Paul Appeals to Agrippa to Believe

²⁴ While he was making this defense, Festus exclaimed, “You are out of your mind, Paul! Too much learning is driving you insane!”^{(A) 25} But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking the sober truth.^{(B) 26} Indeed, the king knows about these things, and to him I speak freely, for I am certain that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this was not done in a corner. ²⁷ King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” ²⁸ Agrippa said to Paul, “Are you so quickly persuading me to become a Christian?”^{(C) 29} Paul replied, “Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that not only you but also all who are listening to me today might become such as I am—except for these chains.”^(D)

³⁰ Then the king got up and with him the governor and Bernice and those who had been seated with them, ³¹ and as they were leaving they said to one another, “This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.”^{(E) 32} Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to the emperor.”^(F)