Paul's Trial Before Festus

1Therefore Festus, having arrived in the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. 2And the chief priests and the chiefs of the Jews made a presentation before him against Paul, and they were begging him, 3asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem, forming an ambush to kill him on the way.

4So indeed Festus answered that Paul is to be kept in Caesarea, and he himself is about to set out in quickness. 5He says, “Therefore those among you in power, having gone down together, if there is anything wrong in the man, let them accuse him.”

6And having spent with them not more than eight or ten days, having gone down to Caesarea, on the next day having sat on the judgment seat, he commanded Paul to be brought. 7And he having arrived, the Jews having come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and weighty charges, which they were not able to prove.

8Paul made his defense: “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I sinned in anything.”

9But Festus, wishing to lay a favor on the Jews, answering, said to Paul, “Are you willing, having gone up to Jerusalem, to be judged before me there concerning these things?”

The Appeal to Caesar

10And Paul said, “I am standing before the judgment seat of Caesar, where it behooves me to be judged. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you also know very well. 11Therefore if indeed I do wrong and have done anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is nothing of which they can accuse me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!”

12Then Festus, having conferred with the Council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you will go!”

Festus Consults King Agrippa

13Now some days having passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice came down to Caesarea, greeting Festus. 14And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid before the king the things relating to Paul, saying, “There is a certain man left by Felix as a prisoner, 15concerning whom, on my having been in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews made a presentation, asking judgment against him, 16to whom I answered that it is not the custom with Romans to give up any man before that the one being accused may have it to face the accusers, and he may have the opportunity of defense concerning the accusation.

17Therefore of them having come together here, having made no delay, the next day having sat on the judgment seat, I commanded the man to be brought, 18concerning whom the accusers, having stood up, were bringing no charge of the crimes of which I was expecting. 19But they had certain questions against him concerning their own religion and concerning a certain Jesus having been dead, whom Paul was affirming to be alive.

20Now I, being perplexed concerning this inquiry, was asking if he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there to be judged concerning these things. 21But of Paul having appealed for himself to be kept for the decision of the Emperor, I commanded him to be kept until that I might send him to Caesar.”

22Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I have been wanting also to hear the man myself.”

He says, “Tomorrow you will hear him.”

Paul Before Agrippa and Bernice

23So on the next day Agrippa and Bernice, having come with great pomp and having entered into the audience hall with both the commanders and the men in prominence in the city, and Festus having commanded, Paul was brought in.

24And Festus says, “King Agrippa and all men being present with us, you see this one concerning whom the whole multitude of the Jews pleaded with me, both in Jerusalem and here, crying out of him that he ought not to live any longer. 25But I, having understood him to have done nothing worthy of death, of this one himself now having appealed to the Emperor, I determined to send him, 26concerning whom I have nothing definite to write to my lord. Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that of the examination having taken place, I might have something to write. 27For it seems absurd to me, sending a prisoner, not also to specify the charges against him.”