Father Mike Schmitz

But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem, and there be tried in these charges before me?

But Paul said, I am standing before Caesar's tribunal, where I ought to be tried.

To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you know very well.

If then I am a wrongdoer, and I have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death.

But if there is nothing in their charges against me, no one can give me up to them.

I appeal to Caesar.

Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, You have appealed to Caesar.

To Caesar you shall go.

Festus consults King Agrippa.

Now, when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to welcome Festus.

And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king, saying, There is a man left prisoner by Felix.

And when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews gave information about him, asking for sentence against him.

I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone before the accused met the accusers face to face, and had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charges laid against him.

When therefore they came together here, I made no delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought in.

When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed, but they had certain points of dispute with him about their own superstition and about one Jesus who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive."

Being at a loss how to investigate these questions, I asked whether he wished to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding them.

But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be held until I could send him to Caesar.

And Agrippa said to Festus, I should like to hear the man myself.

Tomorrow, said he, you shall hear him.

Paul is brought before Agrippa.