Now when
Festus was come into the province, after three
days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem.
02 Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews
informed him against Paul, and besought him,
03 And desired favour against him, that he would
send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way
to kill him.
04 But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept
at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart
shortly thither.
05 Let them therefore, said he, which among you
are able, go down with me, and accuse this man,
if there be any wickedness in him.
06 And when he had tarried among them more than
ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and the
next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded
Paul to be brought.
07 And when he was come, the Jews which came down
from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many
and grievous complaints against Paul, which they
could not prove.
08 While he answered for himself, Neither against
the law of the Jews, neither against the temple,
nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing
at all.
09 But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure,
answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to
Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things
before me?
10 Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment
seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews
have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.
11 For if I be an offender, or have committed any
thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but
if there be none of these things whereof these
accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I
appeal unto Caesar.
12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the
council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto
Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.
13 And after certain days king Agrippa and
Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus.
14 And when they had been there many days, Festus
declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying,
There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix:
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15 About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief
priests and the elders of the Jews informed me,
desiring to have judgment against him.
16 To whom I answered, It is not the manner of
the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that
he which is accused have the accusers face to
face, and have licence to answer for himself
concerning the crime laid against him.
17 Therefore, when they were come hither, without
any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment
seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth.
18 Against whom when the accusers stood up, they
brought none accusation of such things as I
supposed:
19 But had certain questions against him of their
own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was
dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
20 And because I doubted of such manner of
questions, I asked him whether he would go to
Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters.
21 But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto
the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be
kept till I might send him to Caesar.
22 Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also
hear the man myself. To-morrow, said he, thou
shalt hear him.
23 And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and
Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into
the place of hearing, with the chief captains,
and principal men of the city, at Festus'
commandment Paul was brought forth.
24 And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men
which are here present with us, ye see this man,
about whom all the multitude of the Jews have
dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here,
crying that he ought not to live any longer.
25 But when I found that he had committed nothing
worthy of death, and that he himself hath
appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send
him.
26 Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto
my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth
before you, and specially before thee, O king
Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might
have somewhat to write.
27 For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a
prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes
laid against him.
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