Bible Commentaries
Acts 25

Verse 1

Festus. He was procurator only about two years (A.D. 60-62) when he died. Knowing the turbulence of the Jews, he wished to have the support of the priestly party. Hence his favour to them, in seeking to induce Paul to go to Jerusalem for trial, though Festus may not have known the reason of the request. Josephus commends him as a rooter-out of robbers and the Sicarii (Acts 21:38 ). See Wars, 11. xiv. 1.

was come . Greek. epibaino. See Acts 20:18 .

into = to.

province . See Acts 23:34 . Caesarea. See Acts 8:40 .

to = unto. Greek. eis . App-104 .

Verse 2

high priest . Greek. archiereus. The texts read "chief priests".

chief = first.

informed . Gr emphanizo. See Acts 23:15 and App-106 .

against . Greek. kata. App-104 .

besought = were beseeching. Greek. parakaleo. App-134 .

Verse 3

And desired = Asking. Greek. aiteo . App-134 .

favour . Greek. charis. App-184 .

send for . Greek. metapempo. See Acts 10:5 and App-174 .

laying wait. Literally making a plot (Greek. enedra, as in Acts 23:16 ).

in = along. Greek. kata .

kill . Greek. anaireo. See Acts 2:23 .

Verse 4

answered . App-122 .

kept . Greek. tereo .

at = in. Greek. eis . App-104 .

shortly . Literally in (Greek. en) speed.

Verse 5

among . Greek. en . App-104 .

go down with . Greek. sunkatabaino. Only here.

accuse . Greek. kategoreo. See note on Acts 22:30 .

man . Greek. aner . App-123 . The texts read, "if there be anything in the man amiss, accuse him. "if. Greek. ei . App-118 .

any . Greek. tis. App-123 .

in . Greek. e n . App-104 .

Verse 6

tarried . Greek. diatribo. See Acts 12:19 .

more, &c . The texts read, "not (Greek. ou) more than eight or ten".

the next day = on the morrow.

on = upon. Greek. epi . App-104 .

judgment seat. Greek. bema. See John 19:13 .

brought = brought forth, as in w. 17, 23.

Verse 7

came = had come.

stood round about . Greek. periistimi. Only here; Joh 11:42 . 2 Timothy 2:16 . Titus 3:9 .

and laid, &c . The texts read, "bringing against him".

complaints = charges. Greek. aitiama . Only here.

could = were . . . able to. See Acts 15:10 .

prove . Greek. apodeiknumi. See Acts 2:22 .

Verse 8

While, &c . Literally Paul making his defence. Greek. apologeomai. See Acts 19:33 .

he . The texts read "Paul".

Neither . Greek. oute.

against . Greek. eis . App-104 .

temple . Greek. hieron. See Matthew 23:16 .

nor yet = neither. Greek. oute, as above.

have I offended = did I transgress. Greek. hamartano. App-128 .

any thing at all = any thing. Greek. tis. App-123 .

Verse 9

willing = purposing. Greek. thelo . App-102 .

to do the Jews a pleasure = to gain favour with the Jews, as in Acts 24:27 .

Wilt thou = Art thou willing to. Greek. thelo , as above.

judged . Greek. krino . App-122 .

of = concerning. Greek. peri .

Verse 10

stand = am standing.

at = before. Greek. epi , as above.

to, &c . = the Jews I wronged (Greek. adikeo. See Acts 7:24 ) in nothing (Greek. oudei s).

thou = thou also. Festus admitted this in verses: Acts 25:18 , Acts 25:19 .

very well . Literally better (i.e. than others).

knowest = knowest thoroughly. Greek. epiginosko . App-132 .

Verse 11

For if = If then indeed.

if . App-118 .

be an offender = am doing wrong. Greek. adikeo, as in Acts 25:10 .

refuse . Literally beg off. Greek. paraiteomai. See Luke 14:18 .

none = nothing. Greek. oudeis. no man = no one. Greek. oudeis.

may = can. See Acts 25:7 .

deliver . Literally grant. Greek. charizomai. App-184 . See Acts 3:14 .

unto = to.

appeal unto = call upon, invoke. Greek. epikaleomai. See Acts 2:21 .

Caesar : i.e. the Emperor before whose tribunal every Roman citizen was entitled to appear. Paul, seeing the desire of Festus to hand him over to the Jews, was constrained to exercise this right. Compare Acts 16:37 ; Acts 22:25 .

Verse 12

conferred. Greek. sullaleo. Only here; Matthew 17:3 .Mark 9:4 .Luke 4:36 ; Luke 9:30 ; Luke 22:4 .

council . See Matthew 12:14 . Greek. sumboulion. Not the same word used for "council" elsewhere in Acts, which is sunedrion. See Acts 4:15 , &c. It means the assessors of the court, or chief officers of the government.

unto = before. Greek. epi . App-104 . One can detect atone of resentment, since Paul's appeal had baffled the desire of Festus to gain favour with the Jews.

Verse 13

And = Now.

after certain days. Literally certain days having passed by. Greek. diaginomai. Only here; Acts 27:9 . Mark 16:1 . certain. Greek. tines. App-124 .

king Agrippa . Agrippa the Second, son of the Herod of Acts 12:0 , and Cypros, grand-niece of Herod the Great. At the death of his father, he was too young to be appointed his successor; but in A.D. 50 Claudius gave him the kingdom of Chalcis, his uncle the husband of Bernice, who occupied that throne, having died two years before. This was shortly afterwards exchanged for the tetrarchies of Abilene and Trachonitis, with the title of king. His relations with his sister Bernice were the occasion of much suspicion. He was of the Jews' religion, though of Idumaean descent, and well versed in Jewish laws and customs (Acts 26:3 ). Josephus ( Wars, II. xvi. 4) records a speech he made to dissuade the Jews from engaging in war with the Romans. He sided with the Romans in the war, and after A.D. 70 retired with Bernice to Rome, where he died about A.D. 100.

came . Greek. k atantao. See Acts 16:1 .

salute . As vassal of Rome, to pay his respects to the procurator, Rome's representative.

Verse 14

had been = had tarried, as in Acts 25:6 .

declared = set forth. Greek. anatithemi. Only here and Galatians 1:2 , Galatians 1:2 .

Paul's cause. Literally the things about (Greek. kata. App-104 .) Paul.

certain . Greek. tis . App-123 .

in bonds = a prisoner. Greek. desmios, always rendered "prisoner" except here and Hebrews 13:3 .

Verse 15

About = concerning. Greek. peri . App-104 .

was = was come.

at = to. Greek. eis . App-104 .

elders . App-189 .

desiring to hav e = asking for. Greek. aiteo. App-134 .

judgment . Greek. dike . App-177 . The texts read katadike (condemnation), a word found nowhere else in NT.

Verse 16

To . Greek. pros . App-104 .

the manner = a custom.

to die = unto (Greek. eis) destruction (Greek. apoleia) . Compare Acts 8:20 . But the texts omit.

accusers . See note on Acts 23:30 .

face to face . Greek. kata ( App-104 .) prosopon .

have licence = should receive opportunity (literally place).

to answer, &c . = of defence. Greek. apologia, as in Acts 22:1 .

concerning . Greek. peri . App-104 .

crime laid against him = charge. Greek. enklema, aa in Acts 23:29 .

Verse 17

without any delay = having made no (Greek. medeis) delay (Greek. anabole. Only here. Compare Acts 24:22 ).

on the morrow = the next (day). Greek. he xes. See Acts 21:1 .

Verse 18

Against = Concerning. Greek. peri , as in verses: Acts 25:9 , Acts 25:15 , Acts 25:16 , Acts 9:19 , Acts 9:20 , Acts 9:24 , Acts 9:26 .

brought = were bringing. Greek. epiphero. See Acts 19:12 . But the texts read phero , same as in Acts 25:7 .

none . Greek. oudeis.

accusation = charge. Greek. aitia , the common word for cause, or charge.

supposed . See Acts 13:25 .

Verse 19

questions . Greek. zetema. See Acts 15:2 .

against . Greek. pros. App-104 .

superstition = religion. Greek. deisidaimonia. Compare Acts 17:22 . Festus would not say "superstition" in speaking to Agrippa, who was himself of the Jews' religion.

one = a certain, as above, Acts 25:14 .

Jesus . App-98 . affirmed = was affirming. Greek. phasko. See Acts 24:9 .

Verse 20

because, &c . Literally I, being at a loss (Greek. aporeomai. Only here; Joh 13:22 . 2 Corinthians 4:8 . Galatians 1:4 , Galatians 1:20 ).

of such manner of queetions . Literally for (Greek. eis) the enquiry (Greek. zetesis. Only here; Joh 3:25 . 1 Timothy 1:4 ; 1Ti 6:4 . 2 Timothy 2:23 . Tit 8:9 . Compare Acts 25:19 )

concerning (Greek. peri) these things.

asked = said.

whether = if. App-118 .

would = would be willing (Greek. boulomai . App-102 .) to.

Verse 21

reserved = kept. Greek. tereo.

hearing = examination. Greek. diagnosis . Only here. See note on Acts 23:15 .

Augustus . Greek. Sebastos. The Greek word means "venerable", the same as the Latin augustus, a title first used by Octavianus, the adopted son of Julius Caesar, and his successor, and by the Emperors succeeding. Compare the title "Ahasuerus". App-57 .

kept . Same as "reserved".

send . Greek. pempo. App-174 ., but the texts read anapempo . App-174 .

Verse 22

would also = I also was wishing to ( App-102 .)

Verse 23

And = Therefore.

pomp . Greek. phantasia . Only here. Compare the verb in Hebrews 12:21 .

place of hearing . Greek. akroaterion. Only here. Compare akroates, hearer, Romans 2:13 , &c.

with . Greek. sun. App-104 .

chief captains . Greek. chiliarcho s . See Acts 21:31 .

principal men = men who were of eminence (Greek. kat ' ( App-104 .) exochen. Exoche Occurs only here).

Verse 24

which are here present with . Greek. sumpareimi. Only here.

see = behold. Greek. theoreo. App-133 .

this man = this (one).

multitude . Greek. plethos. See Acts 2:6 .

have dealt with = complained to. Greek. entunchano. Literally to meet with, apply to. Elsewhere translated "make intercession". Romans 8:27 , Romans 8:34 ; Romans 11:2 .Hebrews 7:25 .

crying = crying out. Greek. epiboao. Only here. The texts read boao, not so strong a word.

not . . . any longer . Greek. me ( App-105 ) miketi. A double negative.

Verse 25

found = perceived. Greek. katalambano. See Acts 4:13 .

committed = done.

nothing . Greek. medeis.

have determined = decided. Greek. krino . App-122 .

Verse 26

no = not (Greek. ou) any (Gr tis) . App-123 .

certain = sure. See note on Acts 21:34 .

lord . Greek. kurios. Compare App-98 . This title was refused by the Emperors, Augustus and Tiberius, but accepted by Caligula and his successors.

after, &c Literally examination having taken place.

examination . Greek. anakrisis. Only here. Compare Acts 24:8 .

somewhat . Greek. tis .

Verse 27

unreasonable . Greek. alogos. Only here; 2 Peter 2:12 .Jude 1:10 (translated "brute"). A medical word.

withal, &c . = to signify the charges also.

crimes = charges. Greek. aitia as in Acts 25:18 .