Acts 25

Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem.

Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him,

And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.

But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither.

Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him.

And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought.

And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.

While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all.

But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?

Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.

For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.

Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.

And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus.

And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix:

About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him.

To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.

Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth.

Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed:

But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters.

But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar.

Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.

And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus' commandment Paul was brought forth.

And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.

But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.

Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to write.

For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him.

What does Acts 25:18 mean?

Explanation

Acts 25:18 is a statement made by the Roman governor Festus as he recounts the trial of the apostle Paul to King Agrippa.

Essentially, Festus is telling Agrippa that when Paul’s accusers stood before him, they did not bring any charges against him that Festus was expecting.

Instead of being accused of a crime deserving punishment under Roman law, Paul was being accused of issues related to Jewish religious law, which confused Festus and left him uncertain about how to proceed.

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Historical Context

Acts 25:18 is set during a time when Paul has been arrested and is in custody in Caesarea.

The broader context of this verse lies in the tensions between Jewish religious authorities and followers of Jesus in the first century.

Paul, having been accused of blasphemy and other transgressions against Jewish law, was brought before Roman authorities because of the unrest he was causing among the Jewish people.

As a Roman citizen, Paul appealed to Caesar, which was his right, and as a result, his case was being heard by the local Roman governor, Festus.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse highlights the distinction between secular and religious law.

It also alludes to the nature of Paul's mission and the early Christian community's relationship with Jewish traditions and authorities.

Roman officials like Festus were typically concerned with public order and not religious disputes, so for him, the accusations against Paul did not constitute a clear violation of Roman law.

Practical Applications

Practically speaking, Acts 25:18 encourages individuals to understand the nature of accusations and to discern between legal and moral or religious charges.

It is an invitation to be critical of what constitutes wrongdoing and to be aware of potential misunderstandings or misjudgments in legal proceedings or disputes.

Cross-References

Acts 23:29: "Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds."
Acts 24:5-6: "For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes: Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law."
Acts 26:31-32: "And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.

Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar."

Language Study

Key words in this verse include "accusers" (Greek: κατήγοροι, katēgoroi) implying the Jewish leaders who were bringing charges, and "accusation" (Greek: αἰτίαν, aitian) indicating the specific charges brought against someone.

The word "supposed" (Greek: ὑπενόουν, hupenooun) can be interpreted as "suspected" or "imagined," which suggests Festus was preconceived notions of what the charges might have been.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the broader Greco-Roman world, religious disputes were typically not subject to legal courts unless they disturbed public peace.

Thus, Festus's confusion reflects the tension between differing legal systems and cultural values. Comparatively, the Jewish religious leaders sought to use the Roman legal system to settle what was essentially a theological and religious dispute.

Scientific Perspectives

While Acts 25:18 does not directly touch on scientific content, the principles of critical examination and evidence-based judgment implicit in the examination of these accusations resonate with modern scientific inquiry and legal procedure.

Commentaries

Commentators often focus on Festus's impartial attitude and lack of understanding of Jewish religious matters.

They highlight that Festus recognized that no Roman law was broken by Paul and that Paul was essentially caught in a theological debate.

They also point out the procedural integrity of Roman law demonstrated by Festus's adherence to due process, despite his unfamiliarity with the specifics of Jewish religious laws and customs.

Acts 25

Acts 25

What does Acts 25:18 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 25:18 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?