Act 25:2-12 | NET2full | STEP | So the chief priests and the most prominent men of the Jews brought formal charges against Paul to him .

‏ Acts 25:2-12

2 So the chief priests and the most prominent men ^{▼▼tn BDAG 893-94 s.v. πρῶτος 2.a.β has “οἱ πρῶτοι the most prominent men, the leading men w. gen. of the place…or of a group…οἱ πρ. τοῦ λαοῦ…Lk 19:47; cp. Ac 25:2; 28:17.”} of the Jews brought formal charges ^{▼▼tn BDAG 326 s.v. ἐμφανίζω 3 has “ἐ. τινὶ κατά τινος bring formal charges against someone…Ac 24:1; 25:2.”} ^{▼▼sn Note how quickly the Jewish leadership went after Paul: They brought formal charges against him within three days of Festus’ arrival in the province.} against Paul to him. 3 Requesting him to do them a favor against Paul, ^{▼▼tn Grk “Requesting a favor against him”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation, the understood direct object of “requesting” has been supplied, and the phrase “to do them” supplied for clarity.} they urged Festus ^{▼▼tn Grk “him”; the referent (Festus) has been specified in the translation for clarity. The words “they urged him” are in v. 2 in the Greek text.} to summon him to Jerusalem, planning an ambush ^{▼▼sn Planning an ambush. The Jewish leadership had not forgotten the original plan of several years ago (see 23:16). They did not trust the Roman legal process, but preferred to take matters into their own hands.} to kill him along the way. 4 Then Festus ^{▼▼sn See the note on Porcius Festus in 24:27.} replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea, ^{▼▼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.} and he himself intended to go there ^{▼▼tn The word “there” is not in the Greek text but is implied.} shortly. 5 “So,” he said, “let your leaders ^{▼▼tn Grk “let those who are influential among you” (i.e., the powerful).} go down there ^{▼▼tn The word “there” is not in the Greek text, but is implied.} with me, and if this man has done anything wrong, ^{▼▼tn Grk “and if there is anything wrong with this man,” but this could be misunderstood in English to mean a moral or physical defect, while the issue in context is the commission of some crime, something legally improper (BDAG 149 s.v. ἄτοπος 2).} they may bring charges ^{▼▼tn BDAG 533 s.v. κατηγορέω 1 states, “nearly always as legal t.t.: bring charges in court.” L&N 33.427 states for κατηγορέω, “to bring serious charges or accusations against someone, with the possible connotation of a legal or court context—‘to accuse, to bring charges.”} against him.”

6 After Festus ^{▼▼tn Grk “he”; the referent (Festus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} had stayed ^{▼▼tn Grk “Having stayed.” The participle διατρίψας (diatripsas) has been taken temporally.} not more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea, ^{▼▼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.} and the next day he sat ^{▼▼tn Grk “sitting down…he ordered.” The participle καθίσας (kathisas) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.} on the judgment seat ^{▼▼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 bēma 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, bēma) 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.} and ordered Paul to be brought. 7 When he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, ^{▼▼tn BDAG 801 s.v. περιίστημι 1.a has “περιέστησαν αὐτὸν οἱ ᾿Ιουδαῖοι the Judeans stood around him 25:7.”} bringing many serious ^{▼▼tn Grk “many and serious.” The term βαρύς (barus) refers to weighty or serious charges (BDAG 167 s.v. 1).} charges that they were not able to prove. ^{▼▼tn The term ἀποδείκνυμι (apodeiknumi) in a legal context refers to legal proof (4 Macc 1:8; BDAG 108 s.v. 3).} 8 Paul said in his defense, ^{▼▼tn Grk “Paul saying in his defense”; the participle ἀπολογουμένου (apologoumenou) could be taken temporally (“when Paul said…”), but due to the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the participle was translated as a finite verb and a new sentence begun here in the translation. BDAG 116-17 s.v. ἀπολογέομαι has “W. ὅτι foll. τοῦ Παύλου ἀπολογουμένου, ὅτι when Paul said in his defense (direct quot. foll.) Ac 25:8.”} “I have committed no offense ^{▼▼tn Grk “I have sinned…in nothing.”} against the Jewish law ^{▼▼tn Grk “against the law of the Jews.” Here τῶν ᾿Ιουδαίων has been translated as an attributive genitive.} ^{▼▼sn The Jewish law refers to the law of Moses.} or against the temple or against Caesar.” ^{▼▼tn Or “against the emperor” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).} ^{▼▼sn Paul’s threefold claim to be innocent with respect to the law…the temple and Caesar argues that he has not disturbed the peace at any level. This was the standard charge made against early Christians (Luke 23:2; Acts 17:6-7). The charges here are emphatically denied, with the Greek conjunction oute repeated before each charge.} 9 But Festus, ^{▼▼sn See the note on Porcius Festus in 24:27.} wanting to do the Jews a favor, asked Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and be tried ^{▼▼tn Or “stand trial.”} before me there on these charges?” ^{▼▼tn Grk “concerning these things.”} 10 Paul replied, ^{▼▼tn Grk “said.”} “I am standing before Caesar’s ^{▼▼tn Or “before the emperor’s” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).} judgment seat, ^{▼▼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, bēma) 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.} where I should be tried. ^{▼▼tn That is, tried by an imperial representative and subject to Roman law.} I have done nothing wrong ^{▼▼sn “I have done nothing wrong.” Here is yet another declaration of total innocence on Paul’s part.} to the Jews, as you also know very well. ^{▼▼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.”} 11 If then I am in the wrong ^{▼▼tn BDAG 20 s.v. ἀδικέω 1.b has “intr. be in the wrong (Ex 2:13) εἰ ἀδικῶ Ac 25:11.”} and have done anything that deserves death, I am not trying to escape dying, ^{▼▼tn BDAG 764 s.v. παραιτέομαι 2.b.β, “οὐ παραιτοῦμαι τὸ ἀποθανεῖν I am not trying to escape death Ac 25:11 (cf. Jos., Vi. 141).” To avoid redundancy in the translation, the English gerund “dying” is used to translate the Greek infinitive ἀποθανεῖν (apothanein).} but if not one of their charges against me is true, ^{▼▼tn 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.} no one can hand me over to them. ^{▼▼sn That is, no one can hand me over to them lawfully. Paul was aware of the dangers of a return to Jerusalem.} I appeal to Caesar!” ^{▼▼tn 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.} 12 Then, after conferring with his council, ^{▼▼tn That is, with his advisers.} Festus ^{▼▼sn See the note on Porcius Festus in 24:27.} replied, “You have appealed to Caesar; ^{▼▼tn Or “to the emperor” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).} to Caesar ^{▼▼tn Or “to the emperor.”} you will go!” ^{▼▼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.}