Acts:24-25

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* And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders , and with a certain orator named Tertullus , who informed the governor against Paul . * And when he was called forth , Tertullus began to accuse him , saying , Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness , and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence , * We accept it always , and in all places , most noble Felix , with all thankfulness . * Notwithstanding , that I be not further tedious unto thee , I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words . * For we have found this man a pestilent fellow , and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world , and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes : * Who also hath gone about to profane the temple : whom we took , and would have judged according to our law . * But the chief captain Lysias came upon us , and with great violence took him away out of our hands , * Commanding his accusers to come unto thee : by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things , whereof we accuse him . * And the Jews also assented , saying that these things were so . * Then Paul , after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak , answered , Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation , I do the more cheerfully answer for myself : * Because that thou mayest understand , that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship . * And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man , neither raising up the people , neither in the synagogues , nor in the city : * Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me . * But this I confess unto thee , that after the way which they call heresy , so worship I the God of my fathers , believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets : * And have hope toward God , which they themselves also allow , that there shall be a resurrection of the dead , both of the just and unjust . * And herein do I exercise myself , to have always a conscience void of offence toward God , and toward men . * Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation , and offerings . * Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple , neither with multitude , nor with tumult . * Who ought to have been here before thee , and object , if they had ought against me . * Or else let these same here say , if they have found any evil doing in me , while I stood before the council , * Except it be for this one voice , that I cried standing among them , Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day . * And when Felix heard these things , having more perfect knowledge of that way , he deferred them , and said , When Lysias the chief captain shall come down , I will know the uttermost of your matter . * And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul , and to let him have liberty , and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him . * And after certain days , when Felix came with his wife Drusilla , which was a Jewess , he sent for Paul , and heard him concerning the faith in Christ . * And as he reasoned of righteousness , temperance , and judgment to come , Felix trembled , and answered , Go thy way for this time ; when I have a convenient season , I will call for thee . * He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul , that he might loose him : wherefore he sent for him the oftener , and communed with him . * But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix ' room : and Felix , willing to shew the Jews a pleasure , left Paul bound . * Now when Festus was come into the province , after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem . * Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul , and besought him , * And desired favour against him , that he would send for him to Jerusalem , laying wait in the way to kill him . * But Festus answered , that Paul should be kept at Caesarea , and that he himself would depart shortly thither . * Let them therefore , said he , which among you are able , go down with me , and accuse this man , if there be any wickedness in him . * And when he had tarried among them more than ten days , he went down unto Caesarea ; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought . * And when he was come , the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about , and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul , which they could not prove . * While he answered for himself , Neither against the law of the Jews , neither against the temple , nor yet against Caesar , have I offended any thing at all . * But Festus , willing to do the Jews a pleasure , answered Paul , and said , Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem , and there be judged of these things before me ? * Then said Paul , I stand at Caesar 's judgment seat , where I ought to be judged : to the Jews have I done no wrong , as thou very well knowest . * For if I be an offender , or have committed any thing worthy of death , I refuse not to die : but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me , no man may deliver me unto them . I appeal unto Caesar . * Then Festus , when he had conferred with the council , answered , Hast thou appealed unto Caesar ? unto Caesar shalt thou go . * And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus . * And when they had been there many days , Festus declared Paul 's cause unto the king , saying , There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix : * About whom , when I was at Jerusalem , the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me , desiring to have judgment against him . * To whom I answered , It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die , before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face , and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him . * Therefore , when they were come hither , without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat , and commanded the man to be brought forth . * Against whom when the accusers stood up , they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed : * But had certain questions against him of their own superstition , and of one Jesus , which was dead , whom Paul affirmed to be alive . * And because I doubted of such manner of questions , I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem , and there be judged of these matters . * But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus , I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar . * Then Agrippa said unto Festus , I would also hear the man myself . To morrow , said he , thou shalt hear him . * And on the morrow , when Agrippa was come , and Bernice , with great pomp , and was entered into the place of hearing , with the chief captains , and principal men of the city , at Festus ' commandment Paul was brought forth . * And Festus said , King Agrippa , and all men which are here present with us , ye see this man , about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me , both at Jerusalem , and also here , crying that he ought not to live any longer . * But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death , and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus , I have determined to send him . * Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord . Wherefore I have brought him forth before you , and specially before thee , O king Agrippa , that , after examination had , I might have somewhat to write . * For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner , and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him . * Then Agrippa said unto Paul , Thou art permitted to speak for thyself . Then Paul stretched forth the hand , and answered for himself :

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