Now [after] some days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to welcome Festus.

So Agrippa [said] to Festus, "I want to hear the man myself also." "Tomorrow," he said, "you will hear him."

So on the next day, Agrippa and Bernice came with great pageantry and entered into the audience hall, along with military tribunes and the most prominent men of the city. And [when] Festus gave the order, Paul was brought in.

And Festus said, "King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom the whole population of the Jews appealed to me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting [that] he must not live any longer.

I do not have anything definite to write to [my] lord about {him}. Therefore I have brought him before you [all]--and especially before you, King Agrippa--so that [after] this preliminary hearing has taken place, I may have something to write.

So Agrippa said to Paul, "It is permitted for you to speak for yourself." Then Paul extended [his] hand [and] began to defend himself:

"Concerning all [the things] of which I am accused by the Jews, King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate [that] before you I am about to defend myself today,

"Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,

Do you believe the prophets, King Agrippa? I know that you believe."

But Agrippa [said] to Paul, "In a short time are you persuading me to become a Christian?"

And Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar."