1 N ow when Festus had entered into his own province, after three days he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem.

Llegado, pues, Festo a la provincia, subió de Cesarea a Jerusalén tres días después.

2 A nd the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews laid charges before him against Paul, and they kept begging and urging him,

Y los principales sacerdotes y los más influyentes de los judíos se presentaron ante él contra Pablo, y le rogaron,

3 A sking as a favor that he would have him brought to Jerusalem; they were planning an ambush to slay him on the way.

pidiendo contra él, como un favor, que le hiciese traer a Jerusalén; preparando ellos una emboscada para matarle en el camino.

4 F estus answered that Paul was in custody in Caesarea and that he himself planned to leave for there soon.

Pero Festo respondió que Pablo estaba custodiado en Cesarea, adonde él mismo partiría en breve.

5 S o, said he, let those who are in a position of authority and are influential among you go down with me, and if there is anything amiss or criminal about the man, let them so charge him.

Los que de vosotros puedan, dijo, desciendan conmigo, y si hay algún crimen en este hombre, acúsenle.

6 S o when Festus had remained among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea, took his seat the next day on the judgment bench, and ordered Paul to be brought before him.

Y deteniéndose entre ellos no más de ocho o diez días, vino a Cesarea, y al día siguiente se sentó en el tribunal, y mandó que fuese traído Pablo.

7 A nd when he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood all around him, bringing many grave accusations against him which they were not able to prove.

Cuando éste llegó, lo rodearon los judíos que habían descendido de Jerusalén, presentando contra él muchas y graves acusaciones, las cuales no podían probar;

8 P aul declared in defense, Neither against the Law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I offended in any way.

alegando Pablo en su defensa: Ni contra la ley de los judíos, ni contra el templo, ni contra César he pecado en nada.

9 B ut Festus, wishing to ingratiate himself with the Jews, answered Paul, Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and there be put on trial '> before the Jewish Sanhedrin] in my presence concerning these charges?

Pero Festo, queriendo congraciarse con los judíos, respondiendo a Pablo dijo: ¿Quieres subir a Jerusalén, y allá ser juzgado de estas cosas delante de mí?

10 B ut Paul replied, I am standing before Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you know better.

Pablo dijo: Ante el tribunal de César estoy, donde debo ser juzgado. A los judíos no les he hecho ningún agravio, como tú sabes muy bien.

11 I f then I am a wrongdoer and a criminal and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not beg off and seek to escape death; but if there is no ground for their accusations against me, no one can give me up and make a present of me '> give me up freely] to them. I appeal to Caesar.

Porque si he hecho algún agravio, o cosa alguna digna de muerte, no rehúso morir; pero si nada hay de las cosas de que éstos me acusan, nadie puede entregarme a ellos. A César apelo.

12 T hen Festus, when he had consulted with the '> men who formed his] council, answered, You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you shall go.

Entonces Festo, habiendo hablado con el consejo, respondió: A César has apelado; a César irás. Pablo ante Agripa y Berenice

13 N ow after an interval of some days, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus.

Pasados algunos días, el rey Agripa y Berenice vinieron a Cesarea para saludar a Festo.

14 A nd while they remained there for many days, Festus acquainted the king with Paul’s case, telling him, There is a man left a prisoner in chains by Felix;

Y como pasaban allí muchos días, Festo expuso al rey la causa de Pablo, diciendo: Un hombre ha sido dejado preso por Félix,

15 A nd when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me about him, petitioning for a judicial hearing and condemnation of him.

respecto al cual, cuando fui a Jerusalén, se me presentaron los principales sacerdotes y los ancianos de los judíos, pidiendo sentencia de condenación contra él.

16 B ut I replied to them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up freely any man for punishment before the accused had met the accusers face to face and had opportunity to defend himself concerning the charge brought against him.

Les respondí que no es costumbre de los romanos entregar alguno a la muerte antes que el acusado tenga delante a sus acusadores, y tenga la oportunidad de defenderse de los cargos.

17 S o when they came here together, I did not delay, but on the morrow took my place on the judgment seat and ordered that the man be brought before me.

Así que, después que ellos se reunieron aquí, sin ninguna dilación, al día siguiente, me senté en el tribunal y mandé traer al hombre.

18 w hen the accusers stood up, they brought forward no accusation of any such misconduct as I was expecting.

Y cuando sus acusadores comparecieron, ningún cargo presentaron de los que yo sospechaba,

19 I nstead they had some points of controversy with him about their own religion or superstition and concerning one Jesus, Who had died but Whom Paul kept asserting to be alive.

sino que tenían contra él ciertas cuestiones acerca de su propia religión, y de un cierto Jesús, ya muerto, del que Pablo afirmaba que está vivo.

20 A nd I, being puzzled to know how to make inquiries into such questions, asked whether he would be willing to go to Jerusalem and there be tried regarding them.

Yo no sabía qué camino tomar para investigar tal caso, y le pregunté si quería ir a Jerusalén y ser juzgado allí de estas cosas.

21 B ut when Paul had appealed to have his case retained for examination and decision by the emperor, I ordered that he be detained until I could send him to Caesar.

Mas como Pablo apeló que se le reservase para la decisión del Augusto, mandé que le custodiasen hasta que yo le envíe a César.

22 T hen Agrippa said to Festus, I also desire to hear the man myself. Tomorrow, replied, you shall hear him.

Entonces Agripa dijo a Festo: Yo también querría oír a ese hombre. Y él le dijo: Mañana le oirás.

23 S o the next day Agrippa and Bernice approached with great display, and they went into the audience hall accompanied by the military commandants and the prominent citizens of the city. At the order of Festus Paul was brought in.

Al otro día, viniendo Agripa y Berenice con mucha pompa, y entrando en la audiencia con los tribunos y los hombres más importantes de la ciudad, por mandato de Festo fue traído Pablo.

24 T hen Festus said, King Agrippa and all the men present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish people came to me and complained, both at Jerusalem and here, insisting and shouting that he ought not to live any longer.

Entonces Festo dijo: Rey Agripa, y todos los varones que estáis aquí juntos con nosotros, aquí tenéis a este hombre, respecto del cual toda la multitud de los judíos me ha demandado en Jerusalén y aquí, gritando que no debe vivir más.

25 B ut I found nothing that he had done deserving of death. Still, as he himself appealed to the emperor, I determined to send him to Rome.

Pero yo, hallando que no ha hecho ninguna cosa digna de muerte, y como él mismo apeló al Augusto, he determinado enviarle a él.

26 I have nothing in particular and definite to write to my lord concerning him. So I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after examination has been made, I may have something to put in writing.

Como no tengo nada en concreto que escribir a mi señor sobre él, le he traído ante vosotros, y sobre todo ante ti, oh rey Agripa, para que después de examinarle, tenga yo qué escribir.

27 F or it seems to me senseless and absurd to send a prisoner and not state the accusations against him.

Porque me parece fuera de razón enviar un preso, y no indicar los cargos que haya en su contra.