¹⁶ But I replied to them that it was not the custom of the Romans to ^[a]give up freely any man for punishment before the accused had met the accusers face to face and had opportunity to defend himself concerning the charge brought against him.

¹⁷ So when they came here together, I did not delay, but on the morrow took my place on the judgment seat and ordered that the man be brought before me.

¹⁸ [But] when the accusers stood up, they brought forward no accusation [in his case] of any such misconduct as I was expecting.