1 Festus ergo cum venisset in provinciam
post triduum ascendit Hierosolymam a Caesarea
2 adieruntque eum principes sacerdotum et primi
Iudaeorum adversus Paulum
et rogabant eum
3 postulantes gratiam adversum eum
ut iuberet perduci eum Hierusalem
insidias tendentes ut eum interficerent in via
4 Festus autem respondit servari Paulum in Caesarea
se autem maturius profecturum
5 qui ergo in vobis ait potentes sunt descendentes simul
si quod est in viro crimen accusent eum
6 demoratus autem inter eos dies non amplius quam octo aut decem
descendit Caesaream
et altera die sedit pro tribunali et iussit Paulum adduci
7 qui cum perductus esset
circumsteterunt eum qui ab Hierosolyma descenderant Iudaei
multas et graves causas obicientes quas non poterant probare
8 Paulo autem rationem reddente
quoniam neque in legem Iudaeorum
neque in templum neque in Caesarem quicquam peccavi
9 Festus autem volens Iudaeis gratiam praestare
respondens Paulo dixit
vis Hierosolymam ascendere et ibi de his iudicari apud me
10 dixit autem Paulus
ad tribunal Caesaris sto ubi me oportet iudicari
Iudaeis non nocui sicut tu melius nosti
11 si enim nocui aut dignum morte aliquid feci non recuso mori
si vero nihil est eorum quae hii accusant me
nemo potest me illis donare Caesarem appello
12 tunc Festus cum consilio locutus respondit
Caesarem appellasti ad Caesarem ibis
13 et cum dies aliquot transacti essent
Agrippa rex et Bernice descenderunt Caesaream
ad salutandum Festum
14 et cum dies plures ibi demorarentur
Festus regi indicavit de Paulo dicens
vir quidam est derelictus a Felice vinctus
15 de quo cum essem Hierosolymis
adierunt me principes sacerdotum et seniores Iudaeorum
postulantes adversus illum damnationem
16 ad quos respondi
quia non est consuetudo Romanis
donare aliquem hominem
priusquam is qui accusatur praesentes habeat accusatores
locumque defendendi accipiat ad abluenda crimina
17 cum ergo huc convenissent
sine ulla dilatione sequenti die sedens pro tribunali
iussi adduci virum
18 de quo cum stetissent accusatores
nullam causam deferebant de quibus ego suspicabar malum
19 quaestiones vero quasdam de sua superstitione habebant adversus eum
et de quodam Iesu defuncto quem adfirmabat Paulus vivere
20 haesitans autem ego de huiusmodi quaestione dicebam
si vellet ire Hierosolymam et ibi iudicari de istis
21 Paulo autem appellante
ut servaretur ad Augusti cognitionem
iussi servari eum donec mittam eum ad Caesarem
22 Agrippa autem ad Festum
volebam et ipse hominem audire
cras inquit audies eum
23 altera autem die
cum venisset Agrippa et Bernice cum multa ambitione
et introissent in auditorium
cum tribunis et viris principalibus civitatis
et iubente Festo adductus est Paulus
24 et dixit Festus
Agrippa rex et omnes qui simul adestis nobiscum viri
videtis hunc de quo omnis multitudo Iudaeorum interpellavit me
Hierosolymis petens et hic
clamantes non oportere eum vivere amplius
25 ego vero conperi nihil dignum eum morte admisisse
ipso autem hoc appellante Augustum iudicavi mittere
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
27 sine ratione enim mihi videtur mittere vinctum
et causas eius non significare
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.