Acts 25
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 25
Appeal to Caesar. 1 Three days after his arrival in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem 2 where the chief priests and Jewish leaders presented him their formal charges against Paul.[a] They asked him 3 as a favor to have him sent to Jerusalem, for they were plotting to kill him along the way. 4 Festus replied that Paul was being held in custody in Caesarea and that he himself would be returning there shortly. 5 He said, “Let your authorities come down with me, and if this man has done something improper, let them accuse him.”
6 After spending no more than eight or ten days with them, he went down to Caesarea, and on the following day took his seat on the tribunal and ordered that Paul be brought in. 7 When he appeared, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem surrounded him and brought many serious charges against him, which they were unable to prove. 8 In defending himself Paul said, “I have committed no crime either against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.” 9 [b]Then Festus, wishing to ingratiate himself with the Jews, said to Paul in reply, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and there stand trial before me on these charges?” 10 Paul answered, “I am standing before the tribunal of Caesar; this is where I should be tried. I have committed no crime against the Jews, as you very well know. 11 If I have committed a crime or done anything deserving death, I do not seek to escape the death penalty; but if there is no substance to the charges they are bringing against me, then no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar.” 12 Then Festus, after conferring with his council, replied, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go.”
Paul Before King Agrippa. 13 When a few days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice[c] arrived in Caesarea on a visit to Festus. 14 Since they spent several days there, Festus referred Paul’s case to the king, saying, “There is a man here left in custody by Felix.(A) 15 When I was in Jerusalem the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him and demanded his condemnation. 16 I answered them that it was not Roman practice to hand over an accused person before he has faced his accusers and had the opportunity to defend himself against their charge. 17 So when [they] came together here, I made no delay; the next day I took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought in. 18 (B)His accusers stood around him, but did not charge him with any of the crimes I suspected. 19 Instead they had some issues with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus who had died but who Paul claimed was alive. 20 Since I was at a loss how to investigate this controversy, I asked if he were willing to go to Jerusalem and there stand trial on these charges. 21 And when Paul appealed that he be held in custody for the Emperor’s decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar.” 22 Agrippa said to Festus, “I too should like to hear this man.” He replied, “Tomorrow you will hear him.”
23 The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great ceremony and entered the audience hall in the company of cohort commanders and the prominent men of the city and, by command of Festus, Paul was brought in. 24 And Festus said, “King Agrippa and all you here present with us, look at this man about whom the whole Jewish populace petitioned me here and in Jerusalem, clamoring that he should live no longer. 25 I found, however, that he had done nothing deserving death, and so when he appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him. 26 But I have nothing definite to write about him to our sovereign; therefore I have brought him before all of you, and particularly before you, King Agrippa, so that I may have something to write as a result of this investigation. 27 For it seems senseless to me to send up a prisoner without indicating the charges against him.”
Footnotes
- 25:2 Even after two years the animosity toward Paul in Jerusalem had not subsided (see Acts 24:27).
- 25:9–12 Paul refuses to acknowledge that the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem has any jurisdiction over him now (Acts 25:11). Paul uses his right as a Roman citizen to appeal his case to the jurisdiction of the Emperor (Nero, ca. A.D. 60) (Acts 25:12). This move broke the deadlock between Roman protective custody of Paul and the plan of his enemies to kill him (25:3).
- 25:13 King Agrippa and Bernice: brother and sister, children of Herod Agrippa I whose activities against the Jerusalem community are mentioned in Acts 12:1–19. Agrippa II was a petty ruler over small areas in northern Palestine and some villages in Perea. His influence on the Jewish population of Palestine was insignificant.
Hechos 25
Spanish Blue Red and Gold Letter Edition
25 FESTO pues, entrado en la provincia, tres días después subió de Cesarea á Jerusalem.
2 Y vinieron á él los príncipes de los sacerdotes y los principales de los Judíos contra Pablo; y le rogaron,
3 Pidiendo gracia contra él, que le hiciese traer á Jerusalem, poniendo ellos asechanzas para matarle en el camino.
4 Mas Festo respondió, que Pablo estaba guardado en Cesarea, y que él mismo partiría presto.
5 Los que de vosotros pueden, dijo, desciendan juntamente; y si hay algún crimen en este varón, acúsenle.
6 Y deteniéndose entre ellos no más de ocho ó diez días, venido á Cesarea, el siguiente día se sentó en el tribunal, y mandó que Pablo fuese traído.
7 El cual venido, le rodearon los Judíos que habían venido de Jerusalem, poniendo contra Pablo muchas y graves acusaciones, las cuales no podían probar;
8 Alegando él por su parte: Ni contra la ley de los Judíos, ni contra el templo, ni contra César he pecado en nada.
9 Mas Festo, queriendo congraciarse con los Judíos, respondiendo á Pablo, dijo: ¿Quieres subir á Jerusalem, y allá ser juzgado de estas cosas delante de mí?
10 Y Pablo dijo: Ante el tribunal de César estoy, donde conviene que sea juzgado. A los Judíos no he hecho injuria ninguna, como tú sabes muy bien.
11 Porque si alguna injuria, ó cosa alguna digna de muerte he hecho, no rehuso morir; mas si nada hay de las cosas de que éstos me acusan, nadie puede darme á ellos. A César apelo.
12 Entonces Festo, habiendo hablado con el consejo, respondió: ¿A César has apelado? á César irás.
13 Y pasados algunos días, el rey Agripa y Bernice vinieron á Cesarea á saludar á Festo.
14 Y como estuvieron allí muchos días, Festo declaró la causa de Pablo al rey, diciendo: Un hombre ha sido dejado preso por Félix,
15 Sobre el cual, cuando fuí á Jerusalem, vinieron á mí los príncipes de los sacerdotes y los ancianos de los Judíos, pidiendo condenación contra él:
16 A los cuales respondí: no ser costumbre de los Romanos dar alguno á la muerte antes que el que es acusado tenga presentes sus acusadores, y haya lugar de defenderse de la acusación.
17 Así que, habiendo venido ellos juntos acá, sin ninguna dilación, al día siguiente, sentado en el tribunal, mandé traer al hombre;
18 Y estando presentes los acusadores, ningún cargo produjeron de los que yo sospechaba:
19 Solamente tenían contra él ciertas cuestiones acerca de su superstición, y de un cierto Jesús, difunto, el cual Pablo afirmaba que estaba vivo.
20 Y yo, dudando en cuestión semejante, dije, si quería ir á Jerusalem, y allá ser juzgado de estas cosas.
21 Mas apelando Pablo á ser guardado al conocimiento de Augusto, mandé que le guardasen hasta que le enviara á César.
22 Entonces Agripa dijo á Festo: Yo también quisiera oir á ese hombre. Y él dijo: Mañana le oirás.
23 Y al otro día, viniendo Agripa y Bernice con mucho aparato, y entrando en la audiencia con los tribunos y principales hombres de la ciudad, por mandato de Festo, fué traído Pablo.
24 Entonces Festo dijo: Rey Agripa, y todos los varones que estáis aquí juntos con nosotros: veis á éste, por el cual toda la multitud de los Judíos me ha demandado en Jerusalem y aquí, dando voces que no conviene que viva más;
25 Mas yo, hallando que ninguna cosa digna de muerte ha hecho, y él mismo apelando á Augusto, he determinado enviarle:
26 Del cual no tengo cosa cierta que escriba al señor; por lo que le he sacado á vosotros, y mayormente á tí, oh rey Agripa, para que hecha información, tenga yo qué escribir.
27 Porque fuera de razón me parece enviar un preso, y no informar de las causas.
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