Then Paul remained two full years in his own rented house, and he was receiving all those who were coming to him,

Now when Festus had set foot in the province, after three days he went up to Jerusalem from Ceasarea.

Now as he spoke these things, Festus said with a loud voice, "You are mad, Paul! Your higher learning is driving you to madness!"

But he said, "I am not mad, most excellent Festus, but I boldly declare words of truth and reason.

Then Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar."

And seeing that it was pleasing to the Jews, he proceeded further to arrest Peter also (and then were the Days of Unleavened Bread),

But Festus, desiring to grant a favor to the Jews, answered Paul and said, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and there be judged before me concerning these things?"

And as he was spending many days there, Festus laid before the king the charges against Paul, saying: "There is a certain man who was left a prisoner by Felix,

You shall not associate with the multitude for evil. You shall not join yourself with a multitude to turn aside with the majority so as to shut out judgment.

[Those] fearing and reverencing men [unreasonably] have been overthrown, but he that trusts in the Lord shall rejoice. Ungodliness causes a man to stumble, but he that trusts in his master shall be safe.

So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered up Jesus, after he had Him flogged, so that He might be crucified.

So Pilate decided [that] their request should be carried out.

And he released whom they were requesting, who because of insurrection and murder had been thrown into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

For do I just now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.