"And after he had spent not more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea; and on the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought.  And after he had arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him which they could not prove; while Paul said in his own defense, 'I have committed no offense against the temple or against Caesar.'  But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, 'Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me on these charges?'  But Paul said, 'I am standing before Caesar's tribunal, where I ought to be tried.  I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also very well know.  If then I am a wrongdoer, and have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die; but if none of those things is true of which these men accuse me, no one can hand me over to them.  I appeal to Caesar.'  Then when Festus had conferred with his council, he answered, 'You have appealed to Caesar, to Caesar you shall go.'"

Being on trial as an innocent man tends to be difficult.  With the constant barrage of charges against Paul, I wonder if he ever began to doubt himself.  No one likes to be accused of something, especially something that he did not do.

So how does Paul deal with this?  By remaining firm.  Paul does not concede a point, but remains true to his initial word. 

It is surprising how many people will admit to a little bit of wrong in order to get out of a lot of trouble.  Paul remains firm in his innocence.

And because he remains firm, God continues to move Paul to where he needs to be.  Paul's next stop:  Caesar. 

An audience with the king.  All because he remains strong.