Festus Asks King Agrippa for Advice

¹³ Now after^[a] 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^[b] 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^[c] 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^[d] accusers face to face and received an opportunity for a defense concerning the accusation. ¹⁷ Therefore, when^[e] they had assembled here, I made^[f] no delay; on the next day I sat down on the judgment seat and^[g] gave orders for the man to be brought. ¹⁸ When they^[h] stood up, his^[i] accusers began bringing^[j] no charge concerning him^[k] 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^[l] 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^[m] 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.”