Acts

1Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Cæsarea.

2And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul; and they besought him,

3asking a favor against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem; laying a plot to kill him on the way.

4Howbeit Festus answered, that Paul was kept in charge at Cæsarea, and that he himself was about to depart thither shortly.

5Let 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.

6And when he had tarried among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down unto Cæsarea; and on the morrow he sat on the judgment-seat, and commanded Paul to be brought.

7And when he was come, the Jews that had come down from Jerusalem stood round about him, bringing against him many and grievous charges which they could not prove;

8while Paul said in his defence, Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Cæsar, have I sinned at all.

9But Festus, desiring to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?

10But Paul said, I am standing before Cæsar’s judgment-seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou also very well knowest.

11If then I am a wrong-doer, and have committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die; but if none of those things is true whereof these accuse me, no man can give me up unto them. I appeal unto Cæsar.

12Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Thou hast appealed unto Cæsar: unto Cæsar shalt thou go.

13Now when certain days were passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Cæsarea, and saluted Festus.

14And as they tarried there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix;

15about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, asking for sentence against him.

16To whom I answered, that it is not the custom of the Romans to give up any man, before that the accused have the accusers face to face, and have had opportunity to make his defence concerning the matter laid against him.

17When therefore 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.

18Concerning whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no charge of such evil things as I supposed;

19but had certain questions against him of their own religion, and of one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

20And I, being perplexed how to inquire concerning these things, asked whether he would go to Jerusalem and there be judged of these matters.

21But when Paul had appealed to be kept for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be kept till I should send him to Cæsar.

22And Agrippa said unto Festus, I also could wish to hear the man myself. To-morrow, saith he, thou shalt hear him.

23So on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and they were entered into the place of hearing with the chief captains and the principal men of the city, at the command of Festus Paul was brought in.

24And Festus saith, King Agrippa, and all men who are here present with us, ye behold this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews made suit to me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.

25But I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death: and as he himself appealed to the emperor I determined to send him.

26Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I may have somewhat to write.

27For it seemeth to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not withal to signify the charges against him.

Paul’s Trial before Festus

1Three days after his arrival in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem,

2where the chief priests and Jewish leaders presented their case against Paul. They urged Festus

3to grant them a concession against Paul by summoning him to Jerusalem, because they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way.

4But Festus replied, “Paul is being held in Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon.

5So if this man has done anything wrong, let some of your leaders come down with me and accuse him there.”

6After spending no more than eight or ten days with them, Festus went down to Caesarea. The next day he sat on the judgment seat and ordered that Paul be brought in.

7When Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges that they could not prove.

8Then Paul made his defense: “I have committed no offense against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.”

9But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to stand trial before me on these charges?”

Paul Appeals to Caesar

10Paul replied, “I am standing before the judgment seat of Caesar, where I ought to be tried. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well.

11If, however, I am guilty of anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is no truth to their accusations against me, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”

12Then Festus conferred with his council and replied, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”

Festus Consults Agrippa

13After several days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice came down to Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus.

14Since they were staying several days, Festus laid out Paul’s case before the king: “There is a certain man whom Felix left in prison.

15While I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and elders of the Jews presented their case and requested a judgment against him.

16I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand a man over before he has had an opportunity to face his accusers and defend himself against their charges.

17So when they came here with me, I did not delay. The next day I sat on the judgment seat and ordered that the man be brought in.

18But when his accusers rose to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected.

19They only had some contentions with him regarding their own religion and a certain Jesus who had died, but whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

20Since I was at a loss as to how to investigate these matters, I asked if he was willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried there on these charges.

21But when Paul appealed to be held over for the decision of the Emperor, I ordered that he be held until I could send him to Caesar.”

22Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man myself.” “Tomorrow you will hear him,” Festus declared.

Paul before Agrippa and Bernice

23The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the auditorium, along with the commanders and leading men of the city. And Festus ordered that Paul be brought in.

24Then Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man. The whole Jewish community has petitioned me about him, both here and in Jerusalem, crying out that he ought not to live any longer.

25But I found he had done nothing worthy of death, and since he has now appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.

26I have nothing definite to write to our sovereign about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after this inquiry I may have something to write.

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