9
But Festus wanted to please the Jews. So he asked Paul, "Do you want to go to Jerusalem for me to judge you there on these charges?"
10
Paul said, "I am standing at Caesar's judgment seat now, where I should be judged. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews; you know this is true.
11
If I have done something wrong and the law says I must die, I do not ask to be saved from death. But if these charges are not true, then no one can give me to them. I want Caesar to hear my case!"
12
Festus talked about this with his advisers. Then he said, "You have asked to see Caesar, so you will go to Caesar!"
13
A few days later King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to visit Festus.
14
They stayed there for some time, and Festus told the king about Paul's case. Festus said, "There is a man that Felix left in prison.
15
When I went to Jerusalem, the leading priests and the older Jewish leaders there made charges against him, asking me to sentence him to death.
16
But I answered, 'When a man is accused of a crime, Romans do not hand him over until he has been allowed to face his accusers and defend himself against their charges.'
17
So when these Jews came here to Caesarea for the trial, I did not waste time. The next day I sat on the judge's seat and commanded that the man be brought in.
18
The Jews stood up and accused him, but not of any serious crime as I thought they would.
19
The things they said were about their own religion and about a man named Jesus who died. But Paul said that he is still alive.