Acts 25:9-12

But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure To ingratiate himself with them by a popular action, at the beginning of his government; to gratify the prosecutors rather than the prisoner, as far as he could go with safety against one that was a citizen of Rome; answered Paul, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem and there be judged? Festus could have ordered this without asking Paul. But God secretly overruled the whole, that he might have an occasion of appealing to Rome. In suffering times the prudence of the Lord's people is tried as well as their patience. Being sent forth as sheep in the midst of wolves, they have need to be wise as serpents. Then said Paul Apprehensive of the attempt which might be made upon his life in his journey, or in the city itself; I stand at Cesar's judgment-seat For all the courts of the Roman governors were held in the name of the emperor, and by commission from him; where As a Roman citizen; I ought to be judged And I insist upon my privilege of having my cause decided there; to the Jews have I done no wrong In any respect whatever; as thou very well knowest As thou must have perceived clearly by what has this day been examined before thee. Or, Festus might know that Paul had done the Jews no wrong, from the relation Felix had made unto him, as also from such as were present with Felix when Paul's cause was heard. Thus it very well becomes those that are innocent to plead their innocence, and to insist upon it; it is a debt we owe to our own good name, not only not to bear false witness against ourselves, but to maintain our own integrity against those who bear false witness against us. For if I be an offender, &c. If I have injured the Jews, and my fault be such as by law deserves death, I ask no favour; I refuse not to die But will willingly accept the punishment of mine iniquity. But if As I know in my own conscience, and as thou, from the course of this trial, hast the greatest reason to believe; there be none of these things That is, that these things, whereof they accuse me Have had no existence, and that their accusations proceed from malice, and are founded on falsehood; no man may deliver me unto them Nor can, without palpable injustice. He expresses himself modestly, but his meaning is, Thou canst not deliver me to them; it being a governor's business, as much to protect the innocent, as to punish the guilty. I appeal unto Cesar Which any Roman citizen might do before sentence was passed. Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council It was customary for a considerable number of persons of distinction to attend the Roman governors into the provinces. These constituted a kind of council, with whom they frequently advised; answered Having called in the prisoner; Hast thou appealed unto Cesar? unto Cesar shalt thou go For how desirous soever I am to oblige the people of my province, I will never allow myself, upon any occasion, to violate the privileges of a Roman citizen. Festus, therefore, gave proper orders for conveying him to Rome as soon as possible, that he might be there presented before the emperor himself; and, in the mean time, Paul was remanded to his confinement, and his accusers returned to Jerusalem a second time, with the mortification of not having been able to accomplish their purpose against him.