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 25:5 mean?

Explanation

Acts 25:5 presents a directive from the Roman governor Festus regarding the accusations against the Apostle Paul.

Paul had been left in custody by the previous governor, Felix, and was now under Festus's jurisdiction.

The Jewish leaders had accused Paul of various crimes, but they had been unable to convict him.

In the verse, Festus invites those who are "able" among the accusers to come with him to Caesarea to present their case against Paul.

Essentially, it's an invitation for a fair and open trial where the accusations must be substantiated before the Roman authority.

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Historical Context

The Book of Acts was written by Luke in the 1st century CE, documenting the growth of the early Christian church and the spread of its teachings.

At the time of this episode, Paul was in custody in Caesarea, which was the Roman administrative capital of Judea.

Festus had just taken over from Felix as the new procurator of Judea, and was dealing with the leftover case of Paul.

Judea was under Roman rule, and it was common for Jewish and Roman legal systems to intersect, which often led to conflicts and complexity in legal proceedings, particularly in cases involving religious matters.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse underscores the integrity of Paul's ministry by highlighting the due process of Roman law, wherein he is given a chance to be heard and judged fairly.

It also reinforces the theme of God’s sovereignty, suggesting that despite being caught in a legal and political conundrum, Paul's fate rests in divine hands.

Additionally, for many Christians, this passage displays the persecution early Christians faced and their reliance on divine justice over human judgments.

Practical Applications

This verse can inform modern readers about the importance of seeking justice through due process and fair trial.

It emphasizes the responsibility of the accuser to substantiate their claims and encourages those in positions of power to provide opportunities for both sides of a dispute to be heard.

In daily life, this can translate to seeking truth and fairness in personal and professional conflicts, and advocating for equitable treatment within the justice system.

Cross-References

Acts 24:27 – Provides the reason why Paul was left in custody, setting up the context for Acts 25:5.
Acts 23:30 – Similar situation where accusations require more concrete evidence before Roman authorities.
Acts 18:14-15 – Gallio, the proconsul of Achaia, also asks for a fair accusation process to determine the validity of Jewish leaders' accusations against Paul.

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the word "able" is translated from "δυνατοί" (dynatoi), which can mean powerful, able, or capable. This carries the sense that Festus is calling upon those with legitimate standing and capability to present their case.

The word "accuse" comes from "κατηγορέω" (katēgoreō), meaning to charge or to speak against. The choice of these words emphasizes the formality of the legal proceedings.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In comparison with other ancient cultures, Roman legal proceedings often involved a more sophisticated system of jurisprudence than those found in the surrounding regions.

Different from the Divine Law as seen in Jewish traditions, Roman law provided a civil legal framework that was used to govern diverse populations, including the early Christians.

In this context, Paul stands as both a Jewish and Roman citizen, navigating through both religious and civil legal systems.

Scientific Perspectives

While this verse does not directly touch upon scientific subjects, its implications about fair trial and due process have been supported by psychological and sociological research that emphasizes the importance of fairness in legal and authoritative decisions.

Fair procedures are not only crucial for perceived justice but also for the legitimacy of legal systems.

Commentaries

Experts generally see this verse as an illustration of the Roman legal process at work in the context of the early Christian church.

It is noted that despite the tension between Jewish authorities and the Christian movement, the Romans acted as a relatively neutral party.

Many scholars point out that Festus’s approach reflects Roman law's focus on formality and procedure, highlighting the governor's attempts to manage the complexities of local religious disputes fairly.

Acts 25

Acts 25

What does Acts 25:5 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 25:5 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?