s,
asked whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these
matters. But when Paul had appealed to be kept for the decision of the
emperor, I commanded him to be kept till I should send him to Caesar."

And Agrippa said unto Festus, "I also could wish to hear the man
myself." "To-morrow," saith he, "thou shalt hear him."

So on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp,
and they were entered into the audience room, with the chief captains,
and the principal men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul was
brought in. And Festus said, "King Agrippa, and all men who are here.
present with us, ye behold this man, about whom all the {457} multitude
of the Jews made suit to me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying that he
ought not to live any longer. But I found that he had committed nothing
worthy of death: and as he himself appealed to the emperor I determined
to send him. Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord.
Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before
thee, King Agrippa, that, after examination, I may have something to
write. For it seemeth to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to
signify the charges against him."

And Agrippa said to Paul, "Thou art permitted to speak for thyself."

Then Paul stretched forth his hand, and made his defense:--

"I think myself happy, King Agrippa, that I am to make my defense before
thee this day touching all the things whereof I am accused by the Jews:
especially because thou art expert in all customs and questions which
are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently. My
manner of life then from my youth up, which was from the beginning among
mine own nation, and at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; having knowledge
of me from the first, if they are willing to testify, how that after the
straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. And now I stand here
to be judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers;
unto which promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and
day, hope to attain. And concerning this hope I am accused by the Jews,
O king! Why is it judged incredible with you, if {458} God doth raise
the dead? I verily thought myself, that I ought to do many things
contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And this I also did in
Jerusalem: and I both shut up many of the saints in prisons, having
received authority from the chief priests, and when t