King James Version

1 Therefore, Festus, after having gone up to the province three days later, went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. 2 And the chief priests and the leaders of the Jews appeared before him against Paul and urged him. 3 Asking for Grace from him to send him to Jerusalem, they were plotting to kill him along the way. 4 So then, Festus replied that Paul was to be kept in Caesarea, but he himself was about to go out shortly. 5 Therefore, he says, let those among you who are strong, if there is anything in the man that is improper, accuse him. 6 And having spent no more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea, and the next day sitting on the judgment seat, he commanded Paul to be brought. 7 But when he arrived, those Jews from Jerusalem who had come down surrounded him, bringing many and weighty accusations that they were not able to prove. 8 While Paul was defending himself, he said that he had neither sinned against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar. 9 But Festus, wanting to show favor to the Jews, answered Paul and said, "Do you want to go up to Jerusalem and there be judged concerning these things before me?" 10 And Paul said, "I am standing at the judgment seat of Caesar, where it is necessary for me to be judged. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also very well know." 11 If indeed I have done wrong and have committed something worthy of death, I do not shy away from dying; but if there is nothing of what these are accusing me, no one can grant them their request. I appeal to Caesar. 12 Then Festus, having consulted with the council, answered, "You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you shall go." 13 And after some days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to greet Festus. 14 And as they spent more days there, Festus presented the matters concerning Paul to the king, saying, "There is a man left behind by Felix as a prisoner." 15 When this had happened to me in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews appeared, asking for a sentence against him. 16 To whom I answered that it is not the custom of the Romans to grant any man favor before the accused has the opportunity to face his accusers and to receive a place for defense regarding the crime. 17 Therefore, having gathered here, without making any delay, I sat down upon the platform and ordered the man to be brought forward. 18 About which, standing forth, the accusers offered no charge of the evils that I suggested. 19 They had certain issues regarding his own superstition and concerning a certain Jesus who had died, whom Paul claimed was alive. 20 Being at a loss, I was saying about these things whether he would want to go to Jerusalem and there to be judged about these matters. 21 But when Paul called to be kept for the decision of the Augustus, I ordered him to be kept until I send him to Caesar. 22 Agrippa said to Festus: "I also wanted to hear the man. Tomorrow," he says, "you will hear him." 23 So on the following day, when Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the auditorium with the chief military officers and the prominent men of the city, and when Festus had commanded, Paul was brought in. 24 And Festus said, "King Agrippa and all the men present with us, you see this man about whom the whole multitude of the Jews encountered me both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer." 25 But I found nothing worthy of death in him, but when he himself appealed to Augustus, I decided to send him. 26 Concerning this, I do not have anything safe to write to the lord; therefore, I brought him before you and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the examination has taken place, I may have something to write. 27 For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner without also indicating the reasons against him.