17 When they came here, then, I lost no time, but on the very next day I sat in the court and ordered the man to be brought in.
18 His opponents stood up, but they did not accuse him of any of the evil crimes that I thought they would.
19 All they had were some arguments with him about their own religion and about a man named Jesus, who has died; but Paul claims that he is alive.
20 I was undecided about how I could get information on these matters, so I asked Paul if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried there on these charges.
21 But Paul appealed; he asked to be kept under guard and to let the Emperor decide his case. So I gave orders for him to be kept under guard until I could send him to the Emperor.”
22 Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man myself.”“You will hear him tomorrow,” Festus answered.
23 The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and ceremony and entered the audience hall with the military chiefs and the leading men of the city. Festus gave the order, and Paul was brought in.