¹⁰ Paul answered: “I am now standing before Caesar’s court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews,^(A) as you yourself know very well.

¹¹ If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”^(A)

²¹ But when Paul made his appeal to be held over for the Emperor’s decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar.”^(A)

²² Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man myself.”

He replied, “Tomorrow you will hear him.”^(B)

Paul Before Agrippa^(C)

²³ The next day Agrippa and Bernice^(D) came with great pomp and entered the audience room with the high-ranking military officers and the prominent men of the city. At the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. ²⁴ Festus said: “King Agrippa, and all who are present with us, you see this man! The whole Jewish community^(E) has petitioned me about him in Jerusalem and here in Caesarea, shouting that he ought not to live any longer.^{(F) 25} I found he had done nothing deserving of death,^(G) but because he made his appeal to the Emperor^(H) I decided to send him to Rome. ²⁶ But 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 as a result of this investigation I may have something to write. ²⁷ For I think it is unreasonable to send a prisoner on to Rome without specifying the charges against him.”

³² Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free^(A) if he had not appealed to Caesar.”^(B)

¹⁹ The Jews objected, so I was compelled to make an appeal to Caesar.^(A) I certainly did not intend to bring any charge against my own people.