1. Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.
2. Then the high priest and the principal men of the Judeans informed him against Paul, and they begged him,
3. asking a favour against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem; plotting to kill him on the way.
4. However Festus answered that Paul should be kept in custody at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to depart shortly.
5. “Let them therefore”, he said, “that are in power amongst you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong in the man, let them accuse him.”
6. When he had stayed amongst them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea, and on the next day he sat on the judgement seat, and commanded Paul to be brought.
7. When he had come, the Judeans who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing against him many and grievous charges which they could not prove,
8. while he said in his defence, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I sinned at all.”
9. But Festus, desiring to gain favour with the Judeans, answered Paul and said, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem, and be judged by me there concerning these things?”