Acts 25:13-27 - Festus Asks King Agrippa For Advice
13 A short time after this King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus. 14 And while they tarried many days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king. "There is a man here," he said, "whom Felix left a prisoner. 15 "The chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me about him, when I was at Jerusalem, demanding a sentence against him. 16 I told them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give any man up for punishment, before the accused had his accusers face to face, and had opportunity of defending himself against the charges that had been brought against him. 17 "So when a number of them came together here, I made no delay, but the next day took my seat in the tribunal, and commanded the man to be brought. 18 "But when his accusers stood up, they did not begin charging him with any of the crimes that I was expecting, 19 but they kept quarreling with him about certain matters connected with their own religion, and about one Jesus who had died, but whom Paul affirmed over and over was alive. 20 I was perplexed how to investigate such questions, and asked Paul whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters. 21 But when Paul appealed to have his case reviewed for the decision of the Emperor, I ordered him to be detained until I could send him up to Caesar."
22 "I should like to hear the man, myself," said Agrippa to Festus. Festus answered, "You shall hear him tomorrow."
23 So the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and took their places in the hall of audience, accompanied by the tribunes and men of high rank in the city. At the command of Festus Paul was brought in. 24 "King Agrippa," said Festus, "and all men who are present with us, you see here the man about whom the entire body of the Jews at Jerusalem, and here also, sent to me, crying out that he ought not to live any longer. 25 "I could not find that he had done anything for which he ought to die; but as he himself has appealed to the Emperor, I have determined to send him. 26 "Now I have nothing very definite to tell our sovereign about him. So I have brought the man before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, in order that, after examination, I may have something to write. 27 "For it does seem to me unreasonable to send a person without signifying the charges against him."