A short time after this, Agrippa the king and Bernice came to Caesarea to pay a complimentary visit to Festus;

"I should like to hear the man myself," said Agrippa. "to-morrow," replied Festus, "you shall." Accordingly, the next day, Agrippa and Bernice came in state

Then Festus said, "King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see here the man about whom the whole nation of the Jews made suit to me, both in Jerusalem and here, crying out that he ought not to live any longer.

I have nothing very definite, however, to tell our Sovereign about him. So I have brought the man before you all--and especially before you, King Agrippa--that after he has been examined I may find something which I can put into writing.

Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speak about yourself." So Paul, with outstretched arm, proceeded to make his defence.

"As regards all the accusations brought against me by the Jews," he said, "I think myself fortunate, King Agrippa, in being about to defend myself to-day before you,

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

King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you believe them."

Agrippa answered, "In brief, you are doing your best to persuade me to become a Christian."

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