1 T hree days after Festus had become leader in the country, he went from the city of Caesarea to Jerusalem.

Festus then, having arrived in the province, three days later went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.

2 T he head religious leaders and the leaders of the Jews told Festus what they had against Paul.

And the chief priests and the leading men of the Jews brought charges against Paul, and they were urging him,

3 T hey asked Festus for a favor. They wanted Paul to be brought to Jerusalem because they had plans to kill him on the way.

requesting a concession against Paul, that he might have him brought to Jerusalem ( at the same time, setting an ambush to kill him on the way).

4 F estus told them that Paul was to be kept in Caesarea and that he would be going there soon.

Festus then answered that Paul was being kept in custody at Caesarea and that he himself was about to leave shortly.

5 F estus said, “If Paul has done anything wrong, let your leaders go along with me and say what they have against him.”

“Therefore,” he said, “let the influential men among you go there with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them prosecute him.”

6 A fter staying with them about ten days, Festus went down to Caesarea. The next day he sat in the courtroom and asked for Paul to be brought in.

After he had spent not more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea, and on the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought.

7 P aul came into the courtroom. The Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him. They said many bad things against him. But they could not prove any of the things they said.

After Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him which they could not prove,

8 P aul spoke for himself, saying, “I have done nothing wrong against the Law of the Jews or against the house of God or against Caesar.”

while Paul said in his own defense, “ I have committed no offense either against the Law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.”

9 F estus was hoping to get the respect of the Jews. He asked Paul, “Will you go to the court in Jerusalem and let me say if you are guilty or not about these things?”

But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, “ Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me on these charges ?”

10 P aul said, “I am standing in front of Caesar’s court where I should be told I am right or wrong. I have done no wrong to the Jews. You know that.

But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also very well know.

11 I f I have done wrong and should die, I am not trying to keep from dying. But if these things they say against me are not true, no one can give me over to them. I ask to be taken to Caesar.”

If, then, I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die; but if none of those things is true of which these men accuse me, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar.”

12 F estus talked to the leaders of the court. Then he said to Paul, “You have asked to be taken to Caesar. You will go to him.” Festus Tells King Agrippa about Paul

Then when Festus had conferred with his council, he answered, “You have appealed to Caesar, to Caesar you shall go.”

13 A fter a few days, King Agrippa and his wife, Bernice, came down to Caesarea. They went to Festus to greet him.

Now when several days had elapsed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and paid their respects to Festus.

14 T hey stayed there a few days. Festus told them about Paul. He said, “There is a man here who was left in prison by Felix.

While they were spending many days there, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, “There is a man who was left as a prisoner by Felix;

15 W hen I was at Jerusalem, the head religious leaders and the leaders of the people told me about him and asked me to say that he is guilty.

and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him.

16 I told them it was against the Roman law to hand over a man to be put to death before he stood face to face with those who had something against him and could speak for himself.

I answered them that it is not the custom of the Romans to hand over any man before the accused meets his accusers face to face and has an opportunity to make his defense against the charges.

17 W hen they came here, I took my seat in the courtroom at once. I had the man brought in.

So after they had assembled here, I did not delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought before me.

18 W hen the others spoke, they had nothing against him that I thought they had.

When the accusers stood up, they began bringing charges against him not of such crimes as I was expecting,

19 T hey did not agree with him about their own religion, and they argued about someone called Jesus. He had died but Paul kept saying He was alive.

but they simply had some points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a dead man, Jesus, whom Paul asserted to be alive.

20 I did not know what to do. Then I asked him if he would go on trial about these things at Jerusalem.

Being at a loss how to investigate such matters, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there stand trial on these matters.

21 B ut Paul asked to go on trial in front of Caesar. I said that he should be kept in prison until he could be sent to Caesar.”

But when Paul appealed to be held in custody for the Emperor’s decision, I ordered him to be kept in custody until I send him to Caesar.”

22 A grippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man.” Festus said, “Tomorrow you will hear him.” Paul Stands in Front of King Agrippa

Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “you shall hear him.” Paul before Agrippa

23 T he next day Agrippa and Bernice came into the courtroom. They were dressed to show their greatness as king and queen. Army leaders and leading men of the city came in with them. Festus had Paul brought in.

So, on the next day when Agrippa came together with Bernice amid great pomp, and entered the auditorium accompanied by the commanders and the prominent men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.

24 F estus said, “King Agrippa and all of you who are here with us, you see this man. All of the Jews both here and at Jerusalem are saying that Paul should be put to death.

Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all you gentlemen here present with us, you see this man about whom all the people of the Jews appealed to me, both at Jerusalem and here, loudly declaring that he ought not to live any longer.

25 I have heard nothing against him that would be reason to put him to death. But he asked for a trial in front of Caesar. I have agreed to send Paul to him.

But I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death; and since he himself appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.

26 W hen I write to Caesar, I have nothing to say against him. For this reason, I brought him in front of you all and in front of you, King Agrippa. After we ask him questions, I may have something to write about.

Yet I have nothing definite about him to write to my lord. Therefore I have brought him before you all and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the investigation has taken place, I may have something to write.

27 I t is foolish for me to send a man up for trial without writing what is against him.”

For it seems absurd to me in sending a prisoner, not to indicate also the charges against him.”