1فلما قدم فستوس الى الولاية صعد بعد ثلاثة ايام من قيصرية الى اورشليم.
1Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.
2فعرض له رئيس الكهنة ووجوه اليهود ضد بولس والتمسوا منه
2Then the high priest and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul, and they begged him,
3طالبين عليه منّة ان يستحضره الى اورشليم وهم صانعون كمينا ليقتلوه في الطريق.
3asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem; plotting to kill him on the way.
4فاجاب فستوس ان يحرس بولس في قيصرية وانه هو مزمع ان ينطلق عاجلا.
4However Festus answered that Paul should be kept in custody at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to depart shortly.
5وقال فلينزل معي الذين هم بينكم مقتدرون. وان كان في هذا الرجل شيء فليشتكوا عليه
5“Let them therefore,” said he, “that are in power among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong in the man, let them accuse him.”
6وبعد ما صرف عندهم اكثر من عشرة ايام انحدر الى قيصرية. وفي الغد جلس على كرسي الولاية وامر ان يؤتى ببولس.
6When he had stayed among them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea, and on the next day he sat on the judgment seat, and commanded Paul to be brought.
7فلما حضر وقف حوله اليهود الذين كانوا قد انحدروا من اورشليم وقدموا على بولس دعاوي كثيرة وثقيلة لم يقدروا ان يبرهنوها.
7When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing against him many and grievous charges which they could not prove,
8اذ كان هو يحتج اني ما اخطأت بشيء لا الى ناموس اليهود ولا الى الهيكل ولا الى قيصر.
8while he said in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I sinned at all.”
9ولكن فستوس اذ كان يريد ان يودع اليهود منّة اجاب بولس قائلا أتشاء ان تصعد الى اورشليم لتحاكم هناك لديّ من جهة هذه الامور.
9But Festus, desiring to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem, and be judged by me there concerning these things?”
10فقال بولس انا واقف لدى كرسي ولاية قيصر حيث ينبغي ان أحاكم. انا لم اظلم اليهود بشيء كما تعلم انت ايضا جيدا.
10But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also know very well.
11لاني ان كنت آثما او صنعت شيئا يستحق الموت فلست استعفي من الموت. ولكن ان لم يكن شيء مما يشتكي عليّ به هؤلاء فليس احد يستطيع ان يسلمني لهم. الى قيصر انا رافع دعواي.
11For if I have done wrong, and have committed anything worthy of death, I don’t refuse to die; but if none of those things is true that they accuse me of, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!”
12حينئذ تكلم فستوس مع ارباب المشورة فاجاب الى قيصر رفعت دعواك. الى قيصر تذهب
12Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you shall go.”
13وبعدما مضت ايام اقبل اغريباس الملك وبرنيكي الى قيصرية ليسلما على فستوس.
13Now when some days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea, and greeted Festus.
14ولما كانا يصرفان هناك اياما كثيرة عرض فستوس على الملك امر بولس قائلا يوجد رجل تركه فيلكس اسيرا
14As he stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, “There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix;
15وعرض لي عنه رؤساء الكهنة ومشايخ اليهود لما كنت في اورشليم طالبين حكما عليه.
15about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, asking for a sentence against him.
16فاجبتهم ان ليس للرومانيين عادة ان يسلموا احدا للموت قبل ان يكون المشكو عليه مواجهة مع المشتكين فيحصل على فرصة للاحتجاج عن الشكوى.
16To whom I answered that it is not the custom of the Romans to give up any man to destruction, before the accused has met the accusers face to face, and has had opportunity to make his defense concerning the matter laid against him.
17فلما اجتمعوا الى هنا جلست من دون امهال في الغد على كرسي الولاية وامرت ان يؤتى بالرجل.
17When therefore they had come together here, I didn’t delay, but on the next day sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought.
18فلما وقف المشتكون حوله لم يأتوا بعلّة واحدة مما كنت اظن.
18Concerning whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no charge of such things as I supposed;
19لكن كان لهم عليه مسائل من جهة ديانتهم وعن واحد اسمه يسوع قد مات وكان بولس يقول انه حيّ.
19but had certain questions against him about their own religion, and about one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
20واذ كنت مرتابا في المسئلة عن هذا قلت ألعله يشاء ان يذهب الى اورشليم ويحاكم هناك من جهة هذه الامور.
20Being perplexed how to inquire concerning these things, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there be judged concerning these matters.
21ولكن لما رفع بولس دعواه لكي يحفظ لفحص اوغسطس امرت بحفظه الى ان ارسله الى قيصر.
21But when Paul had appealed to be kept for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be kept until I could send him to Caesar.”
22فقال اغريباس لفستوس كنت اريد انا ايضا ان اسمع الرجل. فقال غدا تسمعه
22Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “you shall hear him.”
23ففي الغد لما جاء اغريباس وبرنيكي في احتفال عظيم ودخلا الى دار الاستماع مع الامراء ورجال المدينة المقدمين امر فستوس فأتي ببولس.
23So on the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp, and they had entered into the place of hearing with the commanding officers and principal men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.
24فقال فستوس ايها الملك اغريباس والرجال الحاضرون معنا اجمعون انتم تنظرون هذا الذي توسل اليّ من جهته كل جمهور اليهود في اورشليم وهنا صارخين انه لا ينبغي ان يعيش بعد.
24Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all men who are here present with us, you see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.
25واما انا فلما وجدت انه لم يفعل شيئا يستحق الموت وهو قد رفع دعواه الى اوغسطس عزمت ان ارسله.
25But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and as he himself appealed to the emperor I determined to send him.
26وليس لي شيء يقين من جهته لاكتب الى السيد. لذلك أتيت به لديكم ولا سيما لديك ايها الملك اغريباس حتى اذا صار الفحص يكون لي شيء لاكتب.
26Of whom I have no certain thing to write to my lord. Therefore I have brought him forth before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, that, after examination, I may have something to write.
27لاني ارى حماقة ان ارسل اسيرا ولا اشير الى الدعاوي التي عليه
27For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to also specify the charges against him.”