Paul Appeals to Caesar

25 Now when[fn] Festus set foot in the province, after three days he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. 2 And the chief priests and the most prominent men of the Jews brought charges against Paul to him, and were urging him, 3 asking for a favor against him, that he summon him to Jerusalem, because they[fn] were preparing an ambush to do away with him along the way. 4 Then Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea, and he himself was about to go there[fn] in a short time. 5 So he said, “Let those among you who are prominent go down with me,[fn] and[fn] if there is any wrong in the man, let them bring charges against him.”

6 And after he[fn] had stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. On the next day he sat down on the judgment seat and[fn] gave orders for Paul to be brought. 7 And when[fn] he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges that they were not able to prove, 8 while[fn] Paul said in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews nor against the temple nor against Caesar have I sinned with reference to anything!” 9 But Festus, because he[fn] wanted to do a favor for the Jews, answered and[fn] said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to be tried before me there concerning these things?” 10 But Paul said, “I am standing before the judgment seat of Caesar, where it is necessary for me to be judged. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also know very well. 11 If then I am doing wrong[fn] and have done anything deserving death, I am not trying to avoid[fn] dying. But if there is nothing true of the things which these people are accusing me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!” 12 Then Festus, after[fn] discussing this[fn] with his[fn] council, replied, “You have appealed to Caesar—to Caesar you will go!”