After the passing of a few days, King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to pay official respects to Festus,

"I should like to hear the man myself," said Agrippa to Festus. "Tomorrow you shall hear him," said Festus.

So the next day, Agrippa and Bernice came with splendid pomp and went into the audience-room, attended by the colonels and the leading citizens of the town, and at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.

Then Festus said: "King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you now see this man about whom the whole Jewish nation made suit to me, both in Jerusalem and here, continuously clamoring that he ought not to live any longer.

Yet, I have nothing definite to write our Sovereign about him. So I have brought him before all of you, especially before you, King Agrippa, to get from your examination something to put in writing.

Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speak in defense of yourself." So Paul with outstretched arm began to make his defense.

"I count myself fortunate, King Agrippa," said he, "that it is before you that I can defend myself today against all the charges which the Jews have preferred against me,

Therefore, King Agrippa, I could not disobey that heavenly vision,

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

Then Agrippa answered Paul, "In brief you are trying to persuade me and make a Christian of me!"

Agrippa said to Festus, "He might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed to the emperor."