1 T res días después de que Festo llegó a la provincia, fue de Cesarea a Jerusalén.

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

2 L os principales sacerdotes y los judíos más influyentes se presentaron ante él, y hablaron en contra de Pablo.

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 C omo un favor especial, le pidieron que ordenara trasladar a Pablo a Jerusalén. Y es que ellos ya habían planeado tenderle una emboscada y 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 F esto les dijo que Pablo estaba custodiado en Cesarea, adonde él mismo partiría en breve.

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

5 L es dijo: «Si algunos de ustedes pueden acompañarme, háganlo. Y si este hombre ha cometido algún crimen, acúsenlo allí.»

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 F esto se detuvo en Jerusalén unos ocho o diez días; luego fue a Cesarea, y al día siguiente se sentó en el tribunal y mandó traer 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 Pablo llegó, lo rodearon los judíos que habían ido desde Jerusalén. Presentaron en su contra muchas y graves acusaciones, pero no pudieron probar ninguna.

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 P ablo, en su defensa, dijo: «Yo no he cometido ningún delito. Ni contra la ley de los judíos, ni contra el templo, ni contra el emperador.»

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, que se quería congraciar con los judíos, le preguntó: «¿Prefieres ir a Jerusalén, para que seas juzgado de todo esto delante de mí?»

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 Y Pablo respondió: «Yo estoy ante el tribunal del emperador, y es en este tribunal donde debo ser juzgado. Como tú bien sabes, en nada he agraviado a los judíos.

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 he cometido algo que merezca la pena de muerte, no me rehúso a morir. Pero si las acusaciones que se me hacen no tienen sustento, nadie puede entregarme a ellos. ¡Yo apelo al emperador!»

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 habló con el consejo y, después de consultar con ellos, respondió: «Puesto que has apelado al emperador, ante el emperador comparecerás.» Pablo ante Agripa y Berenice

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 A lgunos días después, el rey Agripa y su hermana Berenice fueron a Cesarea para 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 A llí pasaron muchos días, así que Festo le expuso al rey el caso de Pablo. Le dijo: «Félix dejó preso a cierto hombre,

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 c ontra el cual los principales sacerdotes y los ancianos de los judíos presentaron acusaciones. Cuando fui a Jerusalén, éstos se presentaron y me exigieron que lo condenara.

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 los romanos no acostumbran condenar a muerte a nadie, si quienes lo acusan no están presentes. Es decir, para que el acusado pueda defenderse.

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 E ntonces todos ellos se presentaron, y yo actué sin tardanza. Al día siguiente ocupe mi lugar en el tribunal, y mandé traer a ese 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 S us acusadores, aunque estaban presentes, no presentaron ninguno de los cargos que yo pensaba que harían;

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

19 l o que tenían contra él eran, más bien, algunas cuestiones acerca de su religión y de un tal Jesús, ya muerto, del que Pablo afirma que está 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 C omo yo tenía mis dudas acerca de estas cuestiones, le pregunté si prefería ir a Jerusalén y ser juzgado 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 Pablo pidió que se le retuviera, apelando a que el emperador mismo conociera su caso. Entonces di órdenes de que lo custodiaran mientras lo remitía al emperador.»

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 A gripa dijo entonces a Festo: «También yo quiero oír a ese hombre.» Y Festo le respondió: «Pues mañana mismo lo oirás.»

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

23 A l día siguiente, Agripa y Berenice se presentaron en medio de gran ostentación, y entraron en la audiencia con los tribunos y los principales hombres de la ciudad. Festo mandó entonces que llevaran a 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 dijo: «Rey Agripa, y señores que nos acompañan: Fíjense en este hombre. Aquí y en Jerusalén un gran número de judíos me ha pedido a gritos que lo condene a muerte.

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 Y o no he hallado en él nada que merezca la pena de muerte. Y como él mismo ha apelado al emperador, he decidido remitirlo a él.

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 C omo no tengo nada concreto que pueda escribir a mi señor, lo he traído ante ustedes, y principalmente ante ti, rey Agripa, para que lo examines, y así tenga yo algo qué 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 C iertamente no me parece razonable enviar a un preso, y no informar de qué se le acusa.»

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