Then Festus cried, "Hast thou appealed to Cæsar? To Cæsar shalt thou go;" meaning that he should be sent to Rome for trial.
Soon after these proceedings, the young King Agrippa, with his sister Bernice, came upon a visit to the governor of Cæsarea, and hearing of St. Paul's case, said that he would himself pronounce judgment upon it.
The great hall of audience was filled with the royal court, the tribunes and all the chief men were assembled; and St. Paul took this opportunity to preach the Gospel to them.
He told the story of his life, of his conversion and subsequent work amongst men; but when he said that Christ had come to be a light to the Gentiles as well as to the Jews, a loud cry broke from Festus, "Paul, thou art beside thyself, much learning hath made thee mad."
"I am not mad, most excellent Festus, but I speak words of truth and soberness," replied the Apostle; then, appealing to the king, he added, "Believest thou the prophets, O King Agrippa? I know that thou believest."
Agrippa said, "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian."
"Would to God," cried St. Paul, "that not only thou, but all that hear me this day, should become such as I am, except these bonds."
The king, with Festus and the rest, rose up to leave the hall. "This man hath done nothing that merits either death or the prison," said Agrippa. "He might have been set at liberty if he had not appealed unto Cæsar."