Acts 25:1-12 - Paul Appeals To Caesar
1 Three days after arriving in the province Festus ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem. 2 The high priest and Jewish leaders brought charges against Paul. 3 They desired favor against him that he would transfer him to Jerusalem. Then they would ambush him along the way and kill him. 4 But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he would go there shortly. 5 He said: Let those who have authority among you go there with me to present your case against this man if there is anything out of the way about the man.
6 After he stayed there more than ten days, he went to Caesarea. The next day he sat in judgment. He commanded Paul be brought before him. 7 When he arrived the Jews who also came there from Jerusalem presented many grievous complaints against Paul. They could not prove them. 8 Paul defended himself: Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I committed any sin.
9 Festus was willing to do the Jews a favor, so he answered Paul: Will you go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?
10 I stand at Caesar's court, Paul replied, where I ought to be judged. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you are finding out. 11 If I am a wrongdoer, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if charges brought against me by the Jews are not true no man has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar.
12 Then Festus conferred with his council and answered: Have you appealed to Caesar? To Caesar you shall go.