[1] Three days after Festus arrived in Caesarea to take over his new responsibilities, he left for Jerusalem,
[2] where the leading priests and other Jewish leaders met with him and made their accusations against Paul.
[3] They asked Festus as a favor to transfer Paul to Jerusalem (planning to ambush and kill him on the way).
[4] But Festus replied that Paul was at Caesarea and he himself would be returning there soon.
[5] So he said, “Those of you in authority can return with me. If Paul has done anything wrong, you can make your accusations.”
[6] About eight or ten days later Festus returned to Caesarea, and on the following day he took his seat in court and ordered that Paul be brought in.
[7] When Paul arrived, the Jewish leaders from Jerusalem gathered around and made many serious accusations they couldn’t prove.
[8] Paul denied the charges. “I am not guilty of any crime against the Jewish laws or the Temple or the Roman government,” he said.
[9] Then Festus, wanting to please the Jews, asked him, “Are you willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there?”
[10] But Paul replied, “No! This is the official Roman court, so I ought to be tried right here. You know very well I am not guilty of harming the Jews.
[11] If I have done something worthy of death, I don’t refuse to die. But if I am innocent, no one has a right to turn me over to these men to kill me. I appeal to Caesar!”
[12] Festus conferred with his advisers and then replied, “Very well! You have appealed to Caesar, and to Caesar you will go!”
[13] A few days later King Agrippa arrived with his sister, Bernice, to pay their respects to Festus.
[14] During their stay of several days, Festus discussed Paul’s case with the king. “There is a prisoner here,” he told him, “whose case was left for me by Felix.
[15] When I was in Jerusalem, the leading priests and Jewish elders pressed charges against him and asked me to condemn him.
[16] I pointed out to them that Roman law does not convict people without a trial. They must be given an opportunity to confront their accusers and defend themselves.
[17] “When his accusers came here for the trial, I didn’t delay. I called the case the very next day and ordered Paul brought in.
[18] But the accusations made against him weren’t any of the crimes I expected.
[19] Instead, it was something about their religion and a dead man named Jesus, who Paul insists is alive.
[20] I was at a loss to know how to investigate these things, so I asked him whether he would be willing to stand trial on these charges in Jerusalem.
[21] But Paul appealed to have his case decided by the emperor. So I ordered that he be held in custody until I could arrange to send him to Caesar.”
[22] “I’d like to hear the man myself,” Agrippa said. And Festus replied, “You will—tomorrow!”
[23] So the next day Agrippa and Bernice arrived at the auditorium with great pomp, accompanied by military officers and prominent men of the city. Festus ordered that Paul be brought in.
[24] Then Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are here, this is the man whose death is demanded by all the Jews, both here and in Jerusalem.
[25] But in my opinion he has done nothing deserving death. However, since he appealed his case to the emperor, I have decided to send him to Rome.
[26] “But what shall I write the emperor? For there is no clear charge against him. So I have brought him before all of you, and especially you, King Agrippa, so that after we examine him, I might have something to write.
[27] For it makes no sense to send a prisoner to the emperor without specifying the charges against him!”