Actuum Apostolorum 25
1 Festus ergo cum venisset in provinciam, post triduum ascendit Ierosolymam a Caesarea.
Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea,
2 Adieruntque eum principes sacerdotum, et primi Iudaeorum adversus Paulum: et rogabant eum,
where the high priest and prominent Jewish men presented their case against Paul.
3 postulantes gratiam adversus eum, ut iuberet perduci eum in Ierusalem, insidias tendentes ut interficerent eum in via.
Asking for a favor against Paul, they urged Festus to summon him to Jerusalem, because they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way.
4 Festus autem respondit servari quidem Paulum in Caesarea: se autem maturius profecturum.
But Festus replied that Paul was being kept in custody in Caesarea, and that he himself was about to go there shortly.
5 Qui ergo in vobis (ait) potentes sunt, descendentes simul, si quod est in viro crimen, accusent eum.
“So,” he said, “let those among you who are influential go down with me, and if there is any fault in this man, they can bring charges against 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.
After staying among them for more than ten days, Festus went down to Caesarea. The next day he sat on the judgment seat and ordered Paul to be brought in.
7 Qui cum perductus esset, circumsteterunt eum, qui ab Ierosolyma descenderant Iudaei, multas, et graves causas obiicientes, quas non poterant probare.
When Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges against him that they could not prove.
8 Paulo rationem reddente: Quoniam neque in legem Iudaeorum, neque in templum, neque in Caesarem quidquam peccavi.
Then Paul said in his own defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I committed any offense.”
9 Festus autem volens gratiam praestare Iudaeis, respondens Paulo, dixit: Vis Ierosolymam ascendere, et ibi de his iudicari apud me?
But Festus, wishing to gain favor with the Jews, responded to Paul, “Are yoʋ willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?”
10 Dixit autem Paulus: Ad tribunal Caesaris sto, ibi me oportet iudicari: Iudaeis non nocui, sicut tu melius nosti.
Paul said, “I am standing before the judgment seat of Caesar, where I ought to stand trial. I have done the Jews no wrong, as yoʋ yoʋrself 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.
If I am in the wrong and have done something that deserves death, I do not seek to escape death. But if none of the things these men accuse me of is true, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar.”
12 Tunc Festus cum concilio locutus, respondit: Caesarem appellasti? ad Caesarem ibis.
After conferring with the council, Festus answered, “Yoʋ have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar yoʋ shall go.”
13 Et cum dies aliquot transacti essent: Agrippa rex, et Bernice descenderunt Caesaream ad salutandum Festum.
After several days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus.
14 Et cum dies plures ibi morarentur, Festus regi indicavit de Paulo, dicens: Vir quidam est derelictus a Felice vinctus,
Since the king was staying there for several days, Festus presented Paul's case to him, saying, “There is a man who was left as a prisoner by Felix.
15 de quo cum essem Ierosolymis, adierunt me principes sacerdotum, et seniores Iudaeorum, postulantes adversus illum damnationem.
When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews presented their case and asked for a judgment 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.
I answered them that it is not the custom of the Romans to hand anyone over for destruction before the accused faces his accusers and has an opportunity to make his defense concerning the charges.
17 Cum ergo huc convenissent sine ulla dilatione, sequenti die sedens pro tribunali, iussi adduci virum.
So when they had assembled here, I did not postpone the case, but on the next day I sat on the judgment seat and ordered the man to be brought in.
18 De quo, cum stetissent accusatores, nullam caussam deferebant, de quibus ego suspicabar malum:
When his accusers stood up, they brought no charge against him of the sort I was expecting.
19 Quaestiones vero quasdam de sua superstitione habebant adversus eum, et de quodam Iesu defuncto, quem affirmabat Paulus vivere.
Instead they had certain points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a man named Jesus who was dead, but whom Paul claimed was alive.
20 Haesitans autem ego de huiusmodi quaestione, dicebam si vellet ire Ierosolymam, et ibi iudicari de istis.
Since I was at a loss as to how to investigate this matter, I asked if he might be willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial there on these charges.
21 Paulo autem appellante ut servaretur ad Augusti cognitionem, iussi servari eum, donec mittam eum ad Caesarem.
But Paul appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of His Majesty the Emperor, so I ordered him to be held until I could 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 would like to hear the man myself.” Festus said, “Tomorrow yoʋ will 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 Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the auditorium along with the military commanders and the distinguished men of the city. Then Festus gave the command, and 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.
Festus said, “King Agrippa and all you men who are present with us, you see this man, concerning whom the entire Jewish community has appealed to me, both in Jerusalem and here in this place, crying out 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 when I found that he had done nothing deserving death, and since he himself appealed to His Majesty 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.
Yet I have nothing definite to write to my lord about this man. Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before yoʋ, King Agrippa, so that after we have had this preliminary hearing, I may have something to write.
27 Sine ratione enim mihi videtur mittere vinctum, et causas eius non significare.
For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner without indicating the charges against him.”
