| 1 Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three days
went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. 2 And the chief priests and the
principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul; and they besought him,
3 asking a favor against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem;
laying a plot to kill him on the way. 4 Howbeit Festus answered, that Paul
was kept in charge at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to depart
thither shortly. 5 Let them therefore, saith he, that are of power
among you go down with me, and if there is anything amiss in the man, let
them accuse him. 6 And when he had tarried among them not more than eight
or ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and on the morrow he sat on the
judgment-seat, and commanded Paul to be brought. 7 And when he was come,
the Jews that had come down from Jerusalem stood round about him, bringing
against him many and grievous 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,
desiring to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, Wilt thou go up
to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me? 10 But Paul
said, I am standing before Caesar's judgment-seat, where I ought to be
judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou also very well knowest.
11 If then I am a wrong-doer, and have committed anything worthy of death,
I refuse not to die; but if none of those things is true whereof
these accuse me, no man can give me up unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.
12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Thou
hast appealed unto Caesar: unto Caesar shalt thou go. 13 Now when certain
days were passed, Agrippa the King and Bernice arrived at Caesarea, and
saluted Festus. 14 And as they tarried 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 sentence against him.
16 To whom I answered, that it is not the custom of the Romans to give up
any man, before that the accused have the accusers face to face, and have had
opportunity to make his defense concerning the matter laid against him.
17 When therefore they were come together here, I made no delay, but on
the next day sat on the judgment-seat, and commanded the man to be brought.
18 Concerning whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no charge of
such evil things as I supposed; 19 but had certain questions against him
of their own religion, and of one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to
be alive. 20 And I, being perplexed how to inquire concerning these
things, asked whether he would go to Jerusalem and there be judged of these
matters. 21 But when Paul had appealed to be kept for the decision of the
emperor, I commanded him to be kept till I should send him to Caesar.
22 And Agrippa said unto Festus, I also could wish to hear the man
myself. To-morrow, saith he, thou shalt hear him. 23 So on the morrow,
when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and they were entered
into the place of hearing with the chief captains and principal men of the
city, at the command of Festus Paul was brought in. 24 And Festus saith,
King Agrippa, and all men who are here present with us, ye behold this man,
about whom all the multitude of the Jews made suit to me, both at Jerusalem
and here, crying 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 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, king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I may have
somewhat to write. 27 For it seemeth to me unreasonable, in sending a
prisoner, not withal to signify the charges against him.
Genesis - Public
Domain
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