Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days, he went up to Jerusalem from Cæsarea.

Festus ergo cum venisset in provinciam, post triduum ascendit Jerosolymam a Cæsarea.

And Festus, three days after entering his province, went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem.

And the chief priests, and principal men of the Jews, went unto him against Paul: and they besought him,

Adieruntque eum principes sacerdotum et primi Judæorum adversus Paulum: et rogabant eum,

Here the high priest and the leaders of the Jews put before him their case against Paul, and were urgent with him,

Requesting favour against him, that he would command him to be brought to Jerusalem, laying wait to kill him in the way.

postulantes gratiam adversus eum, ut juberet perduci eum in Jerusalem, insidias tendentes ut interficerent eum in via.

asking as a favour, that he would summon Paul to Jerusalem; meanwhile they were preparing an ambush, so as to make away with him on the journey.

But Festus answered: That Paul was kept in Cæsarea, and that he himself would very shortly depart thither.

Festus autem respondit servari Paulum in Cæsarea: se autem maturius profecturum.

But Festus answered that Paul was in safe keeping at Caesarea; he himself would be removing there as soon as possible;

Let them, therefore, saith he, among you that are able, go down with me, and accuse him, if there be any crime in the man.

Qui ergo in vobis, ait, potentes sunt, descendentes simul, si quod est in viro crimen, accusent eum.

Let those of you who are men of influence, he said, travel down with me, and bring your charges against this man, if you have anything against him.

And having tarried among them no more than eight or ten days, he went down to Cæsarea, and the next day he sat in the judgment seat; and commanded Paul to be brought.

Demoratus autem inter eos dies non amplius quam octo aut decem, descendit Cæsaream, et altera die sedit pro tribunali, et jussit Paulum adduci.

So, when he had spent a week with them, or ten days at most, he went down to Caesarea; and next day, sitting on the judgement-seat, he gave orders for Paul to be brought in.

Who being brought, the Jews stood about him, who were come down from Jerusalem, objecting many and grievious causes, which they could not prove;

Qui cum perductus esset, circumsteterunt eum, qui ab Jerosolyma descenderant Judæi, multas et graves causas objicientes, quas non poterant probare:

When he appeared, there were the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem, standing round him and bringing many grave accusations against him, which they could not prove;

Paul making answer for himself: Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Cæsar, have I offended in any thing.

Paulo rationem reddente: Quoniam neque in legem Judæorum, neque in templum, neque in Cæsarem quidquam peccavi.

while Paul said in his defence, I have committed no crime against the Jewish law, or against the temple, or against Caesar.

But Festus, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, answering Paul, said: Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?

Festus autem volens gratiam præstare Judæis, respondens Paulo, dixit: Vis Jerosolymam ascendere, et ibi de his judicari apud me?

But Festus had a mind to ingratiate himself with the Jews, so he answered Paul thus, Art thou ready to go up to Jerusalem, and meet these charges before me there?

Then Paul said: I stand at Cæsar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no injury, as thou very well knowest.

Dixit autem Paulus: Ad tribunal Cæsaris sto: ibi me oportet judicari: Judæis non nocui, sicut tu melius nosti.

Upon which Paul said, I am standing at Caesar’s judgement-seat, where I have a right to be tried. As for the Jews, I have done them no wrong, as thou knowest well enough.

For if I have injured them, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die. But if there be none of these things whereof they accuse me, no man may deliver me to them: I appeal to Cæsar.

Si enim nocui, aut dignum morte aliquid feci, non recuso mori: si vero nihil est eorum quæ hi accusant me, nemo potest me illis donare. Cæsarem appello.

If I am guilty, if I have done something which deserves death, I do not ask for reprieve; if their charges are without substance, no one has a right to make them a present of my life. I appeal to Caesar.

Then Festus having conferred with the council, answered: Hast thou appealed to Cæsar? To Cæsar shalt thou go.

Tunc Festus cum concilio locutus, respondit: Cæsarem appellasti? ad Cæsarem ibis.

Then Festus conferred with his council, and answered, Hast thou appealed to Caesar? To Caesar thou shalt go.

And after some days, king Agrippa and Bernice came down to Cæsarea to salute Festus.

Et cum dies aliquot transacti essent, Agrippa rex et Bernice descenderunt Cæsaream ad salutandum Festum.

Some days later, king Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea, to give Festus their greeting,

And as they tarried there many days, Festus told the king of Paul, saying: A certain man was left prisoner by Felix.

Et cum dies plures ibi demorarentur, Festus regi indicavit de Paulo, dicens: Vir quidam est derelictus a Felice vinctus,

and, since he was spending several days there, Festus put Paul’s case before the king; There is a man here, he said, whom Felix left behind him in prison;

About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests, and the ancients of the Jews, came unto me, desiring condemnation against him.

de quo cum essem Jerosolymis, adierunt me principes sacerdotum et seniores Judæorum, postulantes adversus illum damnationem.

and when I went to Jerusalem the chief priests and elders of the Jews denounced him to me, asking for his condemnation.

To whom I answered: It is not the custom of the Romans to condemn any man, before that he who is accused have his accusers present, and have liberty to make his answer, to clear himself of the things laid to his charge.

Ad quos respondi: Quia non est Romanis consuetudo damnare aliquem hominem priusquam is qui accusatur præsentes habeat accusatores, locumque defendendi accipiat ad abluenda crimina.

I replied that it is not the Roman custom to pronounce a condemnation, until the accused man has been confronted with his accusers, and been given the opportunity to clear himself of the charge.

When therefore they were come hither, without any delay, on the day following, sitting in the judgment seat, I commanded the man to be brought.

Cum ergo huc convenissent sine ulla dilatione, sequenti die sedens pro tribunali, jussi adduci virum.

So they came here with me, and I did not keep them waiting; the next day, sitting on the judgement-seat, I gave orders for the man to be brought in.

Against whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation of this which I thought ill of:

De quo, cum stetissent accusatores, nullam causam deferebant, de quibus ego suspicabar malum.

His accusers, as they stood round him, could not tax him with any criminal offence, such as I had expected;

But had certain questions of their own superstition against him, and of one Jesus deceased, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

Quæstiones vero quasdam de sua superstitione habebant adversus eum, et de quodam Jesu defuncto, quem affirmabat Paulus vivere.

their controversies with him were concerned with scruples of their own, and with a dead man called Jesus, whom Paul declared to be alive.

I therefore being in a doubt of this manner of question, asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things.

Hæsitans autem ego de hujusmodi quæstione, dicebam si vellet ire Jerosolymam, et ibi judicari de istis.

For myself, I hesitated to enter upon the discussion of such matters; so I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem, and meet these charges there.

But Paul appealing to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept, till I might send him to Cæsar.

Paulo autem appellante ut servaretur ad Augusti cognitionem, jussi servari eum, donec mittam eum ad Cæsarem.

Upon which Paul appealed to have his case reserved for the emperor’s cognizance; and I gave orders that he should be kept safe until I can send him to Caesar.

And Agrippa said to Festus: I would also hear the man, myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.

Agrippa autem dixit ad Festum: Volebam et ipse hominem audire. Cras, inquit, audies eum.

Then Agrippa said to Festus, I have often wished, myself, to hear this man speak. Thou shalt hear him, said he, to-morrow.

And on the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice were come with great pomp, and had entered into the hall of audience, with the tribunes, and principal men of the city, at Festus’ commandment, Paul was brought forth.

Altera autem die cum venisset Agrippa et Bernice cum multa ambitione, et introissent in auditorium cum tribunis et viris principalibus civitatis, jubente Festo, adductus est Paulus.

So, on the next day, Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and made their entry into the hall of judgement, attended by the captains and all the eminent persons of the city; and Paul, at Festus’ command, was brought in.

And Festus saith: King Agrippa, and all ye men who are here present with us, you see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews dealt with me at Jerusalem, requesting and crying out that he ought not to live any longer.

Et dicit Festus: Agrippa rex, et omnes qui simul adestis nobiscum viri, videtis hunc de quo omnis multitudo Judæorum interpellavit me Jerosolymis, petentes et acclamantes non oportere eum vivere amplius.

Then Festus said, King Agrippa, and all you who are present, you see before you a man over whom the whole Jewish body has been petitioning me, not only here but at Jerusalem, crying out that he must not be allowed to live a day longer.

Yet have I found nothing that he hath committed worthy of death. But forasmuch as he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.

Ego vere comperi nihil dignum morte eum admisisse. Ipso autem hoc appellante ad Augustum, judicavi mittere.

For myself, I was satisfied that he had not done anything deserving of death; but, since he has appealed to the emperor, I have thought it best to send him,

Of whom I have nothing certain to write to my lord. For which cause I have brought him forth before you, and especially before thee, O king Agrippa, that examination being made, I may have what to write.

De quo quid certum scribam domino, non habeo. Propter quod produxi eum ad vos, et maxime ad te, rex Agrippa, ut interrogatione facta habeam quid scribam.

and now, writing to my sovereign lord, I have no clear account to give of him. That is why I have brought him before you, and before thee especially, king Agrippa, so that the examination may afford material for my letter.

For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not to signify the things laid to his charge.

Sine ratione enim mihi videtur mittere vinctum, et causas ejus non significare.

It would be unreasonable, I conceive, to remit a prisoner for trial without putting on record the charges that lie against him.