Porcius Festus
Roman governor of Judea
También conocido como: Porcius Festus, Festus
Porcius Festus was the Roman governor (procurator) who succeeded Antonius Felix in Judea. He played a key role in the trial of the apostle Paul by hearing his defense, and it was during Festus's term that Paul appealed his case to the emperor in Rome. Festus tried to handle the Jewish charges against Paul fairly but was uncertain about the religious questions and ultimately passed the case on.
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Festus becomes governor after Felix
Porcius Festus succeeded Felix as governor of Judea and inherited Paul's case, in which Paul had been imprisoned for two years.
27When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and because he wanted to gain favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul in prison.
Διετίας δὲ πληρωθείσης ἔλαβεν διάδοχον ὁ Φῆλιξ Πόρκιον Φῆστον· θέλων τε ⸀χάριτα καταθέσθαι τοῖς Ἰουδαίοις ὁ Φῆλιξ κατέλιπε τὸν Παῦλον δεδεμένον.
The Jews bring charges against Paul
When Festus arrived in Jerusalem, the Jewish high priests and leaders presented their accusations against Paul and requested that he be transferred to Jerusalem.
1Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem.
Φῆστος οὖν ἐπιβὰς τῇ ἐπαρχείᾳ μετὰ τρεῖς ἡμέρας ἀνέβη εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα ἀπὸ Καισαρείας,
2There the chief priests and the leading men of the Jews laid out their case against Paul. They kept urging him,
ἐνεφάνισάν ⸀τε αὐτῷ ⸂οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς⸃ καὶ οἱ πρῶτοι τῶν Ἰουδαίων κατὰ τοῦ Παύλου, καὶ παρεκάλουν αὐτὸν
3asking as a favor that he have Paul transferred to Jerusalem, for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way.
αἰτούμενοι χάριν κατʼ αὐτοῦ ὅπως μεταπέμψηται αὐτὸν εἰς Ἰερουσαλήμ, ἐνέδραν ποιοῦντες ἀνελεῖν αὐτὸν κατὰ τὴν ὁδόν.
Paul defends himself before Festus
Festus held a hearing in Caesarea, where Paul defended himself against the charges and claimed his innocence, while the Jews could not prove their claims.
6After staying among them no more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. The next day he took his seat on the judgment bench and ordered Paul to be brought in.
Διατρίψας δὲ ἐν αὐτοῖς ἡμέρας ⸂οὐ πλείους ὀκτὼ⸃ ἢ δέκα, καταβὰς εἰς Καισάρειαν, τῇ ἐπαύριον καθίσας ἐπὶ τοῦ βήματος ἐκέλευσεν τὸν Παῦλον ἀχθῆναι.
7When Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges against him that they could not prove.
παραγενομένου δὲ αὐτοῦ περιέστησαν ⸀αὐτὸν οἱ ἀπὸ Ἱεροσολύμων καταβεβηκότες Ἰουδαῖοι, πολλὰ καὶ βαρέα αἰτιώματα ⸀καταφέροντες ἃ οὐκ ἴσχυον ἀποδεῖξαι,
8Paul made his defense: "I have committed no offense against the law of the Jews, or against the temple, or against Caesar."
⸂τοῦ Παύλου ἀπολογουμένου⸃ ὅτι Οὔτε εἰς τὸν νόμον τῶν Ἰουδαίων οὔτε εἰς τὸ ἱερὸν οὔτε εἰς Καίσαρά τι ἥμαρτον.
Paul Appeals to the Emperor
When Festus proposed sending Paul back to Jerusalem for trial, Paul appealed his case to Emperor Nero in Rome, which Festus accepted.
9But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?"
ὁ Φῆστος δὲ ⸂θέλων τοῖς Ἰουδαίοις⸃ χάριν καταθέσθαι ἀποκριθεὶς τῷ Παύλῳ εἶπεν· Θέλεις εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα ἀναβὰς ἐκεῖ περὶ τούτων ⸀κριθῆναι ἐπʼ ἐμοῦ;
10Paul replied, "I am standing before Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be tried. I have done the Jews no wrong, as you yourself know very well.
εἶπεν δὲ ὁ Παῦλος· ⸂Ἐπὶ τοῦ βήματος Καίσαρος ἑστώς⸃ εἰμι, οὗ με δεῖ κρίνεσθαι. Ἰουδαίους οὐδὲν ⸀ἠδίκησα, ὡς καὶ σὺ κάλλιον ἐπιγινώσκεις.
11If then I am guilty of wrongdoing and have done anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is nothing to the charges these men bring against me, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar."
εἰ μὲν ⸀οὖν ἀδικῶ καὶ ἄξιον θανάτου πέπραχά τι, οὐ παραιτοῦμαι τὸ ἀποθανεῖν· εἰ δὲ οὐδέν ἐστιν ὧν οὗτοι κατηγοροῦσίν μου, οὐδείς με δύναται αὐτοῖς χαρίσασθαι· Καίσαρα ἐπικαλοῦμαι.
12Then Festus, after conferring with his council, answered: "You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go."
τότε ὁ Φῆστος συλλαλήσας μετὰ τοῦ συμβουλίου ἀπεκρίθη· Καίσαρα ἐπικέκλησαι, ἐπὶ Καίσαρα πορεύσῃ.
Festus Presents Paul's Case to King Agrippa
Festus laid out Paul's case before King Herod Agrippa II and Berenice, admitting that the charges concerned religious matters he did not understand rather than criminal offenses.
13Some days later King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus.
Ἡμερῶν δὲ διαγενομένων τινῶν Ἀγρίππας ὁ βασιλεὺς καὶ Βερνίκη κατήντησαν εἰς Καισάρειαν ἀσπασάμενοι τὸν Φῆστον.
14Since they were staying there several days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king. "There is a man here," he said, "whom Felix left behind as a prisoner.
ὡς δὲ πλείους ἡμέρας ⸀διέτριβον ἐκεῖ, ὁ Φῆστος τῷ βασιλεῖ ἀνέθετο τὰ κατὰ τὸν Παῦλον λέγων· Ἀνήρ τίς ἐστιν καταλελειμμένος ὑπὸ Φήλικος δέσμιος,
15When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him and asked for a sentence of condemnation.
περὶ οὗ γενομένου μου εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα ἐνεφάνισαν οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι τῶν Ἰουδαίων, αἰτούμενοι κατʼ αὐτοῦ ⸀καταδίκην·
16I told them it is not the Roman custom to hand a man over before the accused has met his accusers face to face and has had a chance to defend himself against the charge.
πρὸς οὓς ἀπεκρίθην ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ἔθος Ῥωμαίοις χαρίζεσθαί τινα ⸀ἄνθρωπον πρὶν ἢ ὁ κατηγορούμενος κατὰ πρόσωπον ἔχοι τοὺς κατηγόρους τόπον τε ἀπολογίας λάβοι περὶ τοῦ ἐγκλήματος.
17So when they had assembled here, I did not delay. The very next day I took my seat on the judgment bench and ordered the man brought in.
συνελθόντων ⸀οὖν ἐνθάδε ἀναβολὴν μηδεμίαν ποιησάμενος τῇ ἑξῆς καθίσας ἐπὶ τοῦ βήματος ἐκέλευσα ἀχθῆναι τὸν ἄνδρα·
18When his accusers stood up, they brought no charge of the crimes I had suspected.
περὶ οὗ σταθέντες οἱ κατήγοροι οὐδεμίαν αἰτίαν ⸀ἔφερον ὧν ⸂ἐγὼ ὑπενόουν⸃ ⸀πονηρῶν,
19Instead, they had certain disputes with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus who had died, who Paul kept insisting was alive.
ζητήματα δέ τινα περὶ τῆς ἰδίας δεισιδαιμονίας εἶχον πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ περί τινος Ἰησοῦ τεθνηκότος, ὃν ἔφασκεν ὁ Παῦλος ζῆν.
20Being at a loss how to investigate such matters, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried there on these charges.
ἀπορούμενος δὲ ἐγὼ τὴν περὶ ⸀τούτων ζήτησιν ἔλεγον εἰ βούλοιτο πορεύεσθαι εἰς ⸀Ἱεροσόλυμα κἀκεῖ κρίνεσθαι περὶ τούτων.
21But when Paul appealed to be held for the decision of His Majesty the Emperor, I ordered him kept in custody until I could send him to Caesar."
τοῦ δὲ Παύλου ἐπικαλεσαμένου τηρηθῆναι αὐτὸν εἰς τὴν τοῦ Σεβαστοῦ διάγνωσιν, ἐκέλευσα τηρεῖσθαι αὐτὸν ἕως οὗ ⸀ἀναπέμψω αὐτὸν πρὸς Καίσαρα.
22Then Agrippa said to Festus, "I would like to hear this man myself." "Tomorrow," he answered, "you will hear him."
Ἀγρίππας δὲ πρὸς τὸν ⸀Φῆστον· Ἐβουλόμην καὶ αὐτὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἀκοῦσαι. ⸀Αὔριον, φησίν, ἀκούσῃ αὐτοῦ.
Festus Exclaims That Paul Is Mad
During Paul's defense speech before King Agrippa, Festus interrupted him and shouted that his great learning had driven him mad, but Paul calmly replied that he was speaking true and sensible words.
24While Paul was making this defense, Festus said in a loud voice, "You are out of your mind, Paul! Your great learning is driving you insane."
Ταῦτα δὲ αὐτοῦ ἀπολογουμένου ὁ Φῆστος μεγάλῃ τῇ φωνῇ ⸀φησιν· Μαίνῃ, Παῦλε· τὰ πολλά σε γράμματα εἰς μανίαν περιτρέπει.
25"I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus," Paul replied. "What I am saying is true and sensible.
ὁ δὲ ⸀Παῦλος· Οὐ μαίνομαι, φησίν, κράτιστε Φῆστε, ἀλλὰ ἀληθείας καὶ σωφροσύνης ῥήματα ἀποφθέγγομαι.