⁷ Jason has ^[a]harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, ^(A)saying there is another king—Jesus.”

² And they began to ^(A)accuse Him, saying, “We found this fellow ^(B)perverting ^[a]the nation, and ^(C)forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying ^(D)that He Himself is Christ, a King.”

²¹ and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.”

¹² From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s friend. ^(A)Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.”

¹⁵ For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men—

⁸ while he answered for himself, ^(A)“Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I offended in anything at all.”

⁹ But Festus, ^(B)wanting to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, ^(C)“Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and there be judged before me concerning these things?”

¹⁰ So Paul said, “I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you very well know. ^11 (D)For if I am an offender, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying; but if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. ^(E)I appeal to Caesar.”

¹³ So they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, ^(A)who is ^[a]one of the captives from Judah, ^(B)does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”

^12 (A)There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have ^(B)not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.”