1
Three days after Festus took over his duties in the province of Judea, he went from the city of Caesarea to Jerusalem.
2
The chief priests and the other important Jewish leaders informed Festus about their charges against Paul. They were urging
3
Festus to do them the favor of having Paul brought to Jerusalem. The Jews had a plan to ambush and kill Paul as he traveled to Jerusalem.
4
Festus replied that he would be returning to Caesarea soon and would keep Paul there.
5
He told them, "Have your authorities come to Caesarea with me and accuse him there if the man has done something wrong."
6
Festus stayed in Jerusalem for eight or ten days at the most and then returned to Caesarea. The next day Festus took his place in court and summoned Paul.
7
When Paul entered the room, the Jews who had come from Jerusalem surrounded him. They made a lot of serious accusations that they couldn't prove.
8
Paul defended himself by saying, "I haven't broken any Jewish law or done anything against the temple or the emperor."
9
But Festus wanted to do the Jews a favor. So he asked Paul, "Are you willing to go to Jerusalem to be tried there on these charges with me as your judge?"
10
Paul said, "I am standing in the emperor's court where I must be tried. I haven't done anything wrong to the Jews, as you know very well.
11
If I am guilty and have done something wrong for which I deserve the death penalty, I don't reject the idea of dying. But if their accusations are untrue, no one can hand me over to them as a favor. I appeal my case to the emperor!"
12
Festus discussed the appeal with his advisers and then replied to Paul, "You have appealed your case to the emperor, so you'll go to the emperor!"