Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

When Festus arrived in the province, he traveled from Caesarea to Jerusalem three days later. The high priest and the chief of the Jews informed Festus against Paul, beseeching him to send him to Jerusalem.

Festus was eager to gain favor with the Jews and asked that they take Paul to Jerusalem where a plot to kill him was already in place. However, he replied that Paul should be kept in Caesarea, while he himself would soon depart for there. He suggested that those who were able among them accompany him to Caesarea, so that if any wrongdoing had been committed by Paul, they could accuse him.

After staying with the Jews for more than ten days, Festus traveled down to Caesarea and the next day, sitting on the judgment seat, he ordered Paul to be brought before him. When Paul arrived, a large group of Jews who had come from Jerusalem surrounded him, presenting numerous serious charges that they couldn't substantiate.

Paul defended himself, stating that in no way had he offended against the law of the Jews, the temple, or Caesar's authority. Festus, eager to please the Jews, asked Paul if he was willing to go up to Jerusalem and be tried on these charges before him. Paul replied that he stood at Caesar's judgment seat, where he rightfully belonged; he had done nothing wrong against the Jews, as they were well aware.

Paul maintained that if he had committed any offense worthy of death, he refused to escape punishment; but if there was no basis for these accusations, no one had the right to hand him over to them. He appealed to Caesar, saying, "I refuse to be tried by you, Festus."

Festus consulted with the council and replied, "You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you will go." After a few days, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea on a courtesy visit to Festus.

When they had been there for many days, Festus discussed Paul's case with the king. He said that a certain man was still under house arrest by Felix, about whom the chief priests and elders of the Jews had informed him while he was at Jerusalem, asking for judgment against him.

Festus explained to Agrippa that it was not customary for Romans to hand anyone over for execution without allowing them to face their accusers first. When the accusers arrived in Caesarea, Festus sat on the judgment seat the next day and ordered Paul to be brought before him.

The Jews presented their charges, but Festus found that they had no valid accusations against Paul. Instead, they had questions based on their own superstitions about Jesus, who was dead according to them, but whom Paul claimed to be alive. Since Festus was uncertain about these matters, he asked Paul if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem and face judgment.

Paul had already appealed to be reserved until his case could be heard by Caesar, so Festus ordered him kept in custody until a decision could be made. Agrippa then expressed interest in hearing the man himself, and Festus agreed that Agrippa could hear Paul's case the next day.

The following day, King Agrippa arrived with Bernice, accompanied by great pomp, and entered the courtroom along with the chief captains and prominent citizens of the city at Festus' command. When Festus began to make his statement, he asked Paul to be brought forth.

Festus had found that Paul was innocent of any crime worthy of death and had appealed to Caesar. He decided to send Paul to Rome, accompanied by a letter detailing the charges against him. Since Festus didn't have any specific information about these charges, he brought Paul before King Agrippa so that after examination, he could write a more detailed report.

It seemed unreasonable to send an accused person without specifying the charges against them, Festus thought.