For two years Paul lived in a place he rented for himself, and there he welcomed all who came to see him.

Three days after Festus arrived in the province, he went from Caesarea to Jerusalem,

As Paul defended himself in this way, Festus shouted at him, "You are mad, Paul! Your great learning is driving you mad!"

Paul answered, "I am not mad, Your Excellency! I am speaking the sober truth.

And Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been released if he had not appealed to the Emperor."

When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he went ahead and had Peter arrested. (This happened during the time of the Festival of Unleavened Bread.)

But Festus wanted to gain favor with the Jews, so he asked Paul, "Would you be willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried on these charges before me there?"

After they had been there several days, Festus explained Paul's situation to the king: "There is a man here who was left a prisoner by Felix;

Do not follow the majority when they do wrong or when they give testimony that perverts justice.

It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you, but if you trust the LORD, you are safe.

Pilate wanted to please the crowd, so he set Barabbas free for them. Then he had Jesus whipped and handed him over to be crucified.

So Pilate passed the sentence on Jesus that they were asking for.

He set free the man they wanted, the one who had been put in prison for riot and murder, and he handed Jesus over for them to do as they wished.

Does this sound as if I am trying to win human approval? No indeed! What I want is God's approval! Am I trying to be popular with people? If I were still trying to do so, I would not be a servant of Christ.