¹² But before all this ^(A)they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to ^(B)the synagogues and ^(C)prisons, and you ^(D)will be brought before ^(E)kings and ^(F)governors for my name's sake.

Suffering as a Christian

¹² Beloved, do not be surprised at ^(A)the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³ But rejoice ^(B)insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad ^(C)when his glory is revealed. ^14 (D)If you are insulted ^(E)for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory^[a] and of God rests upon you.

Submission to Authority

^13 (A)Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution,^[a] whether it be to the emperor^[b] as supreme,

^15 (A)who killed both the Lord Jesus and ^(B)the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and ^(C)oppose all mankind ^16 (D)by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always ^(E)to fill up the measure of their sins. But ^(F)wrath has come upon them at last!^[a]

² “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today ^(A)against all the accusations of the Jews, ³ especially because you are familiar with all the ^(B)customs and ^(C)controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.

^4 (D)“My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among ^(E)my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. ⁵ They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that ^(F)according to the strictest ^(G)party of our ^(H)religion I have lived as ^(I)a Pharisee. ⁶ And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in ^(J)the promise made by God to our fathers, ^7 (K)to which ^(L)our twelve tribes hope to ^(M)attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope ^(N)I am accused by Jews, O king! ⁸ Why is it thought ^(O)incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?

^9 (P)“I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of ^(Q)Jesus of Nazareth. ^10 (R)And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority ^(S)from the chief priests, but ^(T)when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. ¹¹ And ^(U)I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them ^(V)blaspheme, and ^(W)in raging fury against them I ^(X)persecuted them even to foreign cities.

²² Then ^(A)Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” said he, “you will hear him.”

²³ So on the next day ^(B)Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. ²⁴ And Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom ^(C)the whole Jewish people petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, ^(D)shouting that he ought not to live any longer. ²⁵ But I found that ^(E)he had done nothing deserving death. And ^(F)as he himself appealed to ^(G)the emperor, I decided to go ahead and send him.

¹¹ If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. ^(A)I appeal to Caesar.” ¹² Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.”

Paul Appeals to Caesar

25 Now three days after Festus had arrived in ^(A)the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. ² And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews ^(B)laid out their case against Paul, and they urged him,

Paul Before Felix at Caesarea

24 And ^(A)after five days the high priest ^(B)Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before ^(C)the governor their case against Paul. ² And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying:

“Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, ^(D)most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation, ³ in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude. ⁴ But, to detain^[a] you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. ⁵ For we have found this man a plague, ^(E)one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of ^(F)the sect of the Nazarenes. ^6 (G)He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him.^{[b] 8} By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him.”

⁹ The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so.