Hechos 25
Dios Habla Hoy
Pablo ante Festo
25 Festo llegó para tomar su puesto de gobernador, y tres días después se dirigió de Cesarea a Jerusalén. 2 Allí los jefes de los sacerdotes y los judíos más importantes le presentaron una demanda contra Pablo. 3 Le pidieron, como favor especial, que ordenara que Pablo fuera llevado a Jerusalén. El plan de ellos era hacer que lo mataran en el camino; 4 pero Festo contestó que Pablo seguiría preso en Cesarea, y que él mismo pensaba ir allá dentro de poco. 5 Les dijo:
—Por eso, las autoridades de ustedes deben ir conmigo a Cesarea, y si ese hombre ha cometido algún delito, allí podrán acusarlo.
6 Festo estuvo en Jerusalén unos ocho o diez días más, y luego regresó a Cesarea. Al día siguiente ocupó su asiento en el tribunal y ordenó que le llevaran a Pablo. 7 Cuando Pablo entró, los judíos que habían llegado de Jerusalén se acercaron y lo acusaron de muchas cosas graves, aunque no pudieron probar ninguna de ellas. 8 Pablo, por su parte, decía en su defensa:
—Yo no he cometido ningún delito, ni contra la ley de los judíos ni contra el templo ni contra el emperador romano.
9 Pero como Festo quería quedar bien con los judíos, le preguntó a Pablo:
—¿Quieres ir a Jerusalén, para que yo juzgue allá tu caso?
10 Pablo contestó:
—Estoy ante el tribunal del emperador romano, que es donde debo ser juzgado. Como bien sabe usted, no he hecho nada malo contra los judíos. 11 Si he cometido algún delito que merezca la pena de muerte, no me niego a morir; pero si no hay nada de cierto en las cosas de que me acusan, nadie tiene el derecho de entregarme a ellos. Pido que el emperador mismo me juzgue.
12 Festo entonces consultó con sus consejeros, y luego dijo:
—Ya que has pedido que te juzgue el emperador, al emperador irás.
Pablo ante el rey Agripa
13 Al cabo de algunos días, el rey Agripa y Berenice fueron a Cesarea a saludar a Festo. 14 Como estuvieron allí varios días, Festo contó al rey el caso de Pablo. Le dijo:
—Hay aquí un hombre que Félix dejó preso. 15 Cuando estuve en Jerusalén, los jefes de los sacerdotes y los ancianos de los judíos me presentaron una demanda contra él, pidiéndome que lo condenara. 16 Yo les contesté que la autoridad romana no acostumbra condenar a muerte a nadie sin que antes el acusado pueda verse cara a cara con los que lo acusan, para defenderse de la acusación. 17 Por eso, cuando ellos vinieron acá, no perdí tiempo, sino que al día siguiente ocupé mi asiento en el tribunal y mandé traer al hombre. 18 Pero los que se presentaron para acusarlo no alegaron en contra suya ninguno de los delitos que yo había pensado. 19 Lo único que decían contra él eran cosas de su religión, y de un tal Jesús que murió y que Pablo dice que está vivo. 20 Como yo no sabía qué hacer en este asunto, le pregunté a Pablo si quería ir a Jerusalén para ser juzgado de esas cosas. 21 Pero él ha pedido que lo juzgue Su Majestad el emperador, así que he ordenado que siga preso hasta que yo pueda mandárselo.
22 Entonces Agripa le dijo a Festo:
—Yo también quisiera oír a ese hombre.
Y Festo le contestó:
—Mañana mismo lo oirás.
23 Al día siguiente, Agripa y Berenice llegaron y entraron con gran solemnidad en la sala, junto con los jefes militares y los principales señores de la ciudad. Festo mandó que le llevaran a Pablo, 24 y dijo:
—Rey Agripa y señores que están aquí reunidos con nosotros: ahí tienen a ese hombre. Todos los judíos me han traído acusaciones contra él, tanto en Jerusalén como aquí en Cesarea, y no dejan de pedirme a gritos su muerte; 25 pero a mí me parece que no ha hecho nada que la merezca. Sin embargo, como él mismo ha pedido ser juzgado por Su Majestad el emperador, he decidido enviárselo. 26 Pero como no tengo nada concreto que escribirle a mi señor el emperador acerca de él, lo traigo ante ustedes, y sobre todo ante ti, oh rey Agripa, para que después de interrogarlo tenga yo algo que escribir. 27 Pues me parece absurdo enviar un preso y no decir de qué está acusado.
Acts 25
King James Version
25 Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea 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 Caesarea, 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 Caesarea; 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 Caesar, 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 Caesar'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 Caesar.
12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.
13 And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea 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 Caesar.
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.
Acts 25
English Standard Version
Paul Appeals to Caesar
25 Now three days after Festus had arrived in (A)the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. 2 And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews (B)laid out their case against Paul, and they urged him, 3 asking as a favor against Paul[a] that he summon him to Jerusalem—because (C)they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way. 4 Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly. 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 bring charges against him.”
6 After he stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day he took his seat on (D)the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought. 7 When he had arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him (E)that they could not prove. 8 Paul argued in his defense, “Neither (F)against (G)the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor (H)against Caesar have I committed any offense.” 9 But Festus, (I)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 But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar's (J)tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well. 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 to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. (K)I appeal to Caesar.” 12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.”
Paul Before Agrippa and Bernice
13 Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus. 14 And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king, saying, (L)“There is a man left prisoner by Felix, 15 and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews laid out their case (M)against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him. 16 (N)I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone (O)before the accused met the accusers face to face and had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against him. 17 (P)So when they came together here, I made no delay, but on the next day took my seat on (Q)the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought. 18 When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed. 19 Rather they (R)had certain points of dispute with him about their own religion and about (S)a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive. 20 Being at a loss how to investigate these questions, I (T)asked whether he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding them. 21 But (U)when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of (V)the emperor, I ordered him to be held until I could send him to Caesar.” 22 Then (W)Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” said he, “you will hear him.”
23 So on the next day (X)Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. 24 And Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom (Y)the whole Jewish people petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, (Z)shouting that he ought not to live any longer. 25 But I found that (AA)he had done nothing deserving death. And (AB)as he himself appealed to (AC)the emperor, I decided to go ahead and send him. 26 But I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after we have examined him, I may have something to write. 27 For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him.”
Footnotes
- Acts 25:3 Greek him
Dios habla hoy ®, © Sociedades Bíblicas Unidas, 1966, 1970, 1979, 1983, 1996.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
