Actuum Apostolorum 25

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

Now upon assuming the province, after three days Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem.

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

Then the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul and started importuning him,

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

begging a favor from him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem—preparing an ambush to kill him along the way.

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

However Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, he himself being about to go there shortly.

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

He said, “So let those who are competent among you go down with me; if there is anything against this man, let them accuse him.”

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

When he had stayed among them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea; the next day he sat on the judgment seat and commanded Paul to be brought.

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

When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem made a circle, bringing against Paul many serious charges that they could not prove,

8 Paulo rationem reddente: Quoniam neque in legem Iudaeorum, neque in templum, neque in Caesarem quidquam peccavi.

while he defended himself, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar did I commit any sin.”

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

But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul by saying, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to be judged by me there concerning these things?”

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

So Paul said: “I am standing before Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as even you know very well.

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

Now if I really am in the wrong and have perpetrated anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die; but if there is nothing to the things of which these are accusing me, no one has the right to give me to them. I appeal to Caesar!”

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

Then Festus, when he had conferred with his counsel, answered: “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you shall go!”

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

Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived in Caesarea to congratulate Festus.

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

Since they were spending many days there, 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 Iudaeorum, postulantes adversus illum damnationem.

about whom, when I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, asking for punishment against him;

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

to whom I answered that it is not a custom with Romans to deliver any man to destruction before the accused has his accusers face to face and has opportunity for defense against the accusation.

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

So when they had assembled here, without any delay, the next day I sat on the judgment seat and commanded the man to be brought.

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

When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge against him of such things as I supposed,

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

but had certain issues against him about their religion, and about a certain dead Jesus whom Paul affirmed to be living.

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

And since I was at a loss how to investigate such matters, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and be judged there concerning these things.

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

But when Paul appealed to be reserved for the decision of the Emperor, I commanded him to be kept until I can send him to Caesar.”

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

Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I myself would also like to hear the man.” So he said, “Tomorrow you shall 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 the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp and entered the auditorium, with the commanding officers and the more prominent men of the city, at Festus' command Paul was brought in.

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

And Festus said: “King Agrippa, and all you men who are here with us: consider this man, about whom the whole Jewish community petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, vociferating that it was not fitting for him to live any longer.

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

But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, besides he himself having appealed to the Emperor, I decided 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.

But I have nothing certain to write to my lord concerning him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the examination I may have something to write.

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

Because it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner and not to specify the charges against him.”