1. Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.
2. And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul; and they besought him,
3. asking favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem; laying wait to kill him on the way.
4. Howbeit Festus answered, that Paul was kept in charge at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to depart thither shortly.
5. Let them therefore, saith he, which are of power among you, go down with me, and if there is anything amiss in the man, let them accuse him.
6. And when he had tarried among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and on the morrow he sat on the judgment-seat, and commanded Paul to be brought.
7. And when he was come, the Jews which had come down from Jerusalem stood round about him, bringing against him many and grievous charges, which they could not prove;
8. while Paul said in his defence, Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I sinned at all.
9. But Festus, desiring to gain favour with the Jews, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?
10. But Paul said, I am standing before Caesar's judgment-seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou also very well knowest.
11. If 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 Caesar.
12. Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Thou hast appealed unto Caesar: unto Caesar shalt thou go.
13. Now when certain days were passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea, and saluted Festus.
14. And 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:
15. about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, asking for sentence against him.
16. To 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.
17. When therefore they were come together here, I made no delay, but on the next day sat down on the judgment-seat, and commanded the man to be brought.