Discovery BoxActs 25:12-27 
Context25:12 Then, after conferring with his council, 1 Festus 2 replied, “You have appealed to Caesar; 3 to Caesar 4 you will go!” 5
25:13 After several days had passed, King Agrippa 6 and Bernice arrived at Caesarea 7 to pay their respects 8 to Festus. 9 25:14 While 10 they were staying there many days, Festus 11 explained Paul’s case to the king to get his opinion, 12 saying, “There is a man left here as a prisoner by Felix. 25:15 When I was in Jerusalem, 13 the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed 14 me about him, 15 asking for a sentence of condemnation 16 against him. 25:16 I answered them 17 that it was not the custom of the Romans to hand over anyone 18 before the accused had met his accusers face to face 19 and had been given 20 an opportunity to make a defense against the accusation. 21 25:17 So after they came back here with me, 22 I did not postpone the case, 23 but the next day I sat 24 on the judgment seat 25 and ordered the man to be brought. 25:18 When his accusers stood up, they did not charge 26 him with any of the evil deeds I had suspected. 27 25:19 Rather they had several points of disagreement 28 with him about their own religion 29 and about a man named Jesus 30 who was dead, whom Paul claimed 31 to be alive. 25:20 Because I was at a loss 32 how I could investigate these matters, 33 I asked if he were willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried 34 there on these charges. 35 25:21 But when Paul appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of His Majesty the Emperor, 36 I ordered him to be kept under guard until I could send him to Caesar.” 37 25:22 Agrippa 38 said to Festus, 39 “I would also like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he replied, 40 “you will hear him.”
25:23 So the next day Agrippa 41 and Bernice came with great pomp 42 and entered the audience hall, 43 along with the senior military officers 44 and the prominent men of the city. When Festus 45 gave the order, 46 Paul was brought in. 25:24 Then Festus 47 said, “King Agrippa, 48 and all you who are present here with us, you see this man about whom the entire Jewish populace 49 petitioned 50 me both in Jerusalem 51 and here, 52 shouting loudly 53 that he ought not to live any longer. 25:25 But I found that he had done nothing that deserved death, 54 and when he appealed 55 to His Majesty the Emperor, 56 I decided to send him. 57 25:26 But I have nothing definite 58 to write to my lord 59 about him. 60 Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, 61 so that after this preliminary hearing 62 I may have something to write. 25:27 For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner without clearly indicating 63 the charges against him.”
1 tn That is, with his advisers.
2 sn See the note on Porcius Festus in 24:27.
3 tn Or “to the emperor” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).
4 tn Or “to the emperor.”
5 sn “To Caesar you will go!” In all probability Festus was pleased to send Paul on to Rome and get this political problem out of his court.
6 sn King Agrippa was Herod Agrippa II (
7 sn Caesarea was a city on the coast of Palestine south of Mount Carmel (not Caesarea Philippi). See the note on Caesarea in Acts 10:1.
map For location see Map2 C1; Map4 B3; Map5 F2; Map7 A1; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
8 tn BDAG 144 s.v. ἀσπάζομαι 1.b states, “Of official visits pay one’s respects to…Ac 25:13.”
9 sn See the note on Porcius Festus in 24:27.
10 tn BDAG 1105-6 s.v. ὡς 8.b states, “w. pres. or impf. while, when, as long as…Ac 1:10; 7:23; 9:23; 10:17; 13:25; 19:9; 21:27; 25:14.”
11 sn See the note on Porcius Festus in 24:27.
12 tn Grk “Festus laid Paul’s case before the king for consideration.” BDAG 74 s.v. ἀνατίθημι 2 states, “otherw. only mid. to lay someth. before someone for consideration, declare, communicate, refer w. the added idea that the pers. to whom a thing is ref. is asked for his opinion lay someth. before someone for consideration…Ac 25:14.”
13 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
14 tn BDAG 326 s.v. ἐμφανίζω 3 has “to convey a formal report about a judicial matter, present evidence, bring charges…ἐ. περί τινος concerning someone 25:15.”
15 tn Grk “about whom.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative pronoun (“whom”) has been replaced with a personal pronoun (“him”) and a new sentence started in the translation at the beginning of v. 15 (where the phrase περὶ οὗ [peri Jou] occurs in the Greek text).
16 tn BDAG 516 s.v. καταδίκη states, “condemnation, sentence of condemnation, conviction, guilty verdict…αἰτεῖσθαι κατά τινος κ. ask for a conviction of someone Ac 25:15.”
17 tn Grk “to whom I answered.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative pronoun (“whom”) has been replaced with a personal pronoun (“them”) and a new sentence started in the translation at the beginning of v. 16.
sn “I answered them.” In the answer that follows, Festus is portrayed in a more positive light, being sensitive to justice and Roman law.
18 tn Grk “any man.” This is a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpos).
19 tn Or “has met his accusers in person.”
20 tn Grk “and receives.”
21 tn Or “indictment” (a legal technical term). BDAG 273-74 s.v. ἔγκλημα 1 states, “legal t.t.…ἀπολογία περὶ τοῦ ἐ. defense against the accusation Ac 25:16.” L&N 56.6 defines ἔγκλημα (enklhma) as “(a technical, legal term) a formal indictment or accusation brought against someone – ‘indictment, accusation, case.’ …‘and might receive an opportunity for a defense against the indictment’ Ac 25:16.”
22 tn BDAG 969-70 s.v. συνέρχομαι 2 states, “συνελθόντων ἐνθάδε prob. means (because of συνκαταβάντες 25:5) they came back here with (me) 25:17.”
23 tn BDAG 59 s.v. ἀναβολή states, “‘delay’…legal t.t. postponement…ἀ. μηδεμίαν ποιησάμενος I did not postpone the matter Ac 25:17.” “Case” has been supplied instead of “matter” since it is more specific to the context. The participle ποιησάμενος (poihsameno") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
24 tn Grk “sitting…I ordered.” The participle καθίσας (kaqisa") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
25 tn Although BDAG 175 s.v. βῆμα 3 gives the meaning “tribunal” for this verse, and a number of modern translations use similar terms (“court,” NIV; “tribunal,” NRSV), since the bema was a standard feature in Greco-Roman cities of the time, there is no need for an alternative translation here.
sn The judgment seat (βῆμα, bhma) was a raised platform mounted by steps and sometimes furnished with a seat, used by officials in addressing an assembly or making pronouncements, often on judicial matters. The judgment seat was a familiar item in Greco-Roman culture, often located in the agora, the public square or marketplace in the center of a city.
26 tn Grk “they brought no charge of any of the evil deeds.” BDAG 31 s.v. αἰτία 3.b has “αἰτίαν φέρειν…bring an accusation Ac 25:18.” Since κατήγοροι (kathgoroi, “accusers”) in the previous clause is somewhat redundant with this, “charge” was used instead.
27 tn Or “I was expecting.”
28 tn Grk “several controversial issues.” BDAG 428 s.v. ζήτημα states, “in our lit. only in Ac, w. the mng. it still has in Mod. Gk. (controversial) question, issue, argument…Ac 15:2; 26:3. ζ. περί τινος questions about someth.…18:15; 25:19.”
29 tn On this term see BDAG 216 s.v. δεισιδαιμονία 2. It is a broad term for religion.
sn About their own religion. Festus made it clear that in his view as a neutral figure (and as one Luke had noted was disposed to help the Jews), he saw no guilt in Paul. The issue was a simple religious dispute.
30 tn Grk “a certain Jesus.”
31 tn Or “asserted.”
32 tn Or “Because I was undecided.” Grk “Being at a loss.” The participle ἀπορούμενος (aporoumeno") has been translated as a causal adverbial participle.
33 tn L&N 27.34 states, “ἀπορούμενος δὲ ἐγὼ τὴν περὶ τούτων ζήτησιν ‘I was undecided about how I could get information on these matters’ Ac 25:20. The clause ‘about how I could get information on these matters’ may also be rendered as ‘about how I should try to find out about these matters’ or ‘about how I could learn about these matters.’”
34 tn Or “stand trial.”
35 tn Grk “on these things.”
36 tn A designation of the Roman emperor (in this case, Nero). BDAG 917 s.v. σεβαστός states, “ὁ Σεβαστός His Majesty the Emperor Ac 25:21, 25 (of Nero).” It was a translation into Greek of the Latin “Augustus.”
37 tn Or “to the emperor” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).
38 sn See the note on King Agrippa in 25:13.
39 sn See the note on Porcius Festus in 24:27.
40 tn Grk “said.”
41 sn See the note on King Agrippa in 25:13.
42 tn Or “great pageantry” (BDAG 1049 s.v. φαντασία; the term is a NT hapax legomenon).
sn Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp. The “royals” were getting their look at Paul. Everyone who was anyone would have been there.
43 tn Or “auditorium.” “Auditorium” may suggest to the modern English reader a theater where performances are held. Here it is the large hall where a king or governor would hold audiences. Paul once spoke of himself as a “spectacle” to the world (1 Cor 4:8-13).
44 tn Grk “the chiliarchs” (officers in command of a thousand soldiers). In Greek the term χιλίαρχος (ciliarco") literally described the “commander of a thousand,” but it was used as the standard translation for the Latin tribunus militum or tribunus militare, the military tribune who commanded a cohort of 600 men.
45 sn See the note on Porcius Festus in 24:27.
46 tn Grk “and Festus ordering, Paul was brought in.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was begun in the translation, and καί (kai) has not been translated. The participle κελεύσαντος (keleusanto") has been taken temporally.
47 sn See the note on Porcius Festus in 24:27.
48 sn See the note on King Agrippa in 25:13.
49 tn Probably best understood as rhetorical hyperbole. BDAG 825 s.v. πλῆθος 2.b.γ states, “people, populace, population…τὸ πλῆθος the populace…ἅπαν τὸ πλ. τῶν ᾿Ιουδαίων Ac 25:24.” However, the actions of the leadership are seen by Luke as representing the actions of the entire nation, so the remark is not inaccurate.
50 tn Or “appealed to” (BDAG 341 s.v. ἐντυγχάνω 1.a).
51 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
52 sn Here means “here in Caesarea.”
53 tn Or “screaming.”
54 sn He had done nothing that deserved death. Festus’ opinion of Paul’s guilt is like Pilate’s of Jesus (Luke 23:4, 14, 22).
55 tn The participle ἐπικαλεσαμένου (epikalesamenou) has been taken temporally. It could also be translated as causal: “and because he appealed…”
56 tn A designation of the Roman emperor (in this case, Nero). BDAG 917 s.v. σεβαστός states, “ὁ Σεβαστός His Majesty the Emperor Ac 25:21, 25 (of Nero).”
57 tn The word “him” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader.
58 sn There is irony here. How can Festus write anything definite about Paul, if he is guilty of nothing.
59 sn To my lord means “to His Majesty the Emperor.”
60 tn Grk “about whom I have nothing definite…” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative pronoun (“whom”) was replaced with a personal pronoun (“him”) and a new sentence begun in the translation at the beginning of v. 26.
61 sn See the note on King Agrippa in 25:13.
62 tn Or “investigation.” BDAG 66 s.v. ἀνάκρισις has “a judicial hearing, investigation, hearing, esp. preliminary hearing…τῆς ἀ. γενομένης Ac 25:26.” This is technical legal language.
63 tn L&N 33.153 s.v. σημαίνω, “to cause something to be both specific and clear – ‘to indicate clearly, to make clear’… ‘for it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner without clearly indicating the charges against him’ Ac 25:27.”
sn Without clearly indicating the charges against him. Again the point is made by Festus himself that there is difficulty even in articulating a charge against Paul.
