1 NOW WHEN Festus had entered into his own province, after three days he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem. 2 And [there] the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews laid charges before him against Paul, and they kept begging and urging him, 3 Asking as a favor that he would have him brought to Jerusalem; [meanwhile] they were planning an ambush to slay him on the way. 4 Festus answered that Paul was in custody in Caesarea and that he himself planned to leave for there soon. 5 So, said he, let those who are in a position of authority and are influential among you go down with me, and if there is anything amiss or criminal about the man, let them so charge him.
6 So when Festus had remained among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea, took his seat the next day on the judgment bench, and ordered Paul to be brought before him. 7 And when he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood all around him, bringing many grave accusations against him which they were not able to prove. 8 Paul declared in [his own] defense, Neither against the Law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I offended in any way. 9 But Festus, wishing to ingratiate himself with the Jews, answered Paul, Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and there be put on trial [ 1 before the Jewish Sanhedrin] in my presence concerning these charges? 10 But Paul replied, I am standing before Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you know 2 better [than your question implies]. 11 If then I am a wrongdoer and a criminal and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not beg off and seek to escape death; but if there is no ground for their accusations against me, no one can give me up and make a present of me [ 3 give me up freely] to them. I appeal to Caesar. 12 Then Festus, when he had consulted with the [ 4 men who formed his] council, answered, You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you shall go.