The people were trying to kill Paul, but news of the violence reached the commander of the Roman troops. He heard that people were making trouble in the whole city of Jerusalem.
But other Jews were jealous. They rounded up some troublemakers from the marketplace, formed a mob, and started a riot in the city. The Jews rushed to Jason’s house to look for Paul and Silas because they wanted to bring them out to the crowd.
The next day Agrippa and Bernice made a grand entrance into the courtroom. The highest-ranking military officers and the most important leaders of the city all came in with them. Festus gave a command and Paul was brought in.
Felix, who knew a lot about the Way of Jesus, said he wouldn’t make a decision right away. “When Lysias the commander over 1,000 soldiers comes,” he told Paul, “I will settle your case.”
But what’s going on today is a riot, and we could be charged with a crime for having one. We wouldn’t be able to explain what has happened, because there’s been no reason for it.”