1 F esto, entonces, tres días después de haber llegado a la provincia, subió a Jerusalén desde Cesarea.

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

2 Y los principales sacerdotes y los Judíos más influyentes le presentaron acusaciones contra Pablo, e insistían con Festo,

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

3 p idiéndole, el favor de que hiciera traer a Pablo a Jerusalén, preparando ellos, al mismo tiempo, una emboscada para matarlo en el camino.

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

4 P ero Festo respondió que Pablo estaba bajo custodia en Cesarea, y que en breve él mismo saldría para allá.

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

5 P or tanto dijo: “Que los más influyentes de ustedes vayan allá conmigo, y si hay algo malo en el hombre, que lo acusen.” Pablo Apela al César

So, 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.

6 D espués de haberse quedado no más de ocho o diez días entre ellos, descendió a Cesarea, y al día siguiente se sentó en el tribunal y ordenó que trajeran a Pablo.

So 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.

7 C uando éste llegó, lo rodearon los Judíos que habían descendido de Jerusalén, presentando contra él muchas y graves acusaciones que no podían probar,

And 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.

8 m ientras Pablo decía en defensa propia: “No he cometido ningún delito, ni contra la Ley de los Judíos, ni contra el templo, ni contra el César (Nerón).”

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

9 P ero Festo, queriendo hacer un favor a los Judíos, respondió a Pablo, y dijo: “¿Estás dispuesto a subir a Jerusalén y a ser juzgado delante de mí por estas acusaciones ?”

But 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?

10 E ntonces Pablo respondió: “Ante el tribunal del César estoy, que es donde debo ser juzgado. Ningún agravio he hecho a los Judíos, como también usted muy bien sabe.

But 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.

11 S i soy, pues, un malhechor y he hecho algo digno de muerte, no rehúso morir. Pero si ninguna de esas cosas de que éstos me acusan es verdad, nadie puede entregarme a ellos. Apelo al César.”

If 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.

12 E ntonces Festo, habiendo deliberado con el consejo, respondió: “Al César has apelado, al César irás.” Pablo ante Herodes Agripa II

Then Festus, when he had consulted with the '> men who formed his] council, answered, You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you shall go.

13 P asados varios días, el rey Herodes Agripa II y Berenice llegaron a Cesarea y fueron a saludar a Festo.

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

14 C omo estuvieron allí muchos días, Festo presentó el caso de Pablo ante el rey, diciendo: “Hay un hombre que Félix dejó preso,

And 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;

15 a cerca del cual, estando yo en Jerusalén, los principales sacerdotes y los ancianos de los Judíos presentaron acusaciones contra él, pidiendo sentencia condenatoria contra él.

And 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.

16 Y o les respondí que no es costumbre de los Romanos entregar a un hombre sin que antes el acusado confronte a sus acusadores, y tenga la oportunidad de defenderse de los cargos.

But 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.

17 A sí que cuando se reunieron aquí, sin ninguna demora, al día siguiente me senté en el tribunal y ordené traer al hombre.

So 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.

18 L evantándose los acusadores, presentaban acusaciones contra él, pero no de la clase de crímenes que yo suponía,

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

19 s ino que simplemente tenían contra él ciertas cuestiones sobre su propia religión, y sobre cierto Jesús, ya muerto, de quien Pablo afirmaba que estaba vivo.

Instead 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.

20 “ Pero estando yo perplejo cómo investigar estas cuestiones, le pregunté si estaba dispuesto a ir a Jerusalén y ser juzgado de estas cosas allá.

And 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.

21 P ero como Pablo apeló que se le tuviera bajo custodia para que el emperador Nerón diera el fallo, ordené que continuara bajo custodia hasta que yo lo enviara al César.”

But 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.

22 E ntonces Agripa II dijo a Festo: “A mí también me gustaría oír al hombre.” “Mañana lo oirás,” dijo Festo.

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

23 A sí que al día siguiente, cuando Agripa II y Berenice entraron al auditorio en medio de gran pompa, acompañados por los comandantes y los hombres importantes de la ciudad, por orden de Festo, fue traído Pablo.

So 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.

24 Y Festo dijo: “Rey Agripa y todos los demás aquí presentes con nosotros; éste es el hombre acerca del cual los Judíos, tanto en Jerusalén como aquí, me hicieron una petición declarando a gritos que no debe vivir más.

Then 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.

25 “ Pero a mí me parece que no ha hecho nada digno de muerte, pero como él mismo apeló al emperador (Nerón), he decidido enviarlo a Roma.

But 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.

26 S in embargo, no tengo nada definido sobre él para escribirle a mi señor. Por eso lo he traído ante ustedes, y especialmente ante ti, rey Agripa, para que después de que se le interrogue, yo tenga algo que escribir.

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.

27 P orque me parece absurdo, al enviar un preso, no informar también de los cargos en su contra.”

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