Paul before Festus

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

⁴ Festus then ^(A)answered that Paul ^(B)was being kept in custody in ^(C)Caesarea, and that he himself was about to leave shortly.

⁹ But Festus, ^(A)wanting to do the Jews a favor, replied to Paul and said, “^(B)Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and ^[a]stand trial before me on these charges?”

¹² Then when Festus had conferred with ^[a]his council, he answered, “You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you shall go.”

²⁴ While ^[a]Paul was stating these things in his defense, Festus *said in a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind! ^[b]Your great ^(A)learning is ^[c]driving you insane.” ²⁵ But Paul *said, “I am not insane, ^(B)most excellent Festus; on the contrary, I am speaking out with ^[d]truthful and rational words. ²⁶ For the king ^[e](C)knows about these matters, and I also speak to him with confidence, since I am persuaded that none of these things escape his notice; for this has not been done in a ^[f]corner. ²⁷ King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you believe.” ²⁸ Agrippa replied to Paul, “^[g]In a short time you are going to persuade me to ^[h]make a ^(D)Christian of myself.” ²⁹ And Paul said, “I would ^[i]wish to God that even ^[j]in a short or long time not only you, but also all who hear me this day would become such as I myself am, except for these ^(E)chains.”

^30 (F)The king stood up and the governor and Bernice, and those who were sitting with them, ³¹ and when they had gone out, they began talking to one another, saying, “^(G)This man is not doing anything deserving death or ^[k]imprisonment.” ³² And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been ^(H)set free if he had not ^(I)appealed to Caesar.”