Acts 25

1 Three days after his arrival in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem,

1 非斯都到了任，過了三天，就從凱撒利亞上耶路撒冷去。

2 where the chief priests and Jewish leaders presented their case against Paul. They urged Festus

2 祭司長和猶太人的首領向他控告保羅，

3 to grant them a concession against Paul by summoning him to Jerusalem, because they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way.

3 又央告他，求他的情，將保羅提到耶路撒冷來，他們要在路上埋伏殺害他。

4 But Festus replied, “Paul is being held in Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon.

4 非斯都卻回答說：「保羅押在凱撒利亞，我自己快要往那裏去」；

5 So if this man has done anything wrong, let some of your leaders come down with me and accuse him there.”

5 又說：「你們中間有權勢的人與我一同下去，那人若有甚麼不是，就可以告他。」

6 After spending no more than eight or ten days with them, Festus went down to Caesarea. The next day he sat on the judgment seat and ordered that Paul be brought in.

6 非斯都在他們那裏住了不過十天八天，就下凱撒利亞去；第二天坐堂，吩咐將保羅提上來。

7 When Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges that they could not prove.

7 保羅來了，那些從耶路撒冷下來的猶太人周圍站着，將許多重大的事控告他，都是不能證實的。

8 Then Paul made his defense: “I have committed no offense against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.”

8 保羅分訴說：「無論猶太人的律法，或是聖殿，或是凱撒，我都沒有干犯。」

9 But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to stand trial before me on these charges?”

9 但非斯都要討猶太人的喜歡，就問保羅說：「你願意上耶路撒冷去，在那裏聽我審斷這事嗎？」

10 Paul replied, “I am standing before the judgment seat of Caesar, where I ought to be tried. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well.

10 保羅說：「我站在凱撒的堂前，這就是我應當受審的地方。我向猶太人並沒有行過甚麼不義的事，這也是你明明知道的。

11 If, however, I am guilty of anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is no truth to their accusations against me, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”

11 我若行了不義的事，犯了甚麼該死的罪，就是死，我也不辭。他們所告我的事若都不實，就沒有人可以把我交給他們。我要上告於凱撒。」

12 Then Festus conferred with his council and replied, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”

12 非斯都和議會商量了，就說：「你既上告於凱撒，可以往凱撒那裏去。」

13 After several days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice came down to Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus.

13 過了些日子，亞基帕王和百妮基氏來到凱撒利亞，問非斯都安。

14 Since they were staying several days, Festus laid out Paul’s case before the king: “There is a certain man whom Felix left in prison.

14 在那裏住了多日，非斯都將保羅的事告訴王，說：「這裏有一個人，是腓力斯留在監裏的。

15 While I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and elders of the Jews presented their case and requested a judgment against him.

15 我在耶路撒冷的時候，祭司長和猶太的長老將他的事稟報了我，求我定他的罪。

16 I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand a man over before he has had an opportunity to face his accusers and defend himself against their charges.

16 我對他們說，無論甚麼人，被告還沒有和原告對質，未得機會分訴所告他的事，就先定他的罪，這不是羅馬人的條例。

17 So when they came here with me, I did not delay. The next day I sat on the judgment seat and ordered that the man be brought in.

17 及至他們都來到這裏，我就不耽延，第二天便坐堂，吩咐把那人提上來。

18 But when his accusers rose to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected.

18 告他的人站着告他；所告的，並沒有我所逆料的那等惡事。

19 They only had some contentions with him regarding their own religion and a certain Jesus who had died, but whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

19 不過是有幾樣辯論，為他們自己敬鬼神的事，又為一個人名叫耶穌，是已經死了，保羅卻說他是活着的。

20 Since I was at a loss as to how to investigate these matters, I asked if he was willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried there on these charges.

20 這些事當怎樣究問，我心裏作難，所以問他說：『你願意上耶路撒冷去，在那裏為這些事聽審嗎？』

21 But when Paul appealed to be held over for the decision of the Emperor, I ordered that he be held until I could send him to Caesar.”

21 但保羅求我留下他，要聽皇上審斷，我就吩咐把他留下，等我解他到凱撒那裏去。」

22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man myself.” “Tomorrow you will hear him,” Festus declared.

22 亞基帕對非斯都說：「我自己也願聽這人辯論。」非斯都說：「明天你可以聽。」

23 The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the auditorium, along with the commanders and leading men of the city. And Festus ordered that Paul be brought in.

23 第二天，亞基帕和百妮基大張威勢而來，同着眾千夫長和城裏的尊貴人進了公廳。非斯都吩咐一聲，就有人將保羅帶進來。

24 Then Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man. The whole Jewish community has petitioned me about him, both here and in Jerusalem, crying out that he ought not to live any longer.

24 非斯都說：「亞基帕王和在這裏的諸位啊，你們看這人，就是一切猶太人，在耶路撒冷和這裏，曾向我懇求、呼叫說：『不可容他再活着。』

25 But I found he had done nothing worthy of death, and since he has now appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.

25 但我查明他沒有犯甚麼該死的罪，並且他自己上告於皇帝，所以我定意把他解去。

26 I have nothing definite to write to our sovereign about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after this inquiry I may have something to write.

26 論到這人，我沒有確實的事可以奏明主上。因此，我帶他到你們面前，也特意帶他到你亞基帕王面前，為要在查問之後有所陳奏。

27 For it seems unreasonable to me to send on a prisoner without specifying the charges against him.”

27 據我看來，解送囚犯，不指明他的罪案是不合理的。」