3. asking a favor—to have Paul sent to Jerusalem, planning an ambush to kill him on the road.
4. Festus then answered that Paul was being guarded at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to go there shortly.
5. “So then,” he said, “let the prominent men among you go down with me; and if there is any wrong in the man, let them accuse him.”
6. After spending not more than eight to ten days with them, he went down to Caesarea. The next day, he sat on the judgment seat and ordered Paul to be brought in.
7. When he arrived, the Judeans who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing against him many serious charges which they could not prove.
8. Paul said in his defense, “I have committed no offense against the Torah of the Jewish people, or against the Temple, or against Caesar.”
9. But Festus, wanting to do the Jewish leaders a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to be tried before me?”
10. But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Judeans, as you very well know.
11. If then I am in the wrong and have committed anything worthy of death, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges, no one can turn me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”
12. Then when Festus had consulted with the council, he responded, “You have appealed to Caesar—to Caesar you shall go!”
13. Now after several days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus.
14. While they were staying there several days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, “There is a man left behind as a prisoner by Felix.
15. When I was in Jerusalem, the ruling kohanim and elders of the Judeans brought charges against him, asking for a judgment against him.
16. I answered them that it is not Roman practice to turn over anyone before the accused meets his accusers face to face and has an opportunity to make his defense concerning the charges.