Acts 25:11

25:11 If then I am in the wrong¹ and have done anything that deserves death, I am not trying to escape dying,² but if not one of their charges against me is true,³ no one can hand me over to them.⁴ I appeal to Caesar!”⁵

Acts 26:10

26:10 And that is what I did in Jerusalem: Not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons by the authority I received⁶ from the chief priests, but I also cast my vote⁷ against them when they were sentenced to death.⁸

¹tn BDAG 20 s.v. ἀδικέω 1.b has “intr. be in the wrong (Ex 2:13) εἰ ἀδικῶ Ac 25:11.”

²tn BDAG 764 s.v. παραιτέομαι 2.b.β, “οὐ παραιτοῦμαι τὸ ἀποθανεῖν I am not trying to escape death Ac 25:11 (cp. Jos., Vi. 141).” To avoid redundancy in the translation, the English gerund “dying” is used to translate the Greek infinitive ἀποθανεῖν (apoqanein).

³tn Or “but if there is nothing to their charges against me.” Both “if” clauses in this verse are first class conditions. Paul stated the options without prejudice, assuming in turn the reality of each for the sake of the argument.

⁴sn That is, no one can hand me over to them lawfully. Paul was aware of the dangers of a return to Jerusalem.

⁵tn Or “to the emperor” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).

sn The appeal to Caesar was known as the provocatio ad Caesarem. It was a Roman citizen’s right to ask for a direct judgment by the emperor (Pliny the Younger, Letters 10.96). It was one of the oldest rights of Roman citizens.

⁶tn Grk “by receiving authority.” The participle λαβών (labwn) has been taken instrumentally.

⁷tn Grk “cast down a pebble against them.” L&N 30.103 states, “(an idiom, Grk ‘to bring a pebble against someone,’ a reference to a white or black pebble used in voting for or against someone) to make known one’s choice against someone – ‘to vote against.’ …‘when they were sentenced to death, I also voted against them’ Ac 26:10.”

⁸tn Grk “when they were being executed”; but the context supports the sentencing rather than the execution itself (cf. L&N 30.103).