Actuum Apostolorum 25
1 Festus ergo cum venisset in provinciam, post triduum ascendit Ierosolymam a Caesarea.
Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.
2 Adieruntque eum principes sacerdotum, et primi Iudaeorum adversus Paulum: et rogabant eum,
Then the high priest and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul, and they begged 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 summon him to Jerusalem, plotting to kill him on the way.
4 Festus autem respondit servari quidem Paulum in Caesarea: se autem maturius profecturum.
However Festus answered that Paul should be kept in custody at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to depart shortly.
5 Qui ergo in vobis (ait) potentes sunt, descendentes simul, si quod est in viro crimen, accusent eum.
“Let them therefore”, he said, “that are in power among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong in the 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, and on 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 stood around him, bringing against him many and grievous charges which they could not prove,
8 Paulo rationem reddente: Quoniam neque in legem Iudaeorum, neque in templum, neque in Caesarem quidquam peccavi.
while he said in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I sinned at all.”
9 Festus autem volens gratiam praestare Iudaeis, 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, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and 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.
But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also 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.
For if I have done wrong and have committed anything worthy of death, I don’t refuse to die; but if none of those things is true that they accuse me of, no one can give me up 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 the council, 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, 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,
As he stayed 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 Iudaeorum, postulantes adversus illum damnationem.
about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, asking for a sentence 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 give up any man to destruction before the accused has met the accusers face to face and has had opportunity to make his defense 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 had come together here, I didn’t 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 caussam deferebant, de quibus ego suspicabar malum:
When the accusers stood up, they brought no charges 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 questions against him about their own religion and about one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
20 Haesitans autem ego de huiusmodi quaestione, dicebam si vellet ire Ierosolymam, et ibi iudicari de istis.
Being perplexed how to inquire concerning these things, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there be judged concerning these matters.
21 Paulo autem appellante ut servaretur ad Augusti cognitionem, iussi servari eum, donec mittam eum ad Caesarem.
But when Paul had appealed to be kept for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be kept until I could send him to Caesar.”
22 Agrippa autem dixit ad Festum: Volebam et ipse hominem audire. Cras, inquit, audies eum.
Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “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 on the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp, and they had entered into the place of hearing with the commanding officers 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 hominem, de quo omnis multitudo Iudaeorum interpellavit me Ierosolymis, petentes et acclamantes non oportere eum vivere amplius.
Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all men who are here present with us, you see this man about whom all the multitude of the Jews petitioned 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 when 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 to my lord. Therefore I have brought him out before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, that, after examination I may have something to write.
27 Sine ratione enim mihi videtur mittere vinctum, et causas eius non significare.
For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to also specify the charges against him.”
