2 The chief priests and the leaders of the Jews presented their case against Paul to him; and they appealed,g 3 asking for a favor against Paul, that Festus summon him to Jerusalem. They were, in fact, preparing an ambush along the road to kill him. 4 Festus, however, answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to go there shortly.h 5 “Therefore,” he said, “let those of you who have authority go down with me and accuse him, if he has done anything wrong.”

6 When he had spent not more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea. The next day, seated at the tribunal, he commanded Paul to be brought in.i 7 When he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him and brought many serious charges that they were not able to prove.j 8 Then Paul made his defense: “Neither against the Jewish law,k nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I sinned in any way.”

9 But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor,l replied to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to be tried before me there on these charges?”

10 Paul replied, “I am standing at Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as even you yourself know very well. 11 If then I did anything wrong and am deserving of death, I am not trying to escape death; but if there is nothing to what these men accuse me of, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!”m

12 Then after Festus conferred with his council, he replied, “You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you will go.”

KING AGRIPPA AND BERNICE VISIT FESTUS

13 Several days later, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea and paid a courtesy call on Festus.