King Agrippa and Bernice Visit Festus
13 After some days had passed, King Agrippa 52-92. and Bernice arrived in Caesarea and paid a courtesy call on Festus.
14
Since they stayed there many days, Festus presented Paul's case to the king, saying, "There's a man who was left as a prisoner by Felix.
15
When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews presented their case and asked for a judgment against him.
16
I answered them that it's not the Romans' custom to give any man up before the accused confronts the accusers face to face and has an opportunity to give a defense concerning the charge.
17
Therefore, when they had assembled here, I did not delay. The next day I sat at the judge's bench and ordered the man to be brought in.
18
Concerning him, the accusers stood up and brought no charge of the sort I was expecting.
19
Instead they had some disagreements with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, a dead man whom Paul claimed to be alive.
20
Since I was at a loss in a dispute over such things, I asked him if he wished to go to Jerusalem and be tried there concerning these matters.
21
But when Paul appealed to be held for trial by the Emperor, I ordered him to be kept in custody until I could send him to Caesar."
22
Then Agrippa said to Festus, "I would like to hear the man myself." "Tomorrow," he said, "you will hear him."