First ReadingActs 25:13b-21
From the Acts of the Apostles
13Now when some days had passed,King Agrippaand Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus.14As he stayed there many days,Festus laid Paul’s case before the king,saying, “There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix;15about whom, when I was at Jerusalem,the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me,asking for a sentence against him.16I answered themthat it is not the custom of the Romans to give up any man to destruction before the accused has met the accusers face to faceand has had opportunity to make his defense concerning the matter laid against him.17When therefore they had come together here,I didn’t delay,but on the next day sat on the judgment seatand commanded the man to be brought.18When the accusers stood up,they brought no charges against him of such things as I supposed;19but had certain questions against him about their own religionand about one Jesus,who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.20Being perplexed how to inquire concerning these things,I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalemand there be judged concerning these matters.21But when Paul had appealed to be kept for the decision of the emperor,I commanded him to be kept until I could send him to Caesar.”