasted until the evening for those who died by the sword — for Saul, his son Jonathan, the LORD’s people, and the house of Israel.

¹³David inquired of the young man who had brought him the report, “Where are you from?” “I’m the son of a resident alien,” he said. “I’m an Amalekite.”

¹⁴David questioned him, “How is it that you were not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?”

¹⁵Then David summoned one of his servants and said, “Come here and kill him!” The servant struck him, and he died.

¹⁶For David had said to the Amalekite, “Your blood is on your own head because your own mouth testified against you by saying, ‘I killed the LORD’s anointed.’”

¹⁷David sang the following lament for Saul and his son Jonathan,

¹⁸and he ordered that the Judahites be taught The Song of the Bow. It is written in the Book of Jashar:

¹⁹The splendor of Israel lies slain on your heights. How the mighty have fallen!

²⁰Do not tell it in Gath, don’t announce it in the marketplaces of Ashkelon, or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice, and the daughters of the uncircumcised will celebrate.

²¹Mountains of Gilboa, let no dew or rain be on you, or fields of offerings, for there the shield of the mighty was defiled  — the shield of Saul, no longer anointed with oil.

²²Jonathan’s bow never retreated, Saul’s sword never returned unstained, from the blood of the slain, from the flesh of the mighty.

²³Saul and Jonathan, loved and delightful, they were not parted in life or in death. They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.

²⁴Daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with luxurious things, who decked your garments with gold ornaments.

²⁵How the mighty have fallen in the thick of battle! Jonathan lies slain on your heights.

²⁶I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother. You were such a friend to me. Your love for me was more wondrous than the love of women.

²⁷How the mighty have fallen and the weapons of war have perished!

¹Then the LORD said to me: “Even if Moses and Samuel should stand before me, my compassions would not reach out to these people. Send them from my presence, and let them go.

²If they ask you, ‘Where will we go? ’ tell them: This is what the LORD says: Those destined for death, to death; those destined for the sword, to the sword. Those destined for famine, to famine; those destined for captivity, to captivity.

³“I will ordain four kinds of judgment for them” — this is the LORD’s declaration — “the sword to kill, the dogs to drag away, and the birds of the sky and the wild animals of the land to devour and destroy.

⁴I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth because of Manasseh son of Hezekiah, the king of Judah, for what he did in Jerusalem.

⁵Who will have pity on you, Jerusalem? Who will show sympathy toward you? Who will turn aside to ask about your well-being?

⁶You have left me.” This is the LORD’s declaration. “You have turned your back, so I have stretched out my hand against you and destroyed you. I am tired of showing compassion.

⁷I scattered them with a winnowing fork at the city gates of the land. I made them childless; I destroyed my people. They would not turn from their ways.

⁸I made their widows more numerous than the sand of the seas. I brought a destroyer at noon against the mother of young men. I suddenly released on her agitation and terrors.

⁹The mother of seven grew faint; she breathed her last breath. Her sun set while it was still day; she was ashamed and humiliated. The rest of them I will give over to the sword in the presence of their enemies.” This is the LORD’s declaration.

¹⁰Woe is me, my mother, that you gave birth to me, a man who incites dispute and conflict in all the land. I did not lend or borrow, yet everyone curses me.

¹¹The LORD said: Haven’t I set you loose for your good? Haven’t I punished you in a time of trouble, in a time of distress with the enemy?

¹²Can anyone smash iron, iron from the north, or bronze?

¹³I will give up your wealth and your treasures as plunder, without cost, for all your sins in all your borders.

¹⁴Then I will make you serve your enemies in a land you do not know, for my anger will kindle a fire that will burn against you.

¹⁵You know, LORD; remember me and take note of me. Avenge me against my persecutors. In your patience, don’t take me away. Know that I suffer disgrace for your honor.

¹⁶Your words were found, and I ate them. Your words became a delight to me and the joy of my heart, for I bear your name, LORD God of Armies.

¹⁷I never sat with the band of revelers, and I did not celebrate with them. Because your hand was on me, I sat alone, for you filled me with indignation.

¹⁸Why has my pain become unending, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? You truly have become like a mirage to me — water that is not reliable.

¹⁹Therefore, this is what the LORD says: If you return, I will take you back; you will stand in my presence. And if you speak noble words, rather than worthless ones, you will be my spokesman. It is they who must return to you; you must not return to them.

²⁰Then I will make you a fortified wall of bronze to this people. They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to save you and rescue you. This is the LORD’s declaration.

²¹I will rescue you from the power of evil people and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.

¹Three days after Festus arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.

²The chief priests and the leaders of the Jews presented their case against Paul to him; and they appealed,

³asking for a favor against Paul, that Festus summon him to Jerusalem. They were, in fact, preparing an ambush along the road to kill him.

⁴Festus, however, answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to go there shortly.

⁵“Therefore,” he said, “let those of you who have authority go down with me and accuse him, if he has done anything wrong.”

⁶When he had spent not more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea. The next day, seated at the tribunal, he commanded Paul to be brought in.

⁷When he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him and brought many serious charges that they were not able to prove.

⁸Then Paul made his defense: “Neither against the Jewish law, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I sinned in any way.”

⁹But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, replied to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to be tried before me there on these charges?”

¹⁰Paul replied: “I am standing at Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as even you yourself know very well.

¹¹If then I did anything wrong and am deserving of death, I am not trying to escape death; but if there is nothing to what these men accuse me of, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!”

¹²Then after Festus conferred with his council, he replied, “You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you will go.”

¹³Several days later, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea and paid a courtesy call on Festus.

¹⁴Since they were staying there several days, Festus presented Paul’s case to the king, saying, “There’s a man who was left as a prisoner by Felix.

¹⁵When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews presented their case and asked that he be condemned.

¹⁶I answered them that it is not the Roman custom to give someone up before the accused faces the accusers and has an opportunity for a defense against the charges.

¹⁷So when they had assembled here, I did not delay. The next day I took my seat at the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought in.

¹⁸The accusers stood up but brought no charge against him of the evils I was expecting.

¹⁹Instead they had some disagreements with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, a dead man Paul claimed to be alive.

²⁰Since I was at a loss in a dispute over such things, I asked him if he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding these matters.

²¹But when Paul appealed to be held for trial by the Emperor, I ordered him to be kept in custody until I could send him to Caesar.”

²²Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow you will hear him,” he replied.

²³So the next day, Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the auditorium with the military commanders and prominent men of the city. When Festus gave the command, Paul was brought in.

²⁴Then Festus said: “King Agrippa and all men present with us, you see this man. The whole Jewish community has appealed to me concerning him, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he should not live any longer.

²⁵I found that he had not done anything deserving of death, but when he himself appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.

²⁶I 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.

²⁷For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner without indicating the charges against him.”