Acts 25:14

Acts 25:14

12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar? To Caesar you shall go!”

Paul Before Agrippa

13 And after some days King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to greet Festus.

14 When they had been there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying: ^a“There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix,

15 ^aabout whom the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, when I was in Jerusalem, asking for a judgment against him.

16 ^aTo them I answered, ‘It is not the custom of the Romans to deliver any man¹ to destruction before the accused meets the accusers face to face, and has opportunity to answer for himself concerning the charge against him.’

17 Therefore when they had come together, ^awithout any delay, the next day I sat on the judgment seat and commanded the man to be brought in.

18 When the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation against him of such things as I¹ supposed,

Commentaries:

Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)

<< Acts 25:13

Acts 25:15 >>

Tarried (dietribon). Imperfect active of diatribw, common verb for spending time (Acts 12:19, etc.).

Many days (pleiouv hmerav). More days (than a few). Accusative case for extent of time.

Laid Paul's case (aneqeto ta kata ton Paulon). Second aorist middle indicative of anatiqhmi, old verb to set before, to place up, as if for consultation in conference. Only twice in N.T. here and Galatians 2:2. The motive of Festus is not given, though it was natural enough in view of the quandary of Festus about Paul (the things about Paul) and Agrippa's interest in and responsibility for Jewish worship in the temple in Jerusalem. It is quite possible that Festus had a bit of ennui over the visit of these Jewish dignitaries as "more days" went by. Hence the tone of Festus about Paul in this proposal for the entertainment of Agrippa and Bernice is certainly one of superficial and supremely supercilious indifference.

Left a prisoner (katalelimmenov desmiov). Perfect passive participle of kataleipw, to leave behind. Paul is one of Felix's left overs (left behind), a sort of "junk" left on his hands. This cowardly Roman procurator thus pictures the greatest of living men and the greatest preacher of all time to this profligate pair (brother and sister) of sinners. Undoubtedly today in certain circles Christ and his preachers are held up to like contempt.

**Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Acts 25:14:**

Acts 25:16
Colossians 4:7

<< Acts 25:13

Acts 25:15 >>

DISCLAIMER: Church of the Great God (CGG) provides these resources to aid the individual in studying the Bible. However, it is up to the individual to "prove all things, and hold fast to that which is good" (I Thessalonians 5:21). The content of these resources does not necessarily reflect the views of CGG. They are provided for information purposes only.