Actuum Apostolorum 25

1 Festus ergo cum venisset in provinciam, post triduum ascendit Ierosolymam a Cæsarea.

Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Cæsarea.

2 Adieruntque eum principes sacerdotum, et primi Iudæorum adversus Paulum: et rogabant eum,

And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul; and they besought him,

3 postulantes gratiam adversus eum, ut iuberet perduci eum in Ierusalem, insidias tendentes ut interficerent eum in via.

asking a favor against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem; laying a plot to kill him on the way.

4 Festus autem respondit servari Paulum in Cæsarea: se autem maturius profecturum.

Howbeit Festus answered, that Paul was kept in charge at Cæsarea, and that he himself was about to depart [thither] shortly.

5 Qui ergo in vobis (ait) potentes sunt, descendentes simul, si quod est in viro crimen, accusent eum.

Let them therefore, saith he, that are of power among you go down with me, and if there is anything amiss in the man, let them accuse him.

6 Demoratus autem inter eos dies non amplius quam octo, aut decem, descendit Cæsaream, et altera die sedit pro tribunali, et iussit Paulum adduci.

And when he had tarried among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down unto Cæsarea; and on the morrow he sat on the judgment-seat, and commanded Paul to be brought.

7 Qui cum perductus esset, circumsteterunt eum, qui ab Ierosolyma descenderant Iudæi, multas, et graves causas obiicientes, quas non poterant probare.

And when he was come, the Jews that had come down from Jerusalem stood round about him, bringing against him many and grievous charges which they could not prove;

8 Paulo rationem reddente: Quoniam neque in legem Iudæorum, neque in templum, neque in Cæsarem quidquam peccavi.

while Paul said in his defence, Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Cæsar, have I sinned at all.

9 Festus autem volens gratiam præstare Iudæis, respondens Paulo, dixit: Vis Ierosolymam ascendere, et ibi de his iudicari apud me?

But Festus, desiring to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?

10 Dixit autem Paulus: Ad tribunal Cæsaris sto, ibi me oportet iudicari: Iudæis non nocui, sicut tu melius nosti.

But Paul said, I am standing before Cæsar’s judgment-seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou also very well knowest.

11 Si enim nocui, aut dignum morte aliquid feci, non recuso mori: si vero nihil est eorum, quæ hi accusant me, nemo potest me illis donare. Cæsarem appello.

If then I am a wrong-doer, and have committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die; but if none of those things is [true] whereof these accuse me, no man can give me up unto them. I appeal unto Cæsar.

12 Tunc Festus cum concilio locutus, respondit: Cæsarem appellasti? ad Cæsarem ibis.

Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Thou hast appealed unto Cæsar: unto Cæsar shalt thou go.

13 Et cum dies aliquot transacti essent: Agrippa rex, et Bernice descenderunt Cæsaream ad salutandum Festum.

Now when certain days were passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Cæsarea, and saluted Festus.

14 Et cum dies plures ibi demorarentur, Festus regi indicavit de Paulo, dicens: Vir quidam est derelictus a Felice vinctus,

And as they tarried there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix;

15 de quo cum essem Ierosolymis, adierunt me principes sacerdotum, et seniores Iudæorum, postulantes adversus illum damnationem.

about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed [me], asking for sentence against him.

16 Ad quos respondi: Quia non est Romanis consuetudo damnare aliquem hominem prius quam is, qui accusatur, præsentes habeat accusatores, locumque defendendi accipiat ad abluenda crimina.

To whom I answered, that it is not the custom of the Romans to give up any man, before that the accused have the accusers face to face, and have had opportunity to make his defence concerning the matter laid against him.

17 Cum ergo huc convenissent sine ulla dilatione, sequenti die sedens pro tribunali, iussi adduci virum.

When therefore they were come together here, I made no delay, but on the next day sat on the judgment-seat, and commanded the man to be brought.

18 De quo, cum stetissent accusatores, nullam causam deferebant, de quibus ego suspicabar malum:

Concerning whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no charge of such evil things as I supposed;

19 Quæstiones vero quasdam de sua superstitione habebant adversus eum, et de quodam Iesu defuncto, quem affirmabat Paulus vivere.

but had certain questions against him of their own religion, and of one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

20 Hæsitans autem ego de huiusmodi quæstione, dicebam si vellet ire Ierosolymam, et ibi iudicari de istis.

And I, being perplexed how to inquire concerning these things, asked whether he would go to Jerusalem and there be judged of these matters.

21 Paulo autem appellante ut servaretur ad Augusti cognitionem, iussi servari eum, donec mittam eum ad Cæsarem.

But when Paul had appealed to be kept for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be kept till I should send him to Cæsar.

22 Agrippa autem dixit ad Festum: Volebam et ipse hominem audire. Cras, inquit, audies eum.

And Agrippa [said] unto Festus, I also could wish to hear the man myself. To-morrow, saith he, thou shalt hear him.

23 Altera autem die cum venisset Agrippa, et Bernice cum multa ambitione, et introissent in auditorium cum tribunis, et viris principalibus civitatis, iubente Festo, adductus est Paulus.

So on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and they were entered into the place of hearing with the chief captains and the principal men of the city, at the command of Festus Paul was brought in.

24 Et dicit Festus: Agrippa rex, et omnes, qui simul adestis nobiscum viri, videtis hunc, de quo omnis multitudo Iudæorum interpellavit me Ierosolymis, petentes et acclamantes non oportere eum vivere amplius.

And Festus saith, King Agrippa, and all men who are here present with us, ye behold this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews made suit to me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.

25 Ego vere comperi nihil dignum morte eum admisisse. Ipso autem hoc appellante ad Augustum, iudicavi mittere.

But I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death: and as he himself appealed to the emperor I determined to send him.

26 De quo quid certum scribam domino, non habeo. Propter quod produxi eum ad vos, et maxime ad te rex Agrippa, ut interrogatione facta habeam quid scribam.

Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I may have somewhat to write.

27 Sine ratione enim mihi videtur mittere vinctum, et causas eius non significare.

For it seemeth to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not withal to signify the charges against him.