Now Festus, having come into the province, on the third day went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.
And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews brought to him their charges against Paul. And they urged him,
asking as a favor against Paul, that he would send for him and have him brought to Jerusalem (because they were preparing an ambush to kill him on the way).
But Festus answered that Paul was being kept in custody at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to go there shortly.
“So,” he said, “let those who are the powerful men among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them accuse him.”
And when he had stayed with them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And on the next day he sat on the judgment seat and commanded Paul to be brought.
And when he came, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing against him many and serious charges that they could not prove.
Paul kept saying in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the Temple, nor against Caesar, have I sinned at all.”
But Festus, desiring to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, “Will you go up to Jerusalem, and be judged about these things before me there?”
But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews have I done no wrong, as you also very well know.
If then I am a wrongdoer, and have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die, but if none of those things is true of which these men accuse me, no one is able to give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.”
Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you will go.”
Paul Before Agrippa and Bernice
Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea, and greeted Festus.
And when they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, “There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix,
about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges, asking for sentence against him.
I answered them that it is not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone before the accused meet the accusers face to face, and have had an opportunity to make his defense concerning the matter laid against him.
Therefore, when 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.
Concerning whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no charge of such evil things as I supposed,
but had certain questions against him about their own religion, and about one who had died, Jesus, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
And I, being perplexed how to inquire concerning these things, asked if he would go to Jerusalem and there be judged concerning these matters.
But when Paul appealed to be held in custody for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be held until I could send him to Caesar.”
And Agrippa said to Festus, “I would also like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “you will hear him.”
So on the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and had entered the audience hall, along with the military commanders and principal men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.
And Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all who are here present with us, you see this man, about whom the whole Jewish community petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying out that he ought not to live any longer.
But I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death. And as he himself appealed to the emperor I determined to send him.
Yet I have no certain thing to write to my lord about him. Therefore, I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the examination, I will have something to write.
For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not also to clearly indicate the charges against him.”