Paul’s Trial before Festus

1Festus, therefore, having come to the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea; 2and the high priests and chief men of the Jews informed him against Paul, and were beseeching him, 3asking it as a favor against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, making an ambush, to kill him on the way. 4Festus, therefore, answered, that Paul was held at Caesarea, and that he himself was about shortly to go out thither. 5"Let those, therefore, among you," said he, who are able, going down with me, accuse him, if there is anything amiss in him.

6And, having spent among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea; and, on the morrow, sitting on the judgment-seat, he ordered Paul to be brought. 7And, when he presented himself, the Jews who came down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and grievous charges, which they were not able to prove; 8Paul saying in his defense, "Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, did I commit any sin." 9But Festus, wishing to gain favor with the Jews, answering, said to Paul, "Are you willing, having gone up to Jerusalem, to be judged there concerning these things before me?"

Paul Appeals to Caesar

10And Paul said, "I am standing at Caesar's judgment-seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you also very well know. 11If, therefore, I am a wrong-doer, and have perpetrated anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die; but, if there is nothing in the things of which these accuse me, no one can deliver me as a favor to them. I appeal to Caesar." 12Then Festus, having consulted with the council, answered, To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go."

Festus Consults Agrippa

13And, some days having elapsed, Agrippa the king, and Bernice, came to Caesarea to salute Festus. 14And, as they were spending several days there, Festus laid before the king the things relating to Paul, saying, "There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix; 15concerning whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the high priests and elders of the Jews gave information, asking for sentence against him: 16to whom I made answer, It is not a custom with Romans to grant as a favor any man, before the accused has the accuser face to face, and has opportunity to answer for himself concerning the charge laid against him. 17When, therefore, they came together here, I, making no delay, the next day, sitting on the judgment-seat, ordered the man to be brought; 18concerning whom, the accusers, standing up, were bringing no accusation of evils such as I was supposing; 19but certain questions concerning their peculiar religion they had against him, and concerning a certain Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. 20And, being perplexed in regard to the inquiry concerning these things, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem, and there be judged concerning these things. 21But, as Paul appealed to be held for the decision of Augustus, I ordered, that he be held, until I should send him up to Caesar." 22And Agrippa said to Festus, "I myself also was wishing to hear the man." "To-morrow," said he, "you shall hear him."

Paul before Agrippa and Bernice

23On the morrow, therefore, Agrippa and Bernice having come with great display; and, having entered into the audience-chamber, with both the chief captains and the principal men of the city, Festus having ordered it, Paul was brought. 24And Festus says, "King Agrippa, and all men who are here present with us, ye behold this man, concerning whom all the multitude of the Jews made suit to me, both in Jerusalem and here, crying out that it was not proper that he should live any longer. 25But I found that he committed nothing worthy of death; and, as he himself appealed to Augustus, I decided to send him: 26concerning whom I have nothing certain to write to my lord. Wherefore, I brought him forth before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, in order that, when the examination has taken place, I may have something to write; 27for it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to signify also the charges against him."