Acts 25:6-17

6When 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.

7When 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.

8Then Paul made his defense: “Neither against the Jewish law, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I sinned in any way.”

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

10Paul 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.

11If 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!”

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

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.

16I answered them that it is not the Roman custom to give someone up before the accused faces the accusers and has an opportunity for a defense against the charges.

17So 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.