Portius

After two years, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; but because Felix wanted to grant the Judeans a favor, he left Sha’ul still a prisoner.

Three days after Festus had entered the province, he went up from Caesarea to Yerushalayim.

Festus replied that Sha’ul was being kept under guard in Caesarea, and that he was about to go there shortly himself.

But Festus, wanting to do the Judeans a favor, asked Sha’ul, “Would you be willing to go up to Yerushalayim and be tried before me there on these charges?”

Then Festus, after talking with his advisers, answered, “You have appealed to the Emperor; you will go to the Emperor!”

After some days, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus.

Since they were staying on there for some time, Festus had the opportunity to acquaint the king with Sha’ul’s situation. “There is a man here,” he said, “who was left behind in custody by Felix.

Agrippa said to Festus, “I myself have been wanting to hear the man.” “Tomorrow,” he replied, “You will hear him.”

Festus said, “King Agrippa and all of you here with us, do you see this man? The whole Judean community has complained to me about him both in Yerushalayim and here, crying that he shouldn’t be allowed to remain alive.

But just as he reached this point in his defense, Festus shouted at the top of his voice, “Sha’ul, you’re out of your mind! So much learning is driving you crazy!”

But Sha’ul said, “No, I am not ‘crazy,’ Festus, your Excellency; on the contrary, I am speaking words of truth and sanity.

And Agrippa said to Festus, “If he hadn’t appealed to the Emperor, he could have been released.”