Acts 25:10
ContextNETBible | Paul replied, 1 “I am standing before Caesar’s 2 judgment seat, 3 where I should be tried. 4 I have done nothing wrong 5 to the Jews, as you also know very well. 6 |
XREF | Mt 27:18,23,24; Ac 16:37,38; Ac 22:25-28; Ac 23:29; Ac 25:25; Ac 26:31; Ac 28:18; 2Co 4:2 |
NET © Notes |
1 tn Grk “said.” 2 tn Or “before the emperor’s” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor). 3 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. Here of course Paul’s reference to “Caesar’s judgment seat” is a form of metonymy; since Festus is Caesar’s representative, Festus’ judgment seat represents Caesar’s own. 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. 4 tn That is, tried by an imperial representative and subject to Roman law. 5 sn “I have done nothing wrong.” Here is yet another declaration of total innocence on Paul’s part. 6 tn BDAG 506 s.v. καλῶς 7 states, “comp. κάλλιον (for the superl., as Galen, Protr. 8 p. 24, 19J.=p. 10, 31 Kaibel; s. B-D-F §244, 2) ὡς καί σὺ κ. ἐπιγινώσκεις as also you know very well Ac 25:10.” |