8. In defending himself Paul said, “I have committed no crime either against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.”
9. Then Festus, wishing to ingratiate himself with the Jews, said to Paul in reply, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and there stand trial before me on these charges?”
10. Paul answered, “I am standing before the tribunal of Caesar; this is where I should be tried. I have committed no crime against the Jews, as you very well know.
11. If I have committed a crime or done anything deserving death, I do not seek to escape the death penalty; but if there is no substance to the charges they are bringing against me, then no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar.”
12. Then Festus, after conferring with his council, replied, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go.”
13. When a few days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea on a visit to Festus.
14. Since they spent several days there, Festus referred Paul’s case to the king, saying, “There is a man here left in custody by Felix.
15. When I was in Jerusalem the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him and demanded his condemnation.
16. I answered them that it was not Roman practice to hand over an accused person before he has faced his accusers and had the opportunity to defend himself against their charge.