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

Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem.

2 The chief priest and the leaders of the Jews brought charges against Paul and were urging Festus.

Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him,

3 They asked him as a favor to transfer Paul to Jerusalem, planning an ambush to kill him along the way.

And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.

4 But Festus replied that Paul was being held in custody in Caesarea, and he himself intended to go there shortly.

But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither.

5 He said, 'Therefore, let those who are influential among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about this man, let them bring charges against him.'

Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him.

6 After spending more than ten days among them, Festus went down to Caesarea. The next day, he took his seat on the judgment seat and ordered Paul to be brought in.

And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought.

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

And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.

8 Paul defended himself, saying, 'I have committed no offense against the law of the Jews, the temple, or Caesar.'

While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all.

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

But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?

10 Paul said, 'I am standing before Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you yourself clearly know.'

Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.

11 If I am guilty and have done anything deserving of death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is nothing to their accusations against me, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar.

For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.

12 Then Festus, after conferring with his council, replied, 'You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you will go.'

Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.

13 After several days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus.

And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus.

14 While they were spending many days there, Festus presented Paul’s case to the king, saying, 'There is a man who was left as a prisoner by Felix.'

And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix:

15 When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him, requesting a judgment against him.

About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him.

16 I answered them that it is not the custom of the Romans to hand over anyone before the accused has met their accusers face to face and has had an opportunity to defend himself against the charges.

To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.

17 When they came here, I did not delay, but the next day took my seat at the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought in.

Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth.

18 When the accusers stood up, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected.

Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed:

19 Instead, they had some matters of dispute with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul claimed to be alive.

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

20 Since I was at a loss as to how to investigate these matters, I asked if he was willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding these charges.

And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters.

21 But when Paul appealed to be held for the Emperor’s decision, I ordered him to be kept in custody until I could send him to Caesar.

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

22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, 'I would also like to hear this man myself.' 'You will hear him tomorrow,' Festus replied.

Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.

23 So the next day, Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the audience hall with the military officers and the prominent men of the city. At the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.

And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus' commandment Paul was brought forth.

24 Festus said, 'King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom the entire Jewish population has petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer.'

And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.

25 However, I found that he had done nothing deserving of death. But since he himself has appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.

But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.

26 I have nothing definite to write to His Majesty about him. Therefore, I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after conducting an investigation, I may have something to write.

Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to write.

27 For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner without also specifying the charges against him.

For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him.