²² Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man myself.”

He replied, “Tomorrow you will hear him.”^(A)

Paul Before Agrippa^(B)

²³ The next day Agrippa and Bernice^(C) came with great pomp and entered the audience room with the high-ranking military officers and the prominent men of the city. At the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. ²⁴ Festus said: “King Agrippa, and all who are present with us, you see this man! The whole Jewish community^(D) has petitioned me about him in Jerusalem and here in Caesarea, shouting that he ought not to live any longer.^{(E) 25} I found he had done nothing deserving of death,^(F) but because he made his appeal to the Emperor^(G) I decided to send him to Rome. ²⁶ But I have nothing definite to write to His Majesty about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that as a result of this investigation I may have something to write. ²⁷ For I think it is unreasonable to send a prisoner on to Rome without specifying the charges against him.”

26 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.”^(H)

So Paul motioned with his hand^(I) and began his defense:

³² Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free^(A) if he had not appealed to Caesar.”^(B)

¹⁷ But the Lord stood at my side^(A) and gave me strength,^(B) so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.^(C) And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.^(D)