Hechos 25
1 Ocurrió que tres días después de que Festo había llegado a la provincia, se marchó de Cesarea para ir a Jerusalén.
Festus, having entered on his duties as governor of the province, two days later went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem.
2 Los jefes de los sacerdotes y los líderes judíos vinieron ante él y presentaron sus cargos contra Pablo.
The High Priests and the leading men among the Jews immediately made representations to him against Paul, and begged him--
3 Le rogaron a Festo que como favor enviara a Pablo a Jerusalén, conspirando para hacerle una emboscada y matarlo en el camino.
asking it as a favour, to Paul's prejudice--to have him brought to Jerusalem. They were planning an ambush to kill him on the way.
4 Pero Festo respondió que Pablo estaba bajo custodia en Cesarea y que él mismo estaría allá dentro de poco tiempo.
Festus, however, replied that Paul was in custody in Caesarea, and that he was himself going there very soon.
5 “Sus líderes pueden venir conmigo, y presentar sus acusaciones contra este hombre, si es que ha hecho algo malo”, les dijo.
"Therefore let those of you," he said, "who can come, go down with me, and impeach the man, if there is anything amiss in him."
6 Después de estar allí con ellos durante cerca de ocho o diez días, Festo regresó a Cesarea. Al día siguiente, tomó su asiento como juez, y ordenó que Pablo fuera traído delante de él.
After a stay of eight or ten days in Jerusalem--not more--he went down to Caesarea; and the next day, taking his seat on the tribunal, he ordered Paul to be brought in.
7 Cuando Pablo entró, los judíos que habían ido desde Jerusalén lo rodearon y presentaron acusaciones serias contra él, pero que no podían probar.
Upon Paul's arrival, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood round him, and brought many grave charges against him which they were unable to substantiate.
8 Pablo se defendió, diciéndoles: “No he pecado en absoluto contra la ley judía, ni contra el Templo ni contra el César”.
But, in reply, Paul said, "Neither against the Jewish Law, nor against the Temple, nor against Caesar, have I committed any offence whatever."
9 Pero Festo, quien buscaba el favor de los judíos, le preguntó a Pablo: “¿Estás dispuesto a ir a Jerusalén y ser juzgado ante mí allí sobre estos asuntos?”
Then Festus, being anxious to gratify the Jews, asked Paul, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem, and there stand your trial before me on these charges?"
10 “Yo estoy ante la corte del César para ser juzgado, justo donde debería estar”, respondió Pablo. “No le he hecho nada malo a los judíos, como bien lo saben.
"I am standing before Caesar's tribunal," replied Paul, "where alone I ought to be tried. The Jews have no real ground of complaint against me, as in fact you yourself are beginning to see more clearly.
11 Y si he cometido algo que merezca la muerte, no pido ser perdonado de la sentencia de muerte. Pero si no hay pruebas para estas acusaciones que ellos hacen contra mí, entonces nadie tiene derecho a entregarme a ellos. ¡Yo apelo al César!”
If, however, I have done wrong and have committed any offence for which I deserve to die, I do not ask to be excused that penalty. But if there is no truth in what these men allege against me, no one has the right to give me up to them as a favour. I appeal to Caesar."
12 Entonces Festo deliberó con el concilio, y respondió: “¡Has apelado al César y al César irás!”
Then, after conferring with the Council, Festus replied, "To Caesar you have appealed: to Caesar you shall go."
13 Varios días después, el Rey Agripa y su hermana Berenice llegaron a Cesarea para rendir honores a Festo.
A short time after this, Agrippa the king and Bernice came to Caesarea to pay a complimentary visit to Festus;
14 Y estaban quedándose por un tiempo, así que Festo le presentó al rey el caso de Pablo, explicando: “Hay un hombre que Félix dejó aquí como prisionero.
and, during their rather long stay, Festus laid Paul's case before the king. "There is a man here," he said, "whom Felix left a prisoner,
15 Cuando fui a Jerusalén, los jefes de los sacerdotes judíos y líderes vinieron y presentaron cargos contra él y me pidieron dar sentencia.
about whom, when I went to Jerusalem, the High Priests and the Elders of the Jews made representations to me, begging that sentence might be pronounced against him.
16 Yo respondí que conforme a la ley romana no está permitido condenar a alguien sin dejarle ver la cara de sus acusadores y debe dársele la oportunidad de defenderse de sus cargos.
My reply was that it is not the custom among the Romans to give up any one for punishment before the accused has had his accusers face to face, and has had an opportunity of defending himself against the charge which has been brought against him.
17 Así que cuando llegaron sus acusadores, no dejé pasar mucho tiempo sino que convoqué el juicio para el día siguiente. Y di orden para que trajeran a este hombre.
"When, therefore, a number of them came here, the next day I took my seat on the tribunal, without any loss of time, and ordered the man to be brought in.
18 Sin embargo, cuando los acusadores se levantaron, no presentaron cargos de acciones criminales, como yo esperaba.
But, when his accusers stood up, they did not charge him with the misdemeanours of which I had been suspecting him.
19 En lugar de ello surgieron controversias sobre asuntos religiosos, y sobre un hombre llamado Jesús, que estaba muerto, pero Pablo insistía en que estaba vivo todavía.
But they quarrelled with him about certain matters connected with their own religion, and about one Jesus who had died, but--so Paul persistently maintained--is now alive.
20 Como yo estaba indeciso respecto a cómo proceder en la investigación de tales asuntos, le pregunté si estaba dispuesto a ir a Jerusalén para ser juzgado allí.
I was at a loss how to investigate such questions, and asked Paul whether he would care to go to Jerusalem and there stand his trial on these matters.
21 No obstante, Pablo apeló por su caso para que fuera escuchado por el emperador, así que di orden de que fuera detenido hasta que pudiera enviarlo al César”.
But when Paul appealed to have his case kept for the Emperor's decision, I ordered him to be kept in prison until I could send him up to Caesar."
22 “Me gustaría escuchar yo mismo a este hombre”, dijo Agripa a Festo. “Haré los arreglos para que lo escuches mañana”, respondió Festo.
"I should like to hear the man myself," said Agrippa. "to-morrow," replied Festus, "you shall." Accordingly, the next day, Agrippa and Bernice came in state
23 Al día siguiente, Agripa llegó con Berenice con gran esplendor ceremonial y entraron al auditorio con los comandantes y principales ciudadanos. Entonces Festo dio orden para que trajeran a Pablo.
and took their seats in the Judgement Hall, attended by the Tribunes and the men of high rank in the city; and, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.
24 “Rey Agripa, y todos los que están presentes aquí con nosotros”, comenzó Festo, “ustedes ven que delante de ustedes está este hombre, de quien todo el pueblo judío, tanto aquí como en Jerusalén, se han quejado ante mí, gritando que no debería seguir con vida.
Then Festus said, "King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see here the man about whom the whole nation of the Jews made suit to me, both in Jerusalem and here, crying out that he ought not to live any longer.
25 Sin embargo, descubrí que él no ha cometido ningún crimen que merezca la muerte, y como él ha apelado al emperador, decidí enviarlo allí.
I could not discover that he had done anything for which he deserved to die; but as he has himself appealed to the Emperor, I have decided to send him to Rome.
26 Pero no tengo nada específico que escribir sobre él a Su Majestad Imperial. Por ello lo he traído aquí delante de ustedes para poder tener algo concreto que escribir.
I have nothing very definite, however, to tell our Sovereign about him. So I have brought the man before you all--and especially before you, King Agrippa--that after he has been examined I may find something which I can put into writing.
27 No me parece justo enviar a un prisionero sin explicar los cargos presentados en su contra”.
For, when sending a prisoner to Rome, it seems to me to be absurd not to state the charges against him."
