Act 25:23-27 | NETfull | STEP | So the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the audience hall, along with the senior military officers and the prominent men of the city. When Festus gave the order, Paul was brought in.

Acts 25:23-27

Paul Before King Agrippa and Bernice

23 So the next day Agrippa ^{▼▼ See the note on King Agrippa in 25:13.} and Bernice came with great pomp ^{▼▼ Or “great pageantry” (BDAG 1049 s.v. φαντασία; the term is a NT hapax legomenon).} ^{▼▼ Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp. The “royals” were getting their look at Paul. Everyone who was anyone would have been there.} and entered the audience hall, ^{▼▼ 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).} along with the senior military officers ^{▼▼ Grk “the chiliarchs” (officers in command of a thousand soldiers). In Greek the term χιλίαρχος (chiliarchos) 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.} and the prominent men of the city. When Festus ^{▼▼ See the note on Porcius Festus in 24:27.} gave the order, ^{▼▼ 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 (keleusantos) has been taken temporally.} Paul was brought in. 24 Then Festus ^{▼▼ See the note on Porcius Festus in 24:27.} said, “King Agrippa, ^{▼▼ See the note on King Agrippa in 25:13.} and all you who are present here with us, you see this man about whom the entire Jewish populace ^{▼▼ 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.} petitioned ^{▼▼ Or “appealed to” (BDAG 341 s.v. ἐντυγχάνω 1.a).} me both in Jerusalem ^{▼▼ For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; Journey of Paul map 1-F4; Journey of Paul map 2-F4; Journey of Paul map 3-F4; Journey of Paul map 4-F4.} and here, ^{▼▼ Here means “here in Caesarea.”} shouting loudly ^{▼▼ Or “screaming.”} that he ought not to live any longer. 25 But I found that he had done nothing that deserved death, ^{▼▼ He had done nothing that deserved death. Festus’ opinion of Paul’s guilt is like Pilate’s of Jesus (Luke 23:4, 14, 22).} and when he appealed ^{▼▼ The participle ἐπικαλεσαμένου (epikalesamenou) has been taken temporally. It could also be translated as causal: “and because he appealed…”} to His Majesty the Emperor, ^{▼▼ 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).”} I decided to send him. ^{▼▼ 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.} 26 But I have nothing definite ^{▼▼ There is irony here. How can Festus write anything definite about Paul, if he is guilty of nothing.} to write to my lord ^{▼▼ To my lord means “to His Majesty the Emperor.”} about him. ^{▼▼ 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.} Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, ^{▼▼ See the note on King Agrippa in 25:13.} so that after this preliminary hearing ^{▼▼ 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.} I may have something to write. 27 For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner without clearly indicating ^{▼▼ 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.”} ^{▼▼ 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.} the charges against him.”