Festus Asks King Agrippa for Advice

13 Now after[fn] some days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to welcome Festus. 14 And while they were staying there many days, Festus laid out the case against Paul to the king, saying, “There is a certain man left behind by Felix as a prisoner, 15 concerning whom when[fn] I was in Jerusalem the chief priests and the elders of the Jews presented evidence, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him. 16 To them[fn] I replied that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up any man before the one who had been accused met his[fn] accusers face to face and received an opportunity for a defense concerning the accusation. 17 Therefore, when[fn] they had assembled here, I made[fn] no delay; on the next day I sat down on the judgment seat and[fn] gave orders for the man to be brought. 18 When they[fn] stood up, his[fn] accusers began bringing[fn] no charge concerning him[fn] of the evil deeds that I was suspecting, 19 but they had some issues with him concerning their own religion, and concerning a certain Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul claimed to be alive. 20 And because[fn] I was at a loss with regard to the investigation concerning these things, I asked if he was willing to go to Jerusalem and to be judged there concerning these things. 21 But when[fn] Paul appealed that he be kept under guard for the decision of His Majesty the Emperor, I gave orders for him to be kept under guard until I could send him to Caesar.” 22 So Agrippa said to Festus, “I want to hear the man myself also.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “you will hear him.”

23 So on the next day, Agrippa and Bernice came with great pageantry and entered into the audience hall, along with military tribunes and the most prominent men of the city. And when[fn] Festus gave the order, Paul was brought in. 24 And Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom the whole population of the Jews appealed to me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he must not live any longer. 25 But I understood that he had done nothing deserving death himself, and when[fn] this man appealed to His Majesty the Emperor, I decided to send him.[fn] 26 I do not have anything definite to write to my[fn] lord about him.[fn] Therefore I have brought him before you all[fn]—and especially before you, King Agrippa—so that after[fn] this preliminary hearing has taken place, I may have something to write. 27 For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner and not to indicate the charges against him.”