Atos 25

Paulo perante Festo. Apela para César

1 Tendo, pois, entrado Festo *At 23.34na província, depois de três dias subiu de *At 8.40;At 25.4,6,13Cesareia a Jerusalém, 2 e os principais sacerdotes e os mais eminentes judeus *At 24.1;At 25.15deram-lhe informações contra Paulo 3 e, em detrimento dele, pediram a Festo, como um favor, que o mandasse vir a Jerusalém, *At 9.24armando-lhe uma cilada para o matarem no caminho. 4 Festo, porém, *At 25.16respondeu que Paulo *At 24.23se achava detido em *At 8.40;At 25.1,6,13Cesareia; 5 portanto, disse ele, os que entre vós têm prestígio desçam comigo e, se há naquele homem algum crime, acusem-no.

6 Tendo-se demorado entre eles cerca de oito ou dez dias, desceu a Cesareia; e, no dia seguinte, sentando-se no *Mt 27.19;At 25.10,17tribunal, mandou trazer a Paulo. 7 Comparecendo este, rodearam-no os judeus que tinham descido de Jerusalém, trazendo contra ele *cp.At 24.5s.muitas e graves acusações, *At 24.13que não podiam provar. 8 Então, Paulo, defendendo-se, disse: *At 24.12;28.17; cp.6.13Não tenho pecado em coisa alguma, nem contra a Lei dos judeus, nem contra o templo, nem contra César. 9 Festo, *At 24.27; cp.12.3querendo alcançar o favor dos judeus, perguntou a Paulo: *At 25.20Queres subir a Jerusalém e ser aí julgado dessas coisas perante mim? 10 Mas Paulo respondeu: Estou perante o tribunal de César, onde devo ser julgado. Não tenho feito mal algum aos judeus, como tu bem sabes. 11 Se, pois, sou malfeitor e tenho praticado alguma coisa que mereça a morte, não recuso morrer; mas, se não são verdadeiras as coisas de que me acusam, ninguém pode entregar-me a eles; *At 25.21,25;At 26.32;28.19apelo para César. 12 Então, Festo, tendo conferenciado com o conselho, respondeu: Para César apelaste, a César irás.

Festo expõe a Agripa o caso de Paulo

13 Passados alguns dias, o rei Agripa e Berenice chegaram a *At 8.40;At 25.1,4,6Cesareia, para saudar a Festo. 14 Como se demorassem ali muitos dias, Festo expôs ao rei o caso de Paulo, dizendo: Félix *At 24.27deixou aqui um homem preso, 15 a respeito do qual, quando estive em Jerusalém, os principais sacerdotes e os anciãos dos judeus *At 24.1;At 25.2deram-me informações, pedindo que o condenasse. 16 A eles *At 25.4s.respondi que não é costume dos romanos condenar homem algum antes de *At 23.30o acusado ter presentes os acusadores e ter tido oportunidade de se defender do que lhe é imputado. 17 Portanto, tendo-se eles reunido aqui, sem me demorar, no dia seguinte sentei-me no *Mt 27.19;At 25.6,10tribunal e mandei trazer o homem; 18 e, levantando-se os acusadores, não apresentaram contra ele alguma acusação dos crimes que eu supunha, 19 mas tinham com ele certas *cp.At 18.15;23.29questões sobre a sua *cp.At 17.22religião e sobre um Jesus defunto, que Paulo afirmava estar vivo. 20 Eu, *At 25.9perplexo, quanto ao modo de investigar essas coisas, perguntei-lhe se queria ir a Jerusalém e ser ali julgado sobre essas questões. 21 Mas, havendo Paulo *At 25.11s.apelado para que o reservassem ao julgamento do imperador, mandei que fosse detido até que eu o enviasse a César. 22 Disse *cp.At 9.15Agripa a Festo: Eu também desejava ouvir esse homem. Amanhã, respondeu ele, o ouvirás.

Festo, de novo, fala a Agripa

23 No dia seguinte, vindo *At 25.13;At 26.30Agripa e Berenice, com grande pompa, e, depois de entrarem na audiência com os tribunos e homens principais da cidade, foi Paulo ali trazido por ordem de Festo. 24 Então, disse Festo: Rei Agripa e todos vós que estais presentes conosco, vedes este homem, por causa de quem *cp.At 25.2,7toda a comunidade dos judeus recorreu a mim, tanto em Jerusalém como aqui, clamando *At 22.22que não convinha que ele vivesse mais. 25 Porém eu achei que ele *At 23.29nada havia praticado que merecesse a morte, mas, tendo ele apelado para o imperador, determinei remeter-lho. 26 Dele nada tenho de positivo que escreva ao soberano; pelo que vo-lo tenho apresentado a vós e mormente a ti, ó rei Agripa, para que, depois de feito o interrogatório, tenha eu alguma coisa que escrever; 27 porque não me parece razoável remeter um preso, sem mencionar também as acusações que há contra ele.

1 Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Cæsarea to Jerusalem. 2 Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him, 3 And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him. 4 But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Cæsarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither. 5 Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him. 6 And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Cæsarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought. 7 And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove. 8 While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Cæsar, have I offended any thing at all. 9 But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me? 10 Then said Paul, I stand at Cæsar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest. 11 For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Cæsar. 12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Cæsar? unto Cæsar shalt thou go.

13 And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Cæsarea to salute Festus. 14 And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul’s cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix: 15 About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him. 16 To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him. 17 Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth. 18 Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed: 19 But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. 20 And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters. 21 But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Cæsar. 22 Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.

23 And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus’ commandment Paul was brought forth. 24 And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer. 25 But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him. 26 Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to write. 27 For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him.