Crucial Question

^[1] Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem, ^[2] where the chief priests and the Jewish leaders appeared before him and presented the charges against Paul. ^[3] They requested Festus, as a favor to them, to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem, for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way. ^[4] Festus answered, “Paul is being held at Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon. ^[5] Let some of your leaders come with me, and if the man has done anything wrong, they can press charges against him there.” ^[6] After spending eight or ten days with them, Festus went down to Caesarea. The next day he convened the court and ordered that Paul be brought before him. ^[7] When Paul came in, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him. They brought many serious charges against him, but they could not prove them. ^[8] Then Paul made his defense: “I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.” ^[9] Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?” ^[10] Paul answered: “I am now standing before Caesar’s court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. ^[11] If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!” ^[12] After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!” ^[13] A few days later King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus. ^[14] Since they were spending many days there, Festus discussed Paul’s case with the king. He said: “There is a man here whom Felix left as a prisoner. ^[15] When I went to Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him and asked that he be condemned. ^[16] “I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand over anyone before they have faced their accusers and have had an opportunity to defend themselves against the charges. ^[17] When they came here with me, I did not delay the case, but convened the court the next day and ordered the man to be brought in. ^[18] When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. ^[19] Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive. ^[20] I was at a loss how to investigate such matters; so I asked if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial there on these charges. ^[21] But when Paul made his appeal to be held over for the Emperor’s decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar.” ^[22] Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man myself.” He replied, “Tomorrow you will hear him.” Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.