1 Festus, therefore, having come upon the province, after three days, went up unto Jerusalem from Caesarea;2 and the High-priest and chiefs of the Jews laid information before him against Paul, and began to beseech him3 asking for themselves as a favour against him, that he would send for him unto Jerusalem,making, an ambush, to kill him on the way.4 Festus, therefore, answered, that Paul should be kept in Caesarea, and that, he himself, was about, shortly, to be going out .5 They, therefore, among you (saith he) who are in power, let them go down with me; and, if there is in the man, anything amiss, let them accuse him.6 And, spending among them, not more than eight or ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and, on the morrow, taking his place upon the judgment-seat, ordered Paul to be brought.7 And, when he presented himself, the Jews who, from Jerusalem, had come down, stood round about him, many and grievous charges, bringing against , which they were not able to prove,8 Paul saying in defenceNeither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I in anything sinned.9 But, Festus, wishing, with the Jews, to gain, favour, answered Paul, and saidArt thou willing, unto Jerusalem, to go up, and, there, concerning these things, be judged before me?10 But Paul saidStanding before the judgment-seat of Caesar, am I, where, I, ought to be judged. Unto the Jews, have I done no wrong, as, even thou, right well, art discovering.11 If then, on the one hand, I am doing wrong, and, anything worthy of death, have committed, I excuse not myself from dying; but, on the other hand, if there is, nothing, in the things whereof these are accusing me, no man, hath power to give, me, unto them as a favour:Unto Caesar, I appeal!12 Then Festus, having conversed with the council, answeredUnto Caesar, hast thou appealed? Unto Caesar, shalt thou go.13 And, some days having gone by, Agrippa the king and Bernice came down to Caesarea, to salute Festus.14 And, as they were spending more days there, Festus, repeated, unto the king, the things relating to Paul, sayingA certain man, hath been left behind by Felix, as a prisoner;15 concerning whom, when I happened to be in Jerusalem, the High-priests and the Elders of the Jews laid information, claiming against him a condemnation:16 unto whom made answerThat it is not a custom with Romans, to grant as a favour any man, before the accused, face to face, should have his accusers, and, opportunity of defence, should receive, concerning the charge.17 When, therefore, they had come together here, no delay whatever, making, on the next day, taking my place upon the judgment-seat, I ordered the man to be brought:18 Concerning whom, taking their stand, his accusers, no accusation at all, were bringing, of the evil things which, I, had been suspecting;19 but, certain questions concerning their own demon-worship, had they against him, and concerning one Jesus, who had died, whom Paul was affirming to be alive.20 And, I, being at a loss as to the inquiry into these things, was askingwhether he might be minded to go unto Jerusalem, and, there, be judged concerning these things.21 But, Paul, having appealed to be kept for the decision of the Emperor, I ordered him to be kept, until I could send him up unto Caesar.22 And, Agrippa, unto FestusI could wish, myself also, to hear, the man. To-morrow, (saith he) thou shalt hear him.23 On the morrow, therefore, when Agrippa had come, and Bernice, with great display, and they had entered into the audience-chamber, with the captains of thousands and men of distinction of the city,and Festus had given orders, Paul was brought.24 And Festus saithKing Agrippa! and all ye men, here present with us: Ye observe this person, concerning whom, one and all the throng of the Jews, have interceded with me, both in Jerusalem and here, crying aloud that he ought not to be living any longer.25 But, I, gathered, that, nothing worthy of death, had he committed; and, this man himself, having appealed unto the Emperor, I decided to send him:26 Concerning whom, anything certain to write unto my lord, I have not; wherefore, I have brought him forth before you,and especially before thee, King Agrippa! in order that, after examination had, I might have something I could write;27 For, unreasonable, unto me, it seemeth, when sending a prisoner, not also, the accusations against him, to signify.

1 Entrando, pois, Festo na província, subiu dali a três dias de Cesareia a Jerusalém. 2 E o sumo sacerdote e os principais dos judeus compareceram perante ele contra Paulo e lhe rogaram, 3 pedindo como favor, contra ele, que o fizesse vir a Jerusalém, armando ciladas para o matarem no caminho. 4 Mas Festo respondeu que Paulo estava guardado em Cesareia e que ele brevemente partiria para lá. 5 Os que, pois, disse, dentre vós têm poder desçam comigo e, se neste varão houver algum crime, acusem-no. 6 E, não se demorando entre eles mais de dez dias, desceu a Cesareia; e, no dia seguinte, assentando-se no tribunal, mandou que trouxessem Paulo. 7 Chegando ele, o rodearam os judeus que haviam descido de Jerusalém, trazendo contra Paulo muitas e graves acusações, que não podiam provar. 8 Mas ele, em sua defesa, disse: Eu não pequei em coisa alguma contra a lei dos judeus, nem contra o templo, nem contra César. 9 Todavia, Festo, querendo comprazer aos judeus, respondendo a Paulo, disse: Queres tu subir a Jerusalém e ser lá perante mim julgado acerca destas coisas? 10 Mas Paulo disse: Estou perante o tribunal de César, onde convém que seja julgado; não fiz agravo algum aos judeus, como tu muito bem sabes. 11 Se fiz algum agravo ou cometi alguma coisa digna de morte, não recuso morrer; mas, se nada há das coisas de que estes me acusam, ninguém me pode entregar a eles. Apelo para César. 12 Então, Festo, tendo falado com o conselho, respondeu: Apelaste para César? Para César irás.

13 Passados alguns dias, o rei Agripa e Berenice vieram a Cesareia, a saudar Festo. 14 E, como ali ficassem muitos dias, Festo contou ao rei os negócios de Paulo, dizendo: Um certo varão foi deixado por Félix aqui preso, 15 a respeito de quem os principais dos sacerdotes e os anciãos dos judeus, estando eu em Jerusalém, compareceram perante mim, pedindo sentença contra ele. 16 A eles respondi que não é costume dos romanos entregar algum homem à morte, sem que o acusado tenha presentes os seus acusadores e possa defender-se da acusação. 17 De sorte que, chegando eles aqui juntos, no dia seguinte, sem fazer dilação alguma, assentado no tribunal, mandei que trouxessem o homem.

18 Acerca dele, estando presentes os acusadores, nenhuma coisa apontaram daquelas que eu suspeitava. 19 Tinham, porém, contra ele algumas questões acerca de sua superstição e de um tal Jesus, defunto, que Paulo afirmava viver. 20 E, estando eu perplexo acerca da inquirição desta causa, perguntei se queria ir a Jerusalém e lá ser julgado acerca destas coisas. 21 Mas, apelando Paulo para que fosse reservado ao conhecimento de Augusto, mandei que o guardassem até que o envie a César. 22 Então, Agripa disse a Festo: Bem quisera eu ouvir também esse homem. E ele disse: Amanhã o ouvirás.

23 No dia seguinte, vindo Agripa e Berenice, com muito aparato, entraram no auditório com os tribunos e varões principais da cidade, sendo trazido Paulo por mandado de Festo. 24 E Festo disse: Rei Agripa e todos os varões que estais presentes conosco, aqui vedes um homem de quem toda a multidão dos judeus me tem falado, tanto em Jerusalém como aqui, clamando que não convém que viva mais. 25 Mas, achando eu que nenhuma coisa digna de morte fizera, e apelando ele mesmo também para Augusto, tenho determinado enviar-lho. 26 Dele, porém, não tenho coisa alguma certa que escreva ao meu senhor e, por isso, perante vós o trouxe, principalmente perante ti, ó rei Agripa, para que, depois de interrogado, tenha alguma coisa que escrever. 27 Porque me parece contra a razão enviar um preso e não notificar contra ele as acusações.