Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.
And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul; and they besought him
asking a favour that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait to kill him on the way.
Howbeit Festus answered that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself was about to depart [there] shortly.
Let them therefore, saith he, that are of power among you go down with me, and if there is anything amiss in the man, let them accuse him.
And when he had tarried among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and on the morrow he sat on the judgment-seat, and commanded Paul to be brought.
And when he was come, the Jews that had come from Jerusalem stood round about and laid many and grievous charges which they could not prove;
while Paul said in his defence, Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I sinned at all.
But Festus, desirous to gain favour with the Jews, answered Paul and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?
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 thou also very well knowest.
If then I am a wrong doer, and have committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die. But if none of these things is [true] whereof these accuse me, no man can give me up unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.
Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Thou hast appealed unto Caesar: unto Caesar shalt thou go.
Now when certain days passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to salute Festus.
And as they were spending several days there, Festus set Paul’s case before the king, saying, There is a certain man left prisoner by Felix;
about whom when I was in Jerusalem the chief priests and the elders of the Jews filed information, asking for condemnation against him.
Unto whom I answered, that it is no custom for Romans to give up any man before that the accused have the accusers face to face, and have had an opportunity of defence concerning the complaint.
When therefore they came together here, I made no delay but next day sat on the judgment-seat, and commanded the man to be brought;
concerning whom, when the accusers stood up, they were bringing no charge of such evil things as I supposed,
but had certain questions of their own religion, and of one Jesus dead as he is, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
And I, being perplexed in the enquiry concerning these things, asked whether he would go to Jerusalem and there be judged of these things.
But when Paul appealed to be kept for the decision of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I should send him unto Caesar.
And Agrippa [said] unto Festus, I also should wish to hear the man myself. Tomorrow, saith he, thou shalt hear him.
Therefore on the morrow when Agrippa came, and Bernice, with great pomp, and they entered into the audience chamber with the commanders and the distinguished men of the city, at the command of Festus Paul was brought.
And saith Festus, King Agrippa, and all men that are here present with us, ye behold this man about whom all the multitude of the Jews applied to me both in Jerusalem and here, crying out that he ought not to live any longer.
But as I found that he had done nothing worthy of death, and as he himself appealed to Augustus, I decided to send him,
about whom I have nothing certain to write to my lord. Wherefore I brought him forth before you, and especially before thee, King Agrippa, so that, after examination had, I may have what I shall write.
For it seemeth to me unreasonable in sending a prisoner not also to signify the charges against him.