¹ When Festus, having entered upon his government, after three days went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem. ² And the chief priest and first men of the Jews informed him against Paul, ³ and, asking a favor against him, besought him that he would send and have him brought to Jerusalem, laying a plot to kill him on the road. ⁴ Then Festus answered, that Paul was under guard in Caesarea, and that he himself would soon depart thither. ⁵ Therefore, said he, let those among you who are men of influence, go down with me, and accuse this man, if there is any wickedness in him.

⁶ And he remained among them not more than eight or ten days, and then went down to Caesarea And, on the next day, he sat upon the judgment-seat, and commanded Paul to be brought. ⁷ And when he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around, and brought many and heavy accusations against Paul, which they were not able to prove, ⁸ he answering for himself: Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I committed any offense.

⁹ But Festus, willing to confer a favor on the Jews, answered Paul, and said: Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged before me concerning these things?

¹⁰ And Paul answered: I am standing at the judgment-seat of Caesar, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you very well know. ¹¹ If, however, I be an offender, and have done any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die. But if the things of which these men accuse me are nothing, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar.

¹² Then Festus, after conferring with the council, answered: To Caesar have you appealed? To Caesar you shall go.