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)

¹⁶ At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.^(A)

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

Paul Sails for Rome

27 When it was decided that we^(C) would sail for Italy,^(D) Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperial Regiment.^(E)

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!”^(B)

The Birth of Jesus

2 In those days Caesar Augustus^(A) issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.^(B)