Great to have you back again! Let’s find out what happens next in our story, as Paul awaits for another chance to defend himself against the Jewish people who accuse him of teaching against the law of Moses, and defiling the Temple.

          When Festus arrived in the province, after three days he went to Jerusalem. The high priest and the chief of the Jewish people there informed him against Paul. They begged Festus, and asked for no compassion on Paul, so that Festus would send for him to be brought to Jerusalem, planning to wait in the way to kill him. But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Cæsarea, and that he himself would go back there shortly. He said, Whoever among you are able, let them go with me, and accuse this man, whether there be any wickedness in him.

          After more than ten days, Festus went back to Cæsarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought. The Jewish people who came from Jerusalem stood all around, and charged many grievous complaints against Paul, which they couldn’t prove. Paul answered for himself, Neither against the Jewish law, or against the Temple, or even against Cæsar, have I offended any thing at all.

          But Festus, willing to please the Jewish people, answered Paul, and said, Will you go to Jerusalem, and be judged there of these things before me? (It seems that many leaders in governments are too willing to please the people rather than God, doesn’t it?) Paul said, I stand at Cæsar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jewish people, I’ve done no wrong as you very well know. If I’m an offender, or have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die: but if none of these things are true that they accuse me of, no man can make me responsible for them. I appeal to Cæsar. (Cæsar was the Emperor of Rome, so Paul was saying, I want to take my case to the highest court for hearing.)

          Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Have you appealed to Cæsar? Then to Cæsar you shall go. And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came to Cæsarea to greet Festus, and when they had been there many days, Festus told king Agrippa about Paul, saying, There’s a certain man left in prison by Felix. When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jewish people informed me about him, wanting me to judge against him. I answered, It isn’t the manner of the Romans to sentence any man to die, before the accused has his accusers face to face, and has opportunity to answer for himself concerning the crime charged against him. So, when the accusers came here, without any delay, the next day I sat on the judgment seat, and ordered the man to be brought. When the accusers stood up, they brought up no accusations of such things as I expected, But had certain questions against him of their own religion, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul claimed to be alive. And because I was uncertain about these kinds of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and be judged there of these matters. But when Paul appealed to be held to the hearing of Cæsar Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Cæsar.

          King Agrippa said to Festus, I’d like to hear the man myself. Festus replied, Tomorrow, you shall hear him. The next day, when king Agrippa arrived, and Bernice, with great ceremony, and entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, Paul was brought forth at Festus' commandment. Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, you see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jewish people have informed me, both in Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought to die. But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself has appealed to Augustus, I’ve decided to send him. I have no specific thing to write to my lord, Cæsar Augustus. That’s why I’ve brought him before you, O king Agrippa, that after questioning him, I might have something to write, because it seems unreasonable to me, to send a prisoner, and not to specify the crimes charged against him.

          It looks like we have to wait again to see what’s going to become of these accusations and the fate of Paul. You know one thing for sure . . . Paul is going to Rome just as the Holy Spirit said he would. In the next chapter we’ll get to hear Paul’s testimony before king Agrippa, so come on back soon and enjoy another slice of Daily Bread.