Study Desk

Festus, then, after arriving in ^(C1)the province, went up to Jerusalem from ^(C2)Caesarea three days later.

And the chief priests and the leading men of the Jews ^(C1)brought charges against Paul, and they were pleading with ^(F1)Festus,

requesting a ^(F1)concession against ^(F2)Paul, that he might ^(F3)have him brought to Jerusalem (at the same time, ^(C1)setting an ambush to kill him on the way).

Festus then ^(C1)answered that Paul ^(C2)was being kept in custody in ^(C3)Caesarea, and that he himself was about to leave shortly.

"Therefore," he ^(*)said, "have the influential men among you ^(F1)go there with me, and if there is anything wrong ^(F2)about the man, have them bring charges against him."

After Festus had spent no more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to ^(C1)Caesarea, and on the next day he took his seat on ^(C2)the tribunal and ordered that Paul be brought.

After Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing ^(C1)many, and serious, charges against him ^(C2)which they could not prove,

while Paul said in his own defense, "^(C1)I have not done anything wrong either against the Law of the Jews, or against the temple, or against Caesar."

But Festus, ^(C1)wanting to do the Jews a favor, replied to Paul and said, "^(C2)Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and ^(F1)stand trial before me on these charges?"

But Paul said, "I am standing before Caesar's ^(C1)tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you also very well know.

"If, therefore, I am in the wrong and have committed something deserving death, I am not trying to avoid execution; but if there is nothing to the accusations which these men are bringing against me, no one can hand me over to them. I ^(C1)appeal to Caesar."

Then when Festus had conferred with ^(F1)his council, he answered, "You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you shall go."