Paul Brought before Festus and the Jewish Charges
Acts 25:1-12
Acts.25.1 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- Φηστος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ουν: CONJ
- επιβας: VERB,aor,act,ptc,nom,sg,m
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- επαρχεια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- μετα: PREP
- τρεις: NUM,acc,pl,f
- ημερας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- ανεβη: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- εις: PREP
- Ιεροσολυμα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- απο: PREP
- Καισαρειας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
Parallels
- Acts 24:27 (verbal): Direct continuation/parallel: explicitly identifies Festus as Felix's successor and sets up the situation that Acts 25:1 resumes (Festus as governor).
- Acts 23:23-24,31 (structural): Narrative pattern of transfers between Jerusalem and Caesarea (Paul escorted to the governor at Caesarea); highlights the administrative link and routine movement between the two cities referenced in Acts 25:1.
- Acts 21:15-16 (thematic): Uses the same travel formula of ‘going up to Jerusalem’ from Caesarea; parallels the geographic and travel motif connecting Caesarea and Jerusalem in Luke–Acts.
- Acts 25:13 (thematic): Later in the same chapter Festus is shown hosting King Agrippa and Bernice in Caesarea, underscoring Caesarea as the governor’s residence and the provincial-political context behind Festus’s movements to Jerusalem.
Alternative generated candidates
- When Festus had entered the province, after three days he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem.
- Now when Festus had come into the province, after three days he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.
Acts.25.2 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ενεφανισαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- τε: CONJ
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- αρχιερεις: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- πρωτοι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- Ιουδαιων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- κατα: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- Παυλου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- παρεκαλουν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Acts 24:1 (verbal): Same legal scene wording: the high priest and leading Jews present charges against Paul before a Roman governor (Felix), paralleling chief priests/elders accusing Paul before Festus.
- Matthew 27:1–2 (structural): The chief priests and elders deliver Jesus to the Roman governor (Pilate) to press charges—same actors and transfer of Jewish accusations to Roman authority.
- John 18:28–38 (thematic): Jewish leaders bring Jesus to Pilate and urge that he be tried—parallel theme of Jewish authorities presenting accusations to a Roman official.
- Luke 22:66–71 (structural): The chief priests and elders assemble to interrogate and press charges against Jesus—similar assembly of Jewish leaders initiating formal accusation and trial procedures.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul; they implored a favor against him,
- And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews informed against Paul; and they besought favor against him.
Acts.25.3 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- αιτουμενοι: VERB,part,pres,mid,nom,pl,m
- χαριν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- κατ᾽αυτου: PREP+PRON,gen,sg,m
- οπως: CONJ
- μεταπεμψηται: VERB,aor,pass,subj,3,sg
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- Ιερουσαλημ: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ενεδραν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ποιουντες: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
- ανελειν: VERB,aor,act,inf
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- κατα: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- οδον: NOUN,acc,sg,f
Parallels
- Acts 23:12-15 (verbal): Same conspiracy motif: more than forty Jews bind themselves, ask that Paul be brought down to the council, and lay an ambush to kill him on the road—the same plot described earlier.
- Acts 9:23-25 (thematic): Earlier plot against Paul in Damascus: local Jews conspire to kill him and he must be let down in a basket to escape—similar language and intent to ambush and murder Paul.
- Mark 14:1 (thematic): The chief priests and scribes seek to seize Jesus by craft and put him to death—parallel theme of religious leaders plotting clandestine violence to eliminate an opponent.
- Genesis 37:18-20 (allusion): Joseph’s brothers conspire to kill him and discuss ambushing him on the road—an Old Testament antecedent motif of ambush and planned murder.
Alternative generated candidates
- asking that he be summoned to Jerusalem—lying in wait to ambush him on the road and kill him.
- They requested a favor of him, that he would summon Paul to be brought to Jerusalem, laying in wait to kill him on the way.
Acts.25.4 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- μεν: PART
- ουν: CONJ
- Φηστος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- απεκριθη: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- τηρεισθαι: VERB,pres,pass,inf
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- Παυλον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- Καισαρειαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εαυτον: PRON,acc,sg,masc,reflex
- δε: CONJ
- μελλειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- εν: PREP
- ταχει: ADV
- εκπορευεσθαι·: VERB,pres,mid,inf
Parallels
- Acts 25:11 (structural): Immediate literary consequence: Festus' handling of Paul's custody and jurisdiction prompts Paul's formal appeal to Caesar.
- Acts 24:27 (verbal): Same administrative motif and wording—Paul is left in custody in the province as a governor seeks to placate the Jews ('left Paul imprisoned/kept'), linking governor decisions about Paul’s detention.
- Acts 23:31-35 (structural): Earlier narrative of Paul’s transfer to Caesarea and subsequent custody (under Felix) parallels the present arrangement to keep Paul in Caesarea and the provincial administrative movement.
- Luke 23:1-5 (thematic): Chief priests and rulers bring a prisoner before the Roman governor (Pilate) to secure Roman adjudication—parallels the dynamic of Jewish leaders and Roman officials determining a prisoner’s fate.
- John 18:28-31 (thematic): Jewish authorities present Jesus to Pilate and claim lack of authority to execute, thereby invoking Roman jurisdiction—a similar appeal to Roman legal authority and transfer of a case to a governor.
Alternative generated candidates
- But Festus answered that Paul was being kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would soon return there.
- Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would soon go there.
Acts.25.5 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- Οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- ουν: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- φησιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- δυνατοι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- συγκαταβαντες: PART,aor,act,nom,pl,m
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- τι: PRON,int,nom,sg,n
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- ανδρι: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- ατοπον: ADJ,acc,sg,n
- κατηγορειτωσαν: VERB,aor,act,imp,3,pl
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Acts 24:1-9 (structural): Same courtroom/accusation motif earlier in Acts: Jewish leaders formally present charges against Paul before the Roman governor (Felix), paralleling the procedural bringing-forward of accusations in 25:5.
- Acts 25:7-8 (verbal): Immediate context in the same chapter where Festus asks the accusers to state their case and for any who can to present specific accusations—closely parallels the invitation for accusers in v.5.
- Matthew 26:59-61 (thematic): The chief priests and elders procure false witnesses to bring charges against Jesus; thematically parallels Jewish leaders marshaling accusations against a defendant to secure a legal outcome.
- Luke 23:1-2 (thematic): The Jewish rulers bring charges against Jesus before Pilate, presenting accusations to a Roman authority—parallel situation of local leaders pressing formal charges against a defendant before a provincial governor.
Alternative generated candidates
- They replied, “If you leave him at Caesarea, no one of us will have an opportunity to accuse him.”
- "Let them therefore," said he, "if it be their pleasure, go down with me and accuse him there."
Acts.25.6 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- Διατριψας: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,m,sg
- δε: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- αυτοις: PRO,dat,pl,3
- ημερας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- ου: PART,neg
- πλειους: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- οκτω: NUM,nom,sg,m
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- δεκα: NUM,nom,pl,m
- καταβας: PART,aor,act,nom,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- Καισαρειαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- επαυριον: ADV
- καθισας: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,m,sg
- επι: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- βηματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- εκελευσεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- Παυλον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- αχθηναι: VERB,aor,pass,inf
Parallels
- Acts 23:31-35 (structural): Narrative parallel: earlier scene in which Paul is escorted to Caesarea and delivered to the governor—same movement of Paul to the provincial capital and handover to Roman authority.
- Acts 18:12-16 (verbal): Verbal/scene parallel: Gallio 'sat on the bema' to hear accusations against Paul (καθισας επι του βηματος), using the same judicial imagery and phrase as Acts 25:6.
- Acts 24:1-3 (24:10-21) (thematic): Thematic parallel: Paul’s formal hearings before a provincial governor (Felix) — a recurring courtroom-trial motif that frames Acts 25:6’s judicial proceeding before Festus.
- Acts 25:1-5 (structural): Immediate narrative parallel: the preceding account of Festus’ arrival, consultations with Jewish leaders, and the brief interval (eight or ten days) that sets the scene for his journey to Caesarea and subsequent sitting on the bema.
Alternative generated candidates
- After some days, Festus went down to Caesarea; and the next day he took his seat on the judgment bench and commanded that Paul be brought before him.
- After certain days Festus went down to Caesarea; and on the morrow he sat on the judgment-seat, and commanded Paul to be brought.
Acts.25.7 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- παραγενομενου: PART,aor,mid,gen,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- περιεστησαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- απο: PREP
- Ιεροσολυμων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- καταβεβηκοτες: PART,perf,act,nom,pl,m
- Ιουδαιοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- πολλα: ADJ,acc,pl,n
- και: CONJ
- βαρεα: ADJ,acc,pl,n
- αιτιωματα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- καταφεροντες: PART,pres,act,nom,pl,m
- α: PRON,nom,sg,n
- ουκ: PART,neg
- ισχυον: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- αποδειξαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
Parallels
- Acts 25:18-19 (verbal): Same chapter expands the point: Jewish accusers from Jerusalem bring charges against Paul but “could not prove” the things they alleged (almost identical legal language).
- Acts 24:5-9 (thematic): Tertullus’ formal accusation before Felix lists many serious charges (disturbing the nation, temple profanation, sect leader) — a comparable scene of multiple heavy accusations brought against Paul in a Roman legal setting.
- Acts 21:27-29 (thematic): A mob instigated by Jews accuses Paul of profaning the temple; like Acts 25:7 this passage shows Jews bringing grave charges against Paul that lead to legal proceedings and public uproar.
- Luke 23:2 (thematic): The chief priests and elders bring serious charges against Jesus before Pilate (subversion, forbidding tribute), paralleling the motif of Jewish leaders presenting heavy accusations to Roman authorities.
- Acts 26:31-32 (structural): Agrippa’s verdict that Paul has done nothing deserving death parallels the judicial outcome implied in Acts 25:7–the accusers’ inability to substantiate capital charges against him.
Alternative generated candidates
- When Paul came, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around and brought many and grievous charges against him which they could not prove.
- And when he came, the Jews that had come down from Jerusalem stood round about, and brought many and grievous charges against Paul, which they could not prove.
Acts.25.8 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- Παυλου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- απολογουμενου: VERB,pres,mid,part,gen,sg,m
- οτι: CONJ
- Ουτε: CONJ
- εις: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- νομον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- Ιουδαιων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- ουτε: CONJ
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- ιερον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- ουτε: CONJ
- εις: PREP
- Καισαρα: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- τι: PRON,int,nom,sg,n
- ημαρτον: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,sg
Parallels
- Acts 24:10-16 (verbal): Paul gives a formal defense before Felix, insisting he has done nothing deserving of death or imprisonment and that he has lived with a good conscience—language and legal self‑defense parallel to Acts 25:8's claim of no wrongdoing under Jewish law, the temple, or Caesar.
- Acts 26:2-3, 24-25 (structural): Paul again makes a formal defense before King Agrippa ('I consider myself fortunate... to make my defense'), repeating the courtroom/appeal structure found in Acts 25:8.
- Acts 21:27-29 (verbal): Jewish accusations that Paul defiled the temple by bringing Greeks into the holy place mirror the specific charge in Acts 25:8 ('nor against the temple'), and describe the same allegations that precipitated his arrests.
- Acts 22:25-29 (thematic): Paul's revelation of Roman citizenship and his legal rights (preventing scourging and enabling appeal) connects to the 'nor against Caesar' element in Acts 25:8 and to the recurrent theme of invoking Roman protection/appeal to Caesar.
Alternative generated candidates
- Paul made his defense: “I have committed no offense either against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.”
- Paul made his defense: "Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I committed any offense."
Acts.25.9 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Φηστος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- θελων: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,m
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- Ιουδαιοις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- χαριν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- καταθεσθαι: VERB,pres,mid/pass,inf
- αποκριθεις: VERB,aor,pass,ptc,nom,sg,m
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- Παυλω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- ειπεν·Θελεις: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- εις: PREP
- Ιεροσολυμα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- αναβας: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,m,sg
- εκει: ADV
- περι: PREP
- τουτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- κριθηναι: VERB,aor,pass,inf
- επ᾽εμου: PREP+PRON,gen,sg,1
Parallels
- Acts 25:11-12 (structural): Direct immediate response to Festus' offer: Paul refuses to be sent to Jerusalem and instead appeals to Caesar, which shapes the legal outcome of the present offer.
- Acts 23:12-15 (thematic): Jewish leaders earlier conspire to manipulate custody/transfer of Paul for hostile ends, paralleling the motive behind Festus' offer to placate Jewish leaders by sending Paul to Jerusalem.
- John 18:31 (allusion): Pilate's statement 'Take him yourselves and judge him' echoes the pattern of Roman authorities deferring to or offering to let Jewish leaders try a case to satisfy local sensibilities, like Festus' proposal.
- Acts 22:25-29 (verbal): Paul's Roman citizenship and the legal protections it affords are the decisive factors behind his refusal to be sent to Jerusalem and his appeal to Caesar, a claim established earlier when Paul identifies his citizenship.
Alternative generated candidates
- But Festus, wishing to gain favor with the Jews, asked Paul, “Will you go up to Jerusalem and be tried there before me on these matters?”
- But Festus, wishing to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, "Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem and there be judged before me concerning these matters?"
Acts.25.10 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- δε: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Παυλος·Επι: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- βηματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- Καισαρος: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- εστως: PART,perf,act,nom,sg,m
- ειμι: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- ου: PART,neg
- με: PRON,acc,sg,1
- δει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- κρινεσθαι: VERB,pres,pass,inf
- Ιουδαιους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- ουδεν: PRON,acc,sg,n
- ηδικησα: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,sg
- ως: ADV
- και: CONJ
- συ: PRON,nom,sg,2
- καλλιον: ADV,comp
- επιγινωσκεις: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
Parallels
- Acts 25:11 (structural): Immediate continuation of Paul’s statement — he insists he has done nothing deserving death and explains why he appealed to Caesar (direct verbal and narrative follow‑on).
- Acts 25:12 (structural): Festus’ response to Paul’s appeal to Caesar (narrative consequence of Paul’s declaration that he stands before Caesar’s tribunal).
- Acts 22:25–29 (thematic): Paul invokes his Roman legal status to avoid mistreatment (’I am a Roman citizen’), paralleling the legal strategy of appealing to Roman authority found in Acts 25:10–11.
- Acts 26:32 (thematic): Agrippa’s summary that Paul would have been released had he not appealed to Caesar echoes the significance and outcome of Paul’s appeal mentioned in Acts 25:10.
- Acts 24:10–21 (thematic): Paul’s earlier defense before Felix, in which he denies wrongdoing against the Jews and defends his conduct, parallels his claim in Acts 25:10 that he has wronged no Jew and is thus not properly tried by them.
Alternative generated candidates
- Paul answered, “I stand at Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well.
- Paul said, "I stand at Caesar's judgment-seat, where I ought to be judged; to the Jews I have done no wrong, as thou very well knowest."
Acts.25.11 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- μεν: PART
- ουν: CONJ
- αδικω: ADJ,dat,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- αξιον: ADJ,nom,sg,n
- θανατου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- πεπραχα: VERB,perf,act,ind,1,sg
- τι: PRON,int,nom,sg,n
- ου: PART,neg
- παραιτουμαι: VERB,pres,mid,ind,1,sg
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- αποθανειν·ει: VERB,inf,aor,act,0,0
- δε: CONJ
- ουδεν: PRON,acc,sg,n
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- ουτοι: PRO,nom,pl,m
- κατηγορουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- ουδεις: PRON,nom,sg,m
- με: PRON,acc,sg,1
- δυναται: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,sg
- αυτοις: PRO,dat,pl,3
- χαρισασθαι·Καισαρα: VERB,inf,pres,mid,0,0
- επικαλουμαι: VERB,pres,mid,ind,1,sg
Parallels
- Acts 26:31-32 (verbal): Bernice and Agrippa remark that Paul 'might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar,' directly reflecting the narrative consequence of Paul's appeal in 25:11.
- Acts 22:25-29 (thematic): Paul's claim to Roman legal rights ('I am a Roman citizen') and the protections those rights afford provide the background rationale for his appeal to Caesar in 25:11.
- Acts 16:37 (thematic): Paul and Silas assert their status as Roman citizens after being wrongfully beaten and imprisoned, illustrating the same recourse to Roman legal protection that Paul invokes by appealing to Caesar.
- Acts 24:10-21 (thematic): Paul's earlier defense before Felix, in which he insists he has done nothing deserving death or imprisonment, parallels his assertion in 25:11 that if he is innocent he cannot be lawfully handed over to his accusers.
Alternative generated candidates
- If then I have done anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die; but if there is nothing in these charges of which they accuse me, no one can give me up. I appeal to Caesar.”
- If then I have done wrong, or have committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die; but if there is nothing in those things of which these accuse me, no man may deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar."
Acts.25.12 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- τοτε: ADV
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Φηστος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- συλλαλησας: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,m,sg
- μετα: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- συμβουλιου: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- απεκριθη·Καισαρα: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- επικεκλησαι: VERB,perf,mid,inf
- επι: PREP
- Καισαρα: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- πορευση: VERB,pres,mid,inf
Parallels
- Acts 25:11 (verbal): Directly connected verse in which Paul declares, 'I appeal to Caesar.' Festus's decision in 25:12 is the administrative response to that appeal.
- Acts 22:25-29 (thematic): Earlier instance where Paul invokes his Roman citizenship to avoid unlawful punishment, establishing his legal status and right to seek remedies through Roman authorities.
- Acts 16:37-39 (thematic): Another episode where Paul and Silas confront Roman legal procedures after being beaten and imprisoned, illustrating the use of Roman legal protections and appeals to civil authority.
- Matthew 22:21 (allusion): Jesus' teaching to 'render to Caesar' reflects the broader theme of Caesar's civil authority—background for understanding the legitimacy and context of an appeal to Caesar in Acts.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then Festus, after conferring with his council, replied, “You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you shall go.”
- Then Festus, after he had conferred with the council, answered, "Thou hast appealed to Caesar; unto Caesar shalt thou go."
Now when Festus had come into the province, after three days he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem. And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews informed against Paul before him; they earnestly requested a favor against him, asking that he would summon him to Jerusalem. But Festus answered, 'Paul is being kept at Caesarea, and I myself am going there shortly.'
'Let those among you who can bring charges against him go down with me and accuse him, if there is any wrong in him.' But they were not willing; instead they conspired together to request a favor from Festus, that he would send Paul to Jerusalem, planning to ambush him on the way.
Then Festus, having conferred with his council, gave orders that Paul be brought; and after some days he went down to Caesarea. And when he had arrived, the next day he sat upon the judgment seat and commanded Paul to be brought. And when he was brought in, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around and laid many serious charges against him which they could not prove.
Paul, making his defense, said, 'I have done nothing against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar.' But Festus, wishing to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul, 'Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and there be tried before me on these matters?' But Paul said, 'I am standing before Caesar's tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong; if I had done anything worthy of death, I would not appeal to Caesar. I appeal to Caesar.'
Then Festus, after conferring with his council, replied, 'You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you shall go.'