| 1 | Now when Festus had come into his province, after three days he went up to Jerusalem from Caesare'a. |
| 2 | And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul; and they urged him, |
| 3 | asking as a favor to have the man sent to Jerusalem, planning an ambush to kill him on the way. |
| 4 | Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesare'a, and that he himself intended to go there shortly. |
| 5 | "So," said he, "let the men of authority among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them accuse him." |
| 6 | When he had stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesare'a; and the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought. |
| 7 | And when he had come, the Jews who had gone down from Jerusalem stood about him, bringing against him many serious charges which they could not prove. |
| 8 | Paul said in his defense, "Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I offended at all." |
| 9 | But 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?" |
| 10 | But 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 know very well. |
| 11 | If 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 in their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar." |
| 12 | Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, "You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you shall go." |