1 Festus therefore having entered upon the prefecture, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.

2 Appeared before and him the high–priest and the chiefs of the Jews against the Paul, and entreated him,

3 asking a favor against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem; an ambush forming to kill him in the way.

4 The indeed then Festus answered, to be kept the Paul in Caesarea, himself but to be about with speed to go out.

5 Those therefore among you, he says, being able, having gone down with, if anything is in the man, let them accuse him.

6 Having remained and among them days not more eight or ten, having gone down into Caesarea, on the morrow having sat down on the judgment–seat, he commanded the Paul to be led forth.

7 Having approached and of him, stood around the from Jerusalem having been come down Jews, many and heavy accusations bring against the Paul, which not they were able to point out;

8 saying in defence of him: That neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar any thing did I wrong.

9 The Fetus but, with the Jews wishing a favor to lay for himself, answering to the Paul said: Art thou willing to Jerusalem having gone up, there concerning these things to be judged before me?

10 Said and the Paul: At the judgment–seat of Caesar standing I am, where me it behooves to be judged. Jews nothing I have done wrong, as also thou full well hast ascertained.

11 If indeed for I am unjust, and worthy of death I have done any thing, not I refuse the to die; if but nothing is of which these accuse me, no one me is able to them to give as a favor. Caesar I call upon.

12 Then the Festus having conferred with the council, answered: Caesar thou hast called upon; to Caesar thou shalt go.

13 Days and having intervened some, Agrippa the king and Bernice came down to Caesarea, paying their respects to the Festus.

14 When and many days they remained there, the Festus to the king submitted the things against the Paul, saying: A man certain is having been left behind by Felix a prisoner;

15 concerning whom, being of me in Jerusalem, gave information the high–priests and the elders of the Jews, asking against him a judgment.

16 To whom I answered, that not it is a custom for Romans to give as a favor any man, before he being accused face to face may have the accusers, an opportunity and of defence he may take concerning the accusation.

17 Having come therefore of them here, delay none having made, on the next day having sat down on the judgment–seat, I commanded to be brought the man.

18 Concerning whom having stood up the accusers no one accusation brought, of things supposed I;

19 questions but certain concerning of the own religion they had with him, and concerning one Jesus having been dead, whom affirmed the Paul to believe.

20 Being in doubt but I on that concerning this question, I said, if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem, and there to be judged concerning these things.

21 The but Paul having appealed to be kept himself for the of the Augustus decision, I commanded to be kept him, till I could send him to Caesar.

22 Agrippa but to the Festus said: I was wishing also myself the man to hear. The and morrow, he said, thou shalt hear him.

23 On the therefore morrow having come the Agrippa and the Bernice with great display, and having entered into the place of hearing, with both the commanders and men those principal being of the city, and having commanded the Festus, was brought the Paul.

24 And said the Festus: Agrippa O king, and all those things being present with us men, you see this, concerning whom all the multitude of the Jews applied to me in both Jerusalem and here, crying out not to be right to live him longer.

25 I but having detected nothing worthy of death him to have done, also of him and of this having appealed to the Augustus, I resolved to send him.

26 Concerning whom certain any thing to write to the lord, not I have, therefore I led forth him before you, and especially before thee, O king Agrippa, so that the examination having taken place I may have something to write.

27 Absurd for to me it seems sending a prisoner, not and the against him charges to signify.

1 Three days after arriving in the province Festus ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem.

2 The high priest and Jewish leaders brought charges against Paul.

3 They desired favor against him that he would transfer him to Jerusalem. Then they would ambush him along the way and kill him.

4 But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he would go there shortly.

5 He said: »Let those who have authority among you go there with me to present your case against this man if there is anything out of the way about the man.«

6 After he stayed there more than ten days, he went to Caesarea. The next day he sat in judgment. He commanded Paul be brought before him.

7 When he arrived the Jews who also came there from Jerusalem presented many grievous complaints against Paul. They could not prove them.

8 Paul defended himself: »Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I committed any sin.«

9 Festus was willing to do the Jews a favor, so he answered Paul: »Will you go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?«

10 »I stand at Caesar’s court,« Paul replied, »where I ought to be judged. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you are finding out.

11 »If I am a wrongdoer, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if charges brought against me by the Jews are not true no man has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar.«

12 Then Festus conferred with his council and answered: »Have you appealed to Caesar? To Caesar you shall go.«

13 A few days later king Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to greet Festus.

14 While they were there Festus declared Paul’s cause to the king. He said, »There is a man that Felix left a prisoner.

15 »When I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me about him. They desire to have judgment against him.

16 »I told them it is not the Roman practice to deliver any man to die before his accusers face him. He should answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.

17 »When they came before me, without any delay I sat in judgment, and commanded the man to be brought in.

18 »When the accusers took the stand they produced no charge of the wicked things I supposed about him.

19 »They had questions against him about their own superstition. They had one about Jesus, who is dead, but Paul affirmed to be alive.

20 »Since I doubt such manner of questions, I asked him if he would go to Jerusalem to be judged there of these matters.

21 »Paul appealed to be reserved to the hearing of Augustus. So I commanded him to be kept until I might send him to Caesar.«

22 Then Agrippa said to Festus: »I would also hear the man myself.« Festus replied: »Tomorrow, you will hear him.«

23 The next day Agrippa and Bernice arrived with great elegance. They entered the place of hearing with the commanders and important men of the city. Festus gave the order for Paul to be brought in.

24 Festus said, »King Agrippa and all men who are present with us, you see this man, about whom all the crowds of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he should not live any longer.

25 »I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death. He has appealed to Augustus and I have determined to send him.

26 »I have no certain thing to write to my lord. I have brought him forth before you, and especially before you, O king Agrippa, that, after examination I might have something to write.

27 »It seems unreasonable to send a prisoner and not signify the crimes charged against him.«