¹⁶To whom I answered: it is not the custom of the Romans to condemn any man, before that he who is accused have his accusers present and have liberty to make his answer, to clear himself of the things laid to his charge.

¹⁷When therefore they were come hither, without any delay, on the day following, sitting in the judgment seat, I commanded the man to be brought.

¹⁸Against whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation of this which I thought ill of:

¹⁹But had certain questions of their own superstition against him, and of one Jesus deceased, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

²⁰I therefore being in a doubt of this manner of question, asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem and there be judged of these things.

²¹But Paul, appealing to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept, till I might send him to Caesar.

²²And Agrippa said to Festus: I would also hear the man, myself. To-morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.

²³And on the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice were come with great pomp and had entered into the hall of audience with the tribunes and principal men of the city, at Festus’ commandment, Paul was brought forth.

²⁴And Festus saith: King Agrippa and all ye men who are here present with us, you see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews dealt with me at Jerusalem, requesting and crying out that he ought not to live any longer.

²⁵Yet have I found nothing that he hath committed worthy of death. But forasmuch as he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.

²⁶Of whom I have nothing certain to write to my lord. For which cause, I have brought him forth before you, and especially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, examination being made, I may have what to write.

²⁷For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner and not to signify the things laid to his charge.

Read in Logos

Public Domain