Paul Explains His Appeal

17It happened that after three days he called together the leading men of the Jews. And when they had come together, he said to them, “I, brothers, though I had done nothing against the people or the customs of our fathers, was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.”

18who, after examining me, wanted to release me because there was no basis for the death penalty in my case.

19But because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar—not because I had anything to accuse my nation of.