Acts 25:1-8 ▼

1 Three days after Festus arrived in Caesarea to take over his new responsibilities, he left for Jerusalem,

2 where the leading priests and other Jewish leaders met with him and made their accusations against Paul.

3 They asked Festus as a favor to transfer Paul to Jerusalem (planning to ambush and kill him on the way).

4 But Festus replied that Paul was at Caesarea and he himself would be returning there soon.

5 So he said, “Those of you in authority can return with me. If Paul has done anything wrong, you can make your accusations.”

6 About eight or ten days later Festus returned to Caesarea, and on the following day he took his seat in court and ordered that Paul be brought in.

7 When Paul arrived, the Jewish leaders from Jerusalem gathered around and made many serious accusations they couldn’t prove.

8 Paul denied the charges. “I am not guilty of any crime against the Jewish laws or the Temple or the Roman government,” he said.