25:20a

I was at a loss: This clause refers to not knowing what to do. Festus was unsure about how to get the information he needed to judge this case. Other ways to translate this clause are:

I did not know (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
I was unsure

I: The Greek pronoun here probably indicates emphasis. Festus now emphasized what he thought. For example:

I myself

But many English versions translate the Greek pronoun as Festus resuming talking about himself and do not translate this as emphasis.

as to how to investigate these matters: This phrase in Greek is literally “about the investigation of these things.” Festus did not know how to discover the facts he needed to make a good decision. He was familiar with discovering the facts whether or not someone committed a crime, but he was not familiar with discovering the facts for this religious dispute. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

how I could get information on these matters (Good News Translation)
-or-
how to find out the truth about all this (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
how to find out about these questions (New Century Version)

25:20b

he was willing: The word willing refers to wanting to do something. Here Festus asked Paul if he wanted the trial in Jerusalem. For example:

he wanted (English Standard Version)

25:20c

be tried there on these charges: This phrase refers to having a trial. First the accusers would speak, then the person would defend himself, then the judge would decide. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

stand trial there on these charges (New International Version)
-or-
be put on trial there (Contemporary English Version)

Festus did not say here who would be judge in Jerusalem here. If possible, do not say who would have judged Paul in Jerusalem. For example:

be judged there (New Century Version)
-or-
go to court with these accusations against you
-or-
have the trial there regarding these accusations

Scholars have two opinions about who would judge Paul in Jerusalem:

(1) Festus would judge Paul.

(2) Festus would allow the Jewish leaders to judge Paul as he watched.

In some languages, the person who judges must be stated in the translation. If so, follow interpretation (1), as that seems the most likely interpretation of “before me” in 25:9c. For example:

I would judge him on these accusations

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