Acts 25:1-12 - Paul Appeals To Caesar

¹ When Festus was come into the province, after three days, he ascended from Caesarea unto Jerusalem. ² Then informed him the high priests, and the chief of the Jews, of Paul. And they besought him, ³ and desired favour against him that he would send for him to Jerusalem, and laid wait for him in the way to kill him. ⁴ Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea: but that he himself would shortly depart thither. ⁵ "Let them therefore," said he, "which among you are able to do it come down with us and accuse him, if there be any fault in the man."

⁶ When he had tarried there more than ten days he departed unto Caesarea, and the next day sat down in the judgment seat, and commanded Paul to be brought. ⁷ When he was come, the Jews which were come from Jerusalem came about him and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul: which they could not prove ⁸ as long as he answered for himself, that he had neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar offended anything at all.

⁹ Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, "Wilt thou go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?"

¹⁰ Then said Paul, "I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews have I no harm done, as thou verily well knowest. ¹¹ If I have hurt them, or committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die. If none of these things are, whereof they accuse me, no man ought to deliver me to them. I appeal unto Caesar."

¹² Then spake Festus with deliberation, and answered, "Thou hast appealed unto Caesar: unto Caesar shalt thou go."