Acts 25:5

When it was determined that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners to a centurion named Julius, of the Augustan band.

But when two years were fulfilled, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and desiring to gain favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul in bonds.

I found him to be accused about questions of their law, but not to be charged with anything worthy of death or of imprisonment.

When the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. When he understood that he was from Cilicia, he said,

Then the princes and all the people said to the priests and to the prophets: “This man is not worthy of death; for he has spoken to us in the name of Yahweh our God.”

Moreover Jeremiah said to king Zedekiah, “How have I sinned against you, against your servants, or against this people, that you have put me in prison?

Pilate said to the chief priests and the multitudes, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”

“Does our law judge a man, unless it first hears from him personally and knows what he does?”

A great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ part stood up, and contended, saying, “We find no evil in this man. But if a spirit or angel has spoken to him, let’s not fight against God!”

He said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though intending to inquire somewhat more accurately concerning him.

“I will hear you fully when your accusers also arrive.” He commanded that he be kept in Herod’s palace.

After five days, the high priest, Ananias, came down with certain elders and an orator, one Tertullus. They informed the governor against Paul.

They ought to have been here before you, and to make accusation, if they had anything against me.

But when the Jews spoke against it, I was constrained to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything about which to accuse my nation.

When his master heard the words of his wife, which she spoke to him, saying, “This is what your servant did to me,” his wrath was kindled.

and you are told, and you have heard of it, then you shall inquire diligently. Behold, if it is true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is done in Israel,

If a man has committed a sin worthy of death, and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree,

Memucan answered before the king and the princes, “Vashti the queen has not done wrong to just the king, but also to all the princes, and to all the people who are in all the provinces of the King Ahasuerus.

He who answers before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.

He who pleads his cause first seems right; until another comes and questions him.

He opened his mouth and taught them, saying,

He answered him, “Unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to me.”

and said to them, “You brought this man to me as one that perverts the people, and behold, having examined him before you, I found no basis for a charge against this man concerning those things of which you accuse him.

Pilate therefore went out to them, and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?”

Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” When he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no basis for a charge against him.

But Philip was found at Azotus. Passing through, he preached the Good News to all the cities, until he came to Caesarea.

but their plot became known to Saul. They watched the gates both day and night that they might kill him,

Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment,

For a period of about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness.

that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality, from which if you keep yourselves, it will be well with you. Farewell.”

But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If indeed it were a matter of wrong or of wicked crime, you Jews, it would be reasonable that I should bear with you;

When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the assembly, and went down to Antioch.

If therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a matter against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls. Let them press charges against one another.

After these days we took up our baggage and went up to Jerusalem.

Then the commanding officer came near, arrested him, commanded him to be bound with two chains, and inquired who he was and what he had done.

“Brothers and fathers, listen to the defense which I now make to you.”

When they had tied him up with thongs, Paul asked the centurion who stood by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and not found guilty?”

When it was day, some of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.

When I was told that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him to you immediately, charging his accusers also to bring their accusations against him before you. Farewell.”

By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.”

Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.

But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also know very well.

For if I have done wrong and have committed anything worthy of death, I don’t refuse to die; but if none of those things is true that they accuse me of, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!”

I answered them that it is not the custom of the Romans to give up any man to destruction before the accused has met the accusers face to face and has had opportunity to make his defense concerning the matter laid against him.

But when 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 to my lord. Therefore I have brought him out before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, that, after examination, I may have something to write.

Agrippa said to Paul, “You may speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand, and made his defense.

When they had withdrawn, they spoke to one another, saying, “This man does nothing worthy of death or of bonds.”

Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and you will have praise from the authority,

My defense to those who examine me is this:

I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness, but indeed you do bear with me.

For if he who comes preaches another Jesus, whom we didn’t preach, or if you receive a different spirit, which you didn’t receive, or a different “good news”, which you didn’t accept, you put up with that well enough.

Finally, brothers, rejoice! Be perfected. Be comforted. Be of the same mind. Live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.

Don’t receive an accusation against an elder, except at the word of two or three witnesses.

At my first defense, no one came to help me, but all left me. May it not be held against them.

The high priest can deal gently with those who are ignorant and going astray, because he himself is also surrounded with weakness.