Actus Apostolorum, 25

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

1. Now when Festus had come into his province, after three days he went up to Jerusalem from Caesare'a.

2. adieruntque eum principes sacerdotum et primi Iudaeorum adversus Paulum, et rogabant eum

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

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

3. asking as a favor to have the man sent to Jerusalem, planning an ambush to kill him on the way.

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

4. Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesare'a, and that he himself intended to go there shortly.

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

5. "So," said he, "let the men of authority among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about 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.

6. When he had stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesare'a; and the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought.

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

7. And when he had come, the Jews who had gone down from Jerusalem stood about him, bringing against him many serious charges which they could not prove.

8. Paulo rationem reddente: “Neque in legem Iudaeorum neque in templum neque in Caesarem quidquam peccavi”.

8. Paul said in his defense, "Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I offended at all."

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

9. But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, "Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem, and there be tried on these charges before me?"

10. Dixit autem Paulus: “Ad tribunal Caesaris sto, ubi me oportet iudicari. Iudaeis nihil nocui, sicut et tu melius nosti.

10. But Paul said, "I am standing before Caesar's tribunal, where I ought to be tried; to the Jews I have done no wrong, as you know very well.

11. Si ergo iniuste egi et dignum morte aliquid feci, non recuso mori; si vero nihil est eorum, quae hi accusant me, nemo potest me illis donare. Caesarem appello!”.

11. If then I am a wrongdoer, and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death; but if there is nothing in their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar."

12. Tunc Festus cum consilio locutus respondit: “Caesarem appellasti; ad Caesarem ibis”.

12. Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, "You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you shall go."

13. Et cum dies aliquot transacti essent, Agrippa rex et Berenice descenderunt Caesaream et salutaverunt Festum.

13. Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Berni'ce arrived at Caesare'a to welcome Festus.

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

14. And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king, saying, "There is a man left prisoner by Felix;

15. de quo, cum essem Hierosolymis, adierunt me principes sacerdotum et seniores Iudaeorum postulantes adversus illum damnationem;

15. and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews gave information about him, asking for sentence against him.

16. ad quos respondi, quia non est consuetudo Romanis donare aliquem hominem, priusquam is, qui accusatur, praesentes habeat accusatores locumque defendendi se ab accusatione accipiat.

16. I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up any one before the accused met the accusers face to face, and had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against him.

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

17. When therefore they came together here, I made no delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought in.

18. de quo, cum stetissent accusatores, nullam causam deferebant, de quibus ego suspicabar malis;

18. When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed;

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

19. but they had certain points of dispute with him about their own superstition and about one Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive.

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

20. Being at a loss how to investigate these questions, I asked whether he wished to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding them.

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

21. But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be held until I could send him to Caesar."

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

22. And Agrippa said to Festus, "I should like to hear the man myself." "Tomorrow," said he, "you shall hear him."

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

23. So on the morrow Agrippa and Berni'ce came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then by 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 Iudaeorum interpellavit me Hierosolymis et hic, clamantes non oportere eum vivere amplius.

24. And Festus said, "King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish people petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer.

25. Ego vero comperi nihil dignum eum morte fecisse, ipso autem hoc appellante Augustum, iudicavi mittere.

25. But I found that he had done nothing deserving death; and as he himself 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;

26. But I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I have brought him before you, and, especially before you, King Agrippa, that, after we have examined him, I may have something to write.

27. sine ratione enim mihi videtur mittere vinctum et causas eius non significare”.

27. For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him."