Acts 25:5-18
English Standard Version
6After he stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought.
7When he had arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him that they could not prove.
8Paul argued in his defense, "Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I committed any offense."
9But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, "Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and there be tried on these charges before me?"
10But Paul said, "I am standing before Caesar 's tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well.
11If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar."
12Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, "To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go."
13Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus.
14And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul 's case before the king, saying, "There is a man left prisoner by Felix,
15and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews laid out their case against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him.
16I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone before the accused met the accusers face to face and had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against him.
17So when they came together here, I made no delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought.
18When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed.
