1Now when Festus was come into the province , after three days he ascended from Cæsarea to Jerusalem . 2Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul , and besought him , 3And desired favour against him , that he would send for him to Jerusalem , laying wait in the way to kill him . 4But Festus answered , that Paul should be kept at Cæsarea , and that he himself would depart shortly thither . 5Let them therefore , said he , which among you are able , go down with me , and accuse this man , if there be any wickedness in him . 6And when he had tarried among them more than ten days , he went down unto Cæsarea ; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought . 7And when he was come , the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about , and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul , which they could not prove . 8While he answered for himself , Neither against the law of the Jews , neither against the temple , nor yet against Cæsar , have I offended any thing at all . 9But Festus , willing to do the Jews a pleasure , answered Paul , and said , Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem , and there be judged of these things before me ? 10Then said Paul , I stand at Cæsar’s judgment seat , where I ought to be judged : to the Jews have I done no wrong , as thou very well knowest . 11For if I be an offender , or have committed any thing worthy of death , I refuse not to die : but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me , no man may deliver me unto them . I appeal unto Cæsar . 12Then Festus , when he had conferred with the council , answered , Hast thou appealed unto Cæsar ? unto Cæsar shalt thou go .
Festus and Agrippa
13And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Cæsarea to salute Festus . 14And when they had been there many days , Festus declared Paul’s cause unto the king , saying , There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix : 15About whom , when I was at Jerusalem , the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me , desiring to have judgment against him . 16To whom I answered , It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die , before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face , and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him . 17Therefore , when they were come hither , without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat , and commanded the man to be brought forth . 18Against whom when the accusers stood up , they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed : 19But had certain questions against him of their own superstition , and of one Jesus , which was dead , whom Paul affirmed to be alive . 20And because I doubted of such manner of questions , I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem , and there be judged of these matters . 21But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus , I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Cæsar . 22Then Agrippa said unto Festus , I would also hear the man myself . To morrow , said he , thou shalt hear him . 23And on the morrow , when Agrippa was come , and Bernice , with great pomp , and was entered into the place of hearing , with the chief captains , and principal men of the city , at Festus’ commandment Paul was brought forth . 24And Festus said , King Agrippa , and all men which are here present with us , ye see this man , about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me , both at Jerusalem , and also here , crying that he ought not to live any longer . 25But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death , and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus , I have determined to send him . 26Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord . Wherefore I have brought him forth before you , and specially before thee , O king Agrippa , that , after examination had , I might have somewhat to write . 27For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner , and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him .