7
When he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him and brought many serious charges that they were not able to prove,
8
while Paul made the defense that, "Neither against the Jewish law, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I sinned at all."
9
Then Festus, wanting to do a favor for the Jews, replied to Paul, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem, there to be tried before me on these charges?"
10
But Paul said: "I am standing at Caesar's tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as even you can see very well.
11
If then I am doing wrong, or have done anything deserving of death, I do not refuse to die, but if there is nothing to what these men accuse me of, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!"
12
After Festus conferred with his council, he replied, "You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you will go!"
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.