Acts 25:1-12

1Now three days after Festus arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.

2So the chief priests and the most prominent men of the Jews brought formal charges against Paul to him.

3Requesting him to do them a favor against Paul, they urged Festus to summon him to Jerusalem, planning an ambush to kill him along the way.

4Then Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea, and he himself intended to go there shortly.

5“So,” he said, “let your leaders go down there with me, and if this man has done anything wrong, they may bring charges against him.”

6After Festus had stayed not more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea, and the next day he sat on the judgment seat and ordered Paul to be brought.

7When he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges that they were not able to prove.

8Paul said in his defense, “I have committed no offense against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.”

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

10Paul replied, “I am standing before Caesar’s judgment seat, where I should be tried. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you also know very well.

11If then I am in the wrong and have done anything that deserves death, I am not trying to escape dying, but if not one of their charges against me is true, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”

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