2
And the chiefpriests and the leadingmen of the Jews1broughtchargesagainstPaul, and they were urging him,
3
requesting a concessionagainst Paul, that he might have him brought to Jerusalem (at the same time, 2setting an ambush to kill him on the way ).
4
Festusthen3answered that Paul4was being kept in custody at 5Caesarea and that he himself was about to leaveshortly.
5
"Therefore," he said, "let the influentialmenamong you go there with me, and if there is anythingwrongabout the man, let them prosecute him."
6
After he had spent not more than eightortendaysamong them, he wentdown to 6Caesarea, and on the nextday he took his seat on 7the tribunal and orderedPaul to be brought.
7
After Paul arrived, the Jews who had comedown from Jerusalemstoodaround him, bringing8many and seriouschargesagainst him 9which they could not prove,
8
while Paulsaid in his own defense, "10I have committednooffenseeitheragainst the Law of the Jewsoragainst the templeoragainstCaesar."
9
But Festus, 11wishing to do the Jews a favor, answeredPaul and said, "12Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and standtrialbefore me on these charges?"
10
But Paulsaid, "I amstandingbeforeCaesar's13tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have donenowrong to the Jews, as you alsoverywellknow.
11
"If, then, I am a wrongdoer and have committedanythingworthy of death, I do not refuse to die; but ifnone of those things is true of whichthesemenaccuse me, noonecanhand me over to them. I 14appeal to Caesar."
12
Then when Festus had conferred with his council, he answered, "You have appealed to Caesar, to Caesar you shall go."