Some days had passed, when king Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus.

"I should like to hear the man myself," said Agrippa to Festus. "You shall hear him to-morrow," said Festus.

So next day Agrippa and Bernice proceeded with great pomp to the hall of audience, accompanied by the military commanders and the prominent civilians of the town. Festus then ordered Paul to be brought in.

"King Agrippa and all here present," said Festus, "you see before you a man of whom the entire body of the Jews at Jerusalem and also here have complained to me. They loudly insist he ought not to live any longer.

Only, I have nothing definite to write to the sovereign about him. So I have brought him up before you all, and especially before you, O king Agrippa, in order that I may have something to write as the result of your cross-examination.

Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You have our permission to speak upon your own behalf." At this Paul stretched out his hand and began his defence.

"I consider myself fortunate, king Agrippa, in being able to defend myself to-day before you against all that the Jews charge me with;

Upon this, O king Agrippa, I did not disobey the heavenly vision;

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

"At this rate," Agrippa remarked, "it won't be long before you believe you have made a Christian of me!"

"He might have been released," said Agrippa to Festus, "if he had not appealed to Caesar."