Acts 25:13–27

KING AGRIPPA AND BERNICE VISIT FESTUS

¹³Several days later, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea and paid a courtesy call on Festus. ¹⁴Since they were staying there several days, Festus presented Paul’s case to the king, saying, “There’s a man who was left as a prisoner by Felix. ¹⁵When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews presented their case and asked that he be condemned.^{n 16}I answered them that it is not the Roman custom to give someone up^A before the accused faces the accusers and has an opportunity for a defense against the charges.^{o 17}So when they had assembled here, I did not delay. The next day I took my seat at the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought in. ¹⁸The accusers stood up but brought no charge against him of the evils I was expecting. ¹⁹Instead they had some disagreements^p with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, a dead man Paul claimed to be alive. ²⁰Since I was at a loss in a dispute over such things, I asked him if he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding these matters. ²¹But when Paul appealed to be held for trial by the Emperor, I ordered him to be kept in custody until I could send him to Caesar.”

²²Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear the man myself.”

“Tomorrow you will hear him,” he replied.^q

PAUL BEFORE AGRIPPA

²³So the next day, Agrippa and Bernice^r came with great pomp and entered the auditorium with the military commanders and prominent men of the city. When Festus gave the command, Paul was brought in. ²⁴Then Festus said, “King Agrippa and all men present with us, you see this man. The whole Jewish community has appealed to me concerning him, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he should not live any longer.^{a 25}I found that he had not done anything deserving of death, but when he himself appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.^{b 26}I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore, I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after this examination is over, I may have something to write. ²⁷For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner without indicating the charges against him.”