Agrippa

After several days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice came down to Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus.

Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man myself.” “Tomorrow you will hear him,” Festus declared.

The 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.

Then 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.

I 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.

Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense:

“King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today to defend myself against all the accusations of the Jews,

the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. It is because of this hope, O king, that I am accused by the Jews.

So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.

King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”

Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Can you persuade me in such a short time to become a Christian?”

And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”