Paul before Agrippa and Bernice

The next day Agrippa and Bernice enter with great pomp, joined by commanders and leading men, and Festus brings Paul into the auditorium before them all. Addressing the assembly, Festus says the Jews have pressed for Paul’s death though he has found nothing worthy of it, and explains that he hopes this inquiry will help him write some clear charge before sending a prisoner on to the Emperor.

T²³he next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the auditorium, along with the commanders and leading men of the city. And Festus ordered that Paul be brought in. ²⁴Then Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man. The whole Jewish community has petitioned me about him, both here and in Jerusalem, crying out that he ought not to live any longer. ²⁵But I found he had done nothing worthy of death, and since he has now appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him. ²⁶I have nothing definite to write to our sovereign about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after this inquiry I may have something to write. ²⁷For it seems unreasonable to me to send on a prisoner without specifying the charges against him.”