1Três dias depois de ter chegado a Cesareia, para começar a desempenhar o seu novo cargo, Festo partiu daí para Jerusalém,2onde os principais sacerdotes e outros líderes judaicos logo o procuraram, para tornarem a acusar Paulo,3rogando-lhe que o trouxesse imediatamente para Jerusalém. Queriam sair-lhe ao caminho e matá-lo.4Festo, contudo, respondeu que uma vez que Paulo estava sob custódia em Cesareia, ele próprio voltaria muito cedo para essa cidade.5“Os mais competentes de entre vocês”, disse, “venham comigo para apresentar as acusações que tiverem contra este homem, se alguma irregularidade ele cometeu.”6Oito a dez dias depois, regressou a Cesareia e logo no dia imediato tomou o seu lugar na barra do tribunal e mandou trazer Paulo.7Quando Paulo entrou no tribunal, os judeus de Jerusalém começaram a pressionar o governador, proferindo muitas e graves acusações contra Paulo, que não podiam provar.8Este, em sua defesa, disse: “Estou inocente; não me opus à Lei judaica, não profanei o templo, nem me revoltei contra César.”9Festo, desejoso de agradar aos judeus, perguntou-lhe: “Estás disposto a ir a Jerusalém para ali seres julgado por mim?”10Mas Paulo respondeu: “Não! Estou num tribunal romano; é aqui que devo ser julgado. Não cometi nenhuma injustiça contra os judeus, como tu sabes muito bem.11Se alguma coisa fiz que mereça a morte, não me recuso a morrer! Mas se estou inocente ninguém tem autoridade para me entregar a estes homens para que me matem. Apelo para César!”12Festo conversou com os seus conselheiros e respondeu: “Está bem! Apelou para César, perante César comparecerá!”
Festo aconselha-se com o rei Agripa
13Alguns dias depois, chegava o rei Agripa com Berenice para visitar Festo.14Durante a estadia de vários dias, Festo discutiu o caso de Paulo com o rei. “Temos aqui um homem”, disse, “que Félix deixou sob custódia.15Quando estive em Jerusalém, os principais sacerdotes e os anciãos dos judeus deram-me a sua história dos acontecimentos e pediram-me que o condenasse à morte.16Disse-lhes logo que a lei romana não condena um homem sem primeiro o julgar e lhe dar a oportunidade de enfrentar os seus acusadores e se defender da acusação que lhe fazem.17Quando vieram cá para o julgamento, não protelei a audiência, mas marquei-a para o dia seguinte e mandei que trouxessem o acusado.18Todavia, o que os acusadores tinham contra ele não era nada do que eu esperava.19Tratava-se de qualquer coisa acerca da sua religião e de um tal Jesus que morreu, mas que Paulo teimava estar vivo!20Fiquei hesitante perante um caso deste género e perguntei-lhe se estava disposto a ser julgado em Jerusalém, para responder por estas mesmas acusações.21Mas Paulo apelou para que fosse mantido em custódia até à decisão do Imperador. Por isso, mantive-o nessa condição até poder enviá-lo ao Imperador.”22“Gostava de escutar o homem”, disse Agripa. “Amanhã ouvi-lo-ás”, respondeu Festo.
Paulo perante Agripa
23No dia seguinte, depois de o rei e Berenice terem chegado ao tribunal com grande pompa, acompanhados por oficiais do exército e pessoas importantes da cidade, Festo mandou que trouxessem Paulo.24Festo dirigiu-se então ao auditório: “Rei Agripa e todos os presentes, está aqui o homem cuja morte é exigida pelos judeus, tanto daqui como de Jerusalém.25Contudo, no meu entender, ele nada fez digno de morte. Mas, como apelou para César, não tenho outro remédio senão mandá-lo para Roma.26Não tenho uma verdadeira acusação contra ele de que dê conta ao Imperador. Por isso, trouxe-o perante todos, especialmente perante ti, ó rei Agripa, de modo que, feito o inquérito, me digas o que devo escrever.27De facto, parece-me insensato mandar um prisioneiro sem que haja uma acusação devidamente formada.”
1Now three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. (At 23:34)2And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews laid out their case against Paul, and they urged him, (At 25:15)3asking as a favor against Paul[1] that he summon him to Jerusalem—because they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way. (At 9:24)4Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly.5“So,” said he, “let the men of authority among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them bring charges against him.”6After he stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought. (Mt 27:19; At 25:10; At 25:17)7When he had arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him that they could not prove. (At 24:13)8Paul argued in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I committed any offense.” (Jo 7:19; Jo 19:7; Jo 19:12; At 6:13; At 24:12; At 28:17)9But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and there be tried on these charges before me?” (At 24:27)10But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well. (At 25:6; At 25:17)11If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.” (At 26:32; At 28:19)12Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.”
Paul Before Agrippa and Bernice
13Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus.14And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, “There is a man left prisoner by Felix, (At 24:27)15and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews laid out their case against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him. (At 25:2)16I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone before the accused met the accusers face to face and had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against him. (Jo 7:51; At 23:30; At 25:4)17So when they came together here, I made no delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought. (At 25:6; At 25:7; At 25:10; At 25:24)18When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed.19Rather they had certain points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive. (At 17:18; At 18:15; At 23:29)20Being at a loss how to investigate these questions, I asked whether he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding them. (At 25:9)21But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of the emperor, I ordered him to be held until I could send him to Caesar.” (At 25:11; At 25:25)22Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” said he, “you will hear him.” (At 9:15)23So on the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. (At 25:13; At 26:30)24And Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish people petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer. (At 22:22; At 25:2; At 25:7)25But I found that he had done nothing deserving death. And as he himself appealed to the emperor, I decided to go ahead and send him. (At 23:29; At 25:11; At 25:21)26But I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after we have examined him, I may have something to write.27For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him.”