1Now three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. 2And the high priest and the Jewish leaders presented their charges against Paul, 3And asked a favor of him, that he would have Paul transferred to Jerusalem, because they still planned to ambush and kill him along the road. 4But Festus answered, “Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and I, myself am going there soon. 5Let some leaders among you return with me, and if Paul has done anything wrong, they can go down with me, and accuse him.” 6And after staying there eight or ten days, Festus went down to Caesarea; and the next day, he took his seat in court, and commanded that Paul to be brought in. 7And when he was brought in, the Jews who came down from Jerusalem stood around him, and laid many grievous complaints against Paul, none of which they could prove. 8Then Paul made his defense: “Neither against the law of the Jews, against the Temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended in any way at all.”

9But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, asked Paul, “Will you go up to Jerusalem, and be judged of these things before me there?” 10Then Paul replied, “I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you very well know. 11For if I am guilty, or have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die; but if none of these things of which these accuse me are true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!” 12Then Festus, after he had conferred with the council, answered, “Have you appealed to Caesar? Then to Caesar you shall go.”

13And a few days later, King Agrippa and his sister, Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus. 14And after they were there many days, Festus discussed Paul's cause with the king, saying, “There is a certain man that Felix left in prison, 15Against whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges before me, asking to have him condemned; 16To whom I answered, ‘It is not the custom of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before he has faced his accusers face to face, and had opportunity to answer for himself concerning the accusation laid against him.’ 17Therefore, when they had come here, without delay, the next day I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man be brought in. 18And when his accusers stood up to speak, they brought no accusation of the crimes I had expected, 19But, instead, had points of dispute against him about their own religion, and about one Jesus, Who had died, Whom Paul affirmed to be alive. 20And because I was perplexed concerning such questions, I asked him if he would go to Jerusalem, and be judged there on these matters. 21But when Paul had appealed to be held for a hearing by Emperor Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I could send him to Caesar.” 22Then King Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man myself.” And Festus replied, “Tomorrow, you shall hear him.” 23And the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice arrived, with great pomp, and had entered the judgement hall, with high-ranking officers, and prominent men of the city, at Festus' command, Paul was brought in. 24And Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all men who are present here with us, you see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have petitioned me, both at Jerusalem, and here also, shouting that he ought not to live any longer. 25But when I found that he had committed no crime worthy of death, and that he, himself, has appealed to Caesar Augustus, I have decided to send him. 26But I have no particulars to write to His Majesty. Therefore, I have brought him before you, and specially before you, O King Agrippa, that, after examination, I might have something to write. 27For I think it unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not specify the charges leveled against him.”