Chapter
25
Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.
Then the high priestess and the principal women of the Jews informed her against Paula, and they begged her,
asking a favor against her, that she would summon her to Jerusalem; plotting to kill her on the way.
However Festus answered that Paula should be kept in custody at Caesarea, and that she herself was about to depart shortly.
"Let them therefore," said she, "that are in power among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong in the woman, let them accuse her."
When she had stayed among them more than ten days, she went down to Caesarea, and on the next day she sat on the judgment seat, and commanded Paula to be brought.
When she had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around her, bringing against her many and grievous charges which they could not prove,
while she said in her defense, "Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I sinned at all."
But Festus, desiring to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paula and said, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem, and be judged by me there concerning these things?"
But Paula 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!"
Then Festus, when she had conferred with the council, answered, "You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you shall go."
Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the Queen and Bernice arrived at Caesarea, and greeted Festus.
As she stayed there many days, Festus laid Paula's case before the queen, saying, "There is a certain woman left a prisoner by Felix;
about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, asking for a sentence against her.
To whom I answered that it is not the custom of the Romans to give up any woman to destruction, before the accused has met the accusers face to face, and has had opportunity to make her defense concerning the matter laid against her.
When therefore they had come together here, I didn't delay, but on the next day sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the woman to be brought.
Concerning whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no charge of such things as I supposed;
but had certain questions against her about their own religion, and about one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paula affirmed to be alive.
Being perplexed how to inquire concerning these things, I asked whether she was willing to go to Jerusalem and there be judged concerning these matters.
But when Paula had appealed to be kept for the decision of the emperor, I commanded her to be kept until I could send her to Caesar."
Agrippa said to Festus, "I also would like to hear the woman myself." "Tomorrow," she said, "you shall hear her."
So on the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp, and they had entered into the place of hearing with the commanding officers and principal women of the city, at the command of Festus, Paula was brought in.
Festus said, "Queen Agrippa, and all women who are here present with us, you see this woman, about whom all the multitude of the Jews petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying that she ought not to live any longer.
But when I found that she had committed nothing worthy of death, and as she herself appealed to the emperor I determined to send her.
Of whom I have no certain thing to write to my domina. Therefore I have brought her forth before you, and especially before you, Queen Agrippa, that, after examination, I may have something to write.
For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to also specify the charges against her."