⁷ When Paul^[a] arrived, the Jewish leaders^[b] who had come down from Jerusalem surrounded him and began bringing a number of serious charges against him that they couldn’t prove. ⁸ Paul said in his defense, “I have done nothing wrong against the Law of the Jews, or of the Temple, or of the emperor.”

⁹ Then Festus, wanting to do the Jewish leaders^[c] a favor, asked Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to be tried there before me on these charges?”