I answered them that it is not the Roman custom to hand a man over as a favor before the accused has met his accusers face to face and has had a chance to defend himself against the charge.
In context
14Since they were staying for some time, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king. “There is a man here,” he said, “left as a prisoner by Felix. 15When I was in Jerusalem the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him and asked for a verdict of condemnation. 16I answered them that it is not the Roman custom to hand a man over as a favor before the accused has met his accusers face to face and has had a chance to defend himself against the charge. 17So they came here with me, and without any delay I took my seat on the tribunal the next day and ordered the man brought in. 18When his accusers stood up, they brought no charge of the crimes I had been expecting.
