Acts of the Apostles 25

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Three days after his arrival in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem	1 Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.
2 where the chief priests and Jewish leaders presented him their formal charges against Paul. They asked him	2 And the chief priests, and principal men of the Jews, went unto him against Paul: and they besought him,
3 as a favor to have him sent to Jerusalem, for they were plotting to kill him along the way.	3 Requesting favour against him, that he would command him to be brought to Jerusalem, laying wait to kill him in the way.
4 Festus replied that Paul was being held in custody in Caesarea and that he himself would be returning there shortly.	4 But Festus answered: That Paul was kept in Caesarea, and that he himself would very shortly depart thither.
5 He said, "Let your authorities come down with me, and if this man has done something improper, let them accuse him."	5 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.
6 After spending no more than eight or ten days with them, he went down to Caesarea, and on the following day took his seat on the tribunal and ordered that Paul be brought in.	6 And having tarried among them no more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea, and the next day he sat in the judgment seat; and commanded Paul to be brought.
7 When he appeared, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem surrounded him and brought many serious charges against him, which they were unable to prove.	7 Who being brought, the Jews stood about him, who were come down from Jerusalem, objecting many and grievous causes, which they could not prove;
8 In defending himself Paul said, "I have committed no crime either against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar."	8 Paul making answer for himself: Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I offended in any thing.
9 Then Festus, wishing to ingratiate himself with the Jews, said to Paul in reply, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and there stand trial before me on these charges?"	9 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?
10 Paul answered, "I am standing before the tribunal of Caesar; this is where I should be tried. I have committed no crime against the Jews, as you very well know.	10 Then Paul said: I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no injury, as thou very well knowest.
11 If I have committed a crime or done anything deserving death, I do not seek to escape the death penalty; but if there is no substance to the charges they are bringing against me, then no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar."	11 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 Caesar.
12 Then Festus, after conferring with his council, replied, "You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go."	12 Then Festus having conferred with the council, answered: Hast thou appealed to Caesar? To Caesar shalt thou go.
13 When a few days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea on a visit to Festus.	13 And after some days, king Agrippa and Bernice came down to Caesarea to salute Festus.
14 Since they spent several days there, Festus referred Paul's case to the king, saying, "There is a man here left in custody by Felix.	14 And as they tarried there many days, Festus told the king of Paul, saying: A certain man was left prisoner by Felix.
15 When I was in Jerusalem the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him and demanded his condemnation.	15 About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests, and the ancients of the Jews, came unto me, desiring condemnation against him.
16 I answered them that it was not Roman practice to hand over an accused person before he has faced his accusers and had the opportunity to defend himself against their charge.	16 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.
17 So when (they) came together here, I made no delay; the next day I took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought in.	17 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.
18 His accusers stood around him, but did not charge him with any of the crimes I suspected.	18 Against whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation of things which I thought ill of:
19 Instead they had some issues with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus who had died but who Paul claimed was alive.	19 But had certain questions of their own superstition against him, and of one Jesus deceased, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
20 Since I was at a loss how to investigate this controversy, I asked if he were willing to go to Jerusalem and there stand trial on these charges.	20 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.
21 And when Paul appealed that he be held in custody for the Emperor's decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar."	21 But Paul appealing to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept, till I might send him to Caesar.
22 Agrippa said to Festus, "I too should like to hear this man." He replied, "Tomorrow you will hear him."	22 And Agrippa said to Festus: I would also hear the man, myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.
23 The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great ceremony and entered the audience hall in the company of cohort commanders and the prominent men of the city and, by command of Festus, Paul was brought in.	23 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.
24 And Festus said, "King Agrippa and all you here present with us, look at this man about whom the whole Jewish populace petitioned me here and in Jerusalem, clamoring that he should live no longer.	24 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.
25 I found, however, that he had done nothing deserving death, and so when he appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.	25 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.
26 But I have nothing definite to write about him to our sovereign; therefore I have brought him before all of you, and particularly before you, King Agrippa, so that I may have something to write as a result of this investigation.	26 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.
27 For it seems senseless to me to send up a prisoner without indicating the charges against him."	27 For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not to signify the things laid to his charge.