Discovery BoxActs 25:16 
Context25:16 I answered them 1 that it was not the custom of the Romans to hand over anyone 2 before the accused had met his accusers face to face 3 and had been given 4 an opportunity to make a defense against the accusation. 5
Acts 25:18
Context25:18 When his accusers stood up, they did not charge 6 him with any of the evil deeds I had suspected. 7
1 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.
2 tn Grk “any man.” This is a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpos).
3 tn Or “has met his accusers in person.”
4 tn Grk “and receives.”
5 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.”
6 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.
7 tn Or “I was expecting.”
