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Domenica, 28 aprile 2024 - San Luigi Maria Grignion da Montfort ( Letture di oggi)

Acts of the Apostles 25


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NEW JERUSALEMDOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Three days after his arrival in the province, Festus went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.1 Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.
2 The chief priests and leaders of the Jews informed him of the case against Paul,2 And the chief priests, and principal men of the Jews, went unto him against Paul: and they besought him,
3 urgently asking him to support them against him, and to have him transferred to Jerusalem. They werepreparing an ambush to murder him on 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 But Festus replied that Paul was in custody in Caesarea, and that he would be going back there shortlyhimself.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 there is anything wrong about the man, theycan bring a charge against 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 staying with them for eight or ten days at the most, he went down to Caesarea and the next dayhe took his seat on the tribunal and had Paul 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 As soon as Paul appeared, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem surrounded him, makingmany serious accusations which they were unable to substantiate.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 Paul's defence was this, 'I have committed no offence whatever against either Jewish law, or theTemple, or 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 Festus was anxious to gain favour with the Jews, so he said to Paul, 'Are you wil ing to go up toJerusalem and be tried on these charges before me there?'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 But Paul replied, 'I am standing before the tribunal of Caesar and this is where I should be tried. Ihave done the Jews no wrong, as you very wel 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 am guilty of committing any capital crime, I do not ask to be spared the death penalty. But if thereis no substance in the accusations these persons bring against me, no one has a right to surrender me to them. Iappeal 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 conferred with his advisers and replied, 'You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar youshall go.'12 Then Festus having conferred with the council, answered: Hast thou appealed to Caesar? To Caesar shalt thou go.
13 Some days later King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea and paid their respects to Festus.13 And after some days, king Agrippa and Bernice came down to Caesarea to salute Festus.
14 Their visit lasted several days, and Festus put Paul's case before the king, saying, 'There is a manhere whom Felix left behind in custody,14 And as they tarried there many days, Festus told the king of Paul, saying: A certain man was left prisoner by Felix.
15 and while I was in Jerusalem the chief priests and elders of the Jews laid information against him,demanding 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 But I told them that Romans are not in the habit of surrendering any man, until the accused confrontshis accusers and is given an opportunity to defend himself against the 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 they came here with me, and I wasted no time but took my seat on the tribunal the very next dayand had the man 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 When confronted with him, his accusers did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected;18 Against whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation of things which I thought ill of:
19 but they had some argument or other with him about their own religion and about a dead man cal edJesus whom Paul al eged to be alive.19 But had certain questions of their own superstition against him, and of one Jesus deceased, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
20 Not feeling qualified to deal with questions of this sort, I asked him if he would be wil ing to go toJerusalem to be tried there on this issue.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 But Paul put in an appeal for his case to be reserved for the judgement of the emperor, so I orderedhim to be remanded 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 should like to hear the man myself.' He answered, 'Tomorrow you shal hearhim.'22 And Agrippa said to Festus: I would also hear the man, myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.
23 So the next day Agrippa and Bernice arrived in great state and entered the audience chamberattended by the tribunes and the city notables; and Festus ordered Paul to be 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 Then Festus said, 'King Agrippa, and all here present with us, you see before you the man aboutwhom the whole Jewish community has petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, loudly protesting that heought not to be allowed to remain alive.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 For my own part I am satisfied that he has committed no capital crime, but when he himself appealedto 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 that I can write to his Imperial Majesty about him; that is why I haveproduced him before you all, and before you in particular, King Agrippa, so that after the examination I may havesomething to write.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 It seems to me pointless to send 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.