came to Jerusalem he heard a great deal about him. The chief priests and his friends came to Festus, and told him about a very bad man who lay in prison at Cæsarea.

Oh, he has done so much harm!' they said. 'When he was free, he went from place to place setting people against Cæsar; he wants us all to rebel, and only to mind the laws of a man who once was crucified, Jesus of Nazareth, who, he says, is the true King.'

'What do you want me to do?' said Festus.

Do

'We want you to send soldiers to fetch this wicked man, that you may judge him at Jerusalem. grant us this great favour, we entreat you do let him come to Jerusalem.'

What made them so very anxious. that Paul should come down to Jerusalem?

They wanted to hide themselves in

the road, and to burst forth upon him and kill him.

Those forty Jews, who lately made the same kind of plan, were among his accusers now, with Ananias at their head. Festus did not know the real motive of the Jews in wanting Paul to come to Jerusalem, but he did not grant their request, for he saw no use in bringing Paul back to Jerusalem.

Festus answered: 'I am going down to Cæsarea very soon, and when I go you can come with me, and you can accuse him before the judgment-seat there, of all the wicked things you say he has done.'

The Jews were much disappointed at this answer, but they were obliged to submit.

Festus stayed ten days at Jesusalem, and then he returned to Cæsarea. There went with him the chief priest, and a troop of Paul's enemies.

The next day Festus sat on his

judgment-seat in the palace, and the prisoner was brought forth to stand before him.

That prisoner saw once more his deadly enemies, who were panting for his blood. They had brought no great speaker with them this time, but they stood round about, pouring out of their spiteful lips, loud and bitter complaints against Paul.

When Paul was allowed to speak, he said plainly, I have done nothing 'I at all against any of them, nor against Cæsar. All I have done is to declare that Jesus, whom they crucified, is risen again from the dead.'

Festus saw that Paul had done nothing really wicked: but he was anxious to please the Jews, so he said to Paul,-Will you go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged before me?'

This was just what the Jews wanted. They must have been pleased when they heard Festus say this.

'No,' said Paul: 'I will be judged before Cæsar.'

Paul was wise to refuse to go to Jerusalem. He chose to go to Rome instead, and God had told him (as you know) in a dream that he should go to Rome.

Festus could not refuse Paul's request, and he replied,' As you wish to go to Cæsar, to Cæsar you shall go.' Then Festus desired the centurion to take Paul back to his prison, and to keep him there, till he could send him in a ship to Rome.

The Jews went back to Jerusalem more disappointed than ever. They had lost their prey, they would never be able to stone him or to crucify him. He was to be taken far away.

'The Jews, who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us.'-1 Thess. ii. 15.

LVII.

KING AGRIPPA'S VISIT.

Acts, xxv. 13 to end; xxvi.

PAUL remained in prison while Festus, the governor, waited for a ship to carry the prisoner to Rome.

While Festus waited, a King came to see him. It was the son of that Herod who was eaten with worms.

His name was Herod Agrippa, but he is generally called Agrippa only.

He was a very great man-greater than Festus, for he was a king who could do what he would, while Festus was only a governor under Cæsar.

Agrippa brought with him his sister, Bernice.

Do you remember he had another sister, called Drusilla? but she was gone away with Felix. The whole family were very wicked.

As Agrippa was a Jew, he knew