2 Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him,
3 And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.
4 But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither.
5 Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him.
6 And
when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto
Caesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul
to be brought.
7 And
when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round
about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they
could not prove.
8 While
he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither
against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at
all.
9 But
Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said,
Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before
me?
10 Then
said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be
judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.
11 For
if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I
refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these
accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.
12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.
13 And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus.
14 And
when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto
the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix: 15 About
whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the
Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him.
16 To
whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man
to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face,
and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against
him.
17 Therefore,
when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on
the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth. 18 Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed: 19 But
had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one
Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
20 And
because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he
would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters.
21 But
when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I
commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar.
22 Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself.
To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.
***
23 And
on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and
was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and
principal men of the city, at Festus' commandment Paul was brought
forth.
24 And
Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us,
ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt
with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought not to
live any longer.
25 But
when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he
himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.
26 Of
whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have
brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, O king Agrippa,
that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to write.
27 For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him.
Acts 26
Then
Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself.
Then
Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:
2 I
think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself
this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the
Jews:
3 Especially
because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are
among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.
4 My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;
5 Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God, unto our fathers:
7 Unto
which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night,
hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the
Jews.
8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?
9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
10 Which
thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in
prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they
were put to death, I gave my voice against them.
11 And
I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to
blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them
even unto strange cities.
12 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
13 At
midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the
brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed
with me.
14 And
when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me,
and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?
it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord?
And He said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
16 But
rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this
purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things
which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear
unto thee;
17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
18 To
open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the
power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and
inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Me.
19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
20 But
shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout
all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should
repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
21 For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.
22 Having
therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing
both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the
prophets and Moses did say should come:
23 That
Christ should suffer, and that He should be the first that should rise
from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the
Gentiles.
24 And
as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou
art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
26 For
the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I
am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this
thing was not done in a corner.
27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
29 And
Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear
me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these
bonds.
30 And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:
31 And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.
32 Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.
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