Acts 25:1-12

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

2There the ruling kohanim and the leading Judeans brought charges against Paul. They were urging him,

3asking a favor—to have Paul sent to Jerusalem, planning an ambush to kill him on the road.

4Festus then answered that Paul was being guarded at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to go there shortly.

5“So then,” he said, “let the prominent men among you go down with me; and if there is any wrong in the man, let them accuse him.”

6After spending not more than eight to ten days with them, he went down to Caesarea. The next day, he sat on the judgment seat and ordered Paul to be brought in.

7When he arrived, the Judeans who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing against him many serious charges which they could not prove.

8Paul said in his defense, “I have committed no offense against the Torah of the Jewish people, or against the Temple, or against Caesar.”

9But Festus, wanting to do the Jewish leaders a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to be tried before me?”

10But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Judeans, as you very well know.

11If then I am in the wrong and have committed anything worthy of death, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges, no one can turn me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”

12Then when Festus had consulted with the council, he responded, “You have appealed to Caesar—to Caesar you shall go!”