1 L legó, pues, Festo a la provincia, y a los tres días subió de Cesarea a Jerusalén.

Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.

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

Then the high priest and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul, and they begged him,

3 p idiendo contra él, como gracia, que lo hiciera traer a Jerusalén. Y preparaban ellos una celada para matarlo en el camino.

asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem; plotting to kill him on the way.

4 P ero Festo respondió que Pablo estaba custodiado en Cesarea, adonde él mismo partiría en breve.

However Festus answered that Paul should be kept in custody at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to depart shortly.

5 “ Los que de vosotros puedan” —dijo—, “desciendan conmigo, y si hay algún crimen en este hombre, acúsenlo.”

“Let them therefore”, said he, “that are in power among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong in the man, let them accuse him.”

6 E stuvo entre ellos no más de ocho o diez días, y luego fue a Cesarea; al siguiente día se sentó en el tribunal y mandó que fuera traído Pablo.

When he had stayed among them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea, and on the next day he sat on the judgment seat, and commanded Paul to be brought.

7 C uando éste llegó, lo rodearon los judíos que habían venido de Jerusalén, presentando contra él muchas y graves acusaciones, las cuales no podían probar.

When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing against him many and grievous charges which they could not prove,

8 P ablo se defendía diciendo: —Ni contra la Ley de los judíos, ni contra el Templo, ni contra César he pecado en nada.

while he said in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I sinned at all.”

9 P ero Festo, queriendo congraciarse con los judíos, le preguntó a Pablo: —¿Quieres subir a Jerusalén y ser juzgado allá de estas cosas delante de mí?

But Festus, desiring to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem, and be judged by me there concerning these things?”

10 P ablo 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.

But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also know very well.

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

For if I have done wrong, and have committed anything worthy of death, I don’t refuse to die; but if none of those things is true that they accuse me of, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!”

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

Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you shall go.”

13 P asados algunos días, el rey Agripa y Berenice vinieron a Cesarea para saludar a Festo.

Now when some days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea, and greeted Festus.

14 C omo se quedaron allí muchos días, Festo expuso al rey la causa de Pablo, diciendo: —Un hombre ha sido dejado preso por Félix,

As he stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, “There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix;

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

about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, asking for a sentence against him.

16 A estos respondí que no es costumbre de los romanos entregar a alguien a la muerte antes que el acusado tenga delante a sus acusadores y pueda defenderse de la acusación.

To whom I answered that it is not the custom of the Romans to give up any man to destruction, before the accused has met the accusers face to face, and has had opportunity to make his defense concerning the matter laid against him.

17 A sí que, habiendo venido ellos juntos acá, sin ninguna dilación, al día siguiente, sentado en el tribunal, mandé traer al hombre.

When therefore they had come together here, I didn’t delay, but on the next day sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought.

18 Y estando presentes los acusadores, ningún cargo presentaron de los que yo sospechaba,

Concerning whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no charge of such things as I supposed;

19 s ino que tenían contra él ciertas cuestiones acerca de su religión y de un cierto Jesús, ya muerto, que Pablo afirma que está vivo.

but had certain questions against him about their own religion, and about one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

20 Y o, dudando en cuestión semejante, le pregunté si quería ir a Jerusalén y allá ser juzgado de estas cosas.

Being perplexed how to inquire concerning these things, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there be judged concerning these matters.

21 P ero como Pablo apeló para que se le reservara para el conocimiento de Augusto, mandé que lo custodiaran hasta que lo enviara yo a César.

But when Paul had appealed to be kept for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be kept until I could send him to Caesar.”

22 E ntonces Agripa dijo a Festo: —Yo también quisiera oír a ese hombre. Y él le dijo: —Mañana lo oirás.

Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “you shall hear him.”

23 A l otro día, viniendo Agripa y Berenice con mucha pompa, y entrando en la audiencia con los comandantes y principales hombres de la ciudad, por mandato de Festo fue traído Pablo.

So on the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp, and they had entered into the place of hearing with the commanding officers and principal men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.

24 E ntonces 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.

Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all men who are here present with us, you see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.

25 P ero yo he hallado que ninguna cosa digna de muerte ha hecho, y como él mismo apeló a Augusto, he determinado enviarlo a él.

But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and as he himself appealed to the emperor I determined to send him.

26 C omo no tengo cosa cierta que escribir a mi señor, lo he traído ante vosotros, y mayormente ante ti, rey Agripa, para que después de examinarlo tenga yo qué escribir,

Of whom I have no certain thing to write to my lord. Therefore I have brought him out before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, that, after examination, I may have something to write.

27 p ues me parece fuera de razón enviar un preso sin informar de los cargos que haya en su contra.

For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to also specify the charges against him.”