Paul’s Trial Before Festus

¹ Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea, ² where the high priest and the Jewish leaders brought their case against Paul. They urged Festus, ³ asking a favor against Paul, that Festus would summon Paul to Jerusalem, because they were plotting to kill him on the way. ⁴ However Festus answered that Paul should be kept in custody at Caesarea and that he himself was about to depart shortly. ⁵ He said, “Let those who are in power among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong in the man, let them accuse him.”

⁶ After he had been staying among them for more than eight days, he went down to Caesarea. The next day he sat on the judgment seat and commanded Paul to be brought in.

⁷ When he had come in, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing against him many serious charges which they could not prove, ⁸ while Paul said in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I sinned at all.”

⁹ But Festus, wanting to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and be judged by me there concerning these things?”

Paul Appeals to Caesar

¹⁰ But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also know very well. ¹¹ For if I have done wrong and have committed anything worthy of death, I don’t refuse to die, but if none of those things are true that they accuse me of, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!”

¹² Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you shall go.”

Festus Consults King Agrippa

¹³ Now when some days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus. ¹⁴ After he had stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, “There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix, ¹⁵ about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, asking for a sentence against him.

¹⁶ I answered them that it is not the custom of the Romans to give up any man to destruction before the accused has met the accusers face to face and has had opportunity to make his defense concerning the matter laid against him. ¹⁷ When they had come together here, I didn’t delay, but the next day sat on the judgment seat and commanded the man to be brought in.

¹⁸ When the accusers stood up, they brought no charges against him of such things as I supposed, ¹⁹ but had certain questions against him about their own religion, and about one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. ²⁰ Being at a loss as to how to investigate these things, I asked whether Paul was willing to go to Jerusalem and be judged there concerning these matters. ²¹ But when Paul had appealed to be kept for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be kept until I could send him to Caesar.”

²² Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.”
“Tomorrow,” he said, “you shall hear him.”

Paul Before Agrippa and Bernice

²³ So the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp, and they had entered into the place of hearing with the commanding officers and the principal men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.

²⁴ Festus said, “King Agrippa and all men who are here present with us, you see this man. The whole multitude of the Jews petitioned me about him, both here and at Jerusalem, crying out that he ought not to live any longer. ²⁵ But I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and as he himself appealed to the emperor, I decided to send him.

²⁶ I have nothing certain to write to my lord. Therefore I have brought him before you, King Agrippa, that after this examination, I may have something to write. ²⁷ For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner without also specifying the charges against him.”

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