Study Desk

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."