Acts 23 35

Acts 23:35 kjv

I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment hall.

Acts 23:35 nkjv

he said, "I will hear you when your accusers also have come." And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's Praetorium.

Acts 23:35 niv

he said, "I will hear your case when your accusers get here." Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod's palace.

Acts 23:35 esv

he said, "I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive." And he commanded him to be guarded in Herod's praetorium.

Acts 23:35 nlt

"I will hear your case myself when your accusers arrive," the governor told him. Then the governor ordered him kept in the prison at Herod's headquarters.

Acts 23 verses

Acts 23 35 Meaning

Governor Felix, upon receiving Paul from the tribune Lysias, declared that he would conduct a formal hearing for Paul once his Jewish accusers arrived in Caesarea. During this waiting period, Felix commanded Paul to be held under guard within Herod's Praetorium. This decision highlighted Felix's adherence to Roman legal procedure by ensuring the presence of all parties for a just hearing, while also keeping Paul under his immediate control.

Acts 23 35 Context

Acts chapter 23 recounts the immediate aftermath of Paul's arrest in Jerusalem and the ongoing Jewish plot against him. After his defense before the Sanhedrin created a fierce division between Pharisees and Sadducees, leading to a riot, the Roman tribune Claudius Lysias again intervened to protect Paul. Discovering a Jewish conspiracy to ambush and kill Paul, Lysias orchestrated Paul's secret transfer under heavy military guard from Jerusalem to Caesarea. Caesarea was the provincial capital of Roman Judea and the residence of the Roman procurator (governor). Upon Paul's arrival, Lysias also sent a letter to Governor Felix, explaining the circumstances and Paul's Roman citizenship. Acts 23:35 follows Paul's initial appearance before Felix, where Felix confirmed the need to hear the accusers and then decided on Paul's temporary custody. This verse marks the beginning of Paul's two-year imprisonment in Caesarea under Felix (Acts 24:27), shifting his legal process to the highest Roman authority in Judea.

Acts 23 35 Word analysis

• he said (ἔφη τε - ephē te): From ephē (said, declared) and te (and, also, further). It introduces Felix's formal pronouncement and implies a continuation of the previous action (receiving Paul and Lysias's letter). It's a standard Greek verb for direct speech.
• “I will hear (Ἀκούσομαί - Akousomai): Future active indicative of akouō, meaning "to hear, listen." In a legal context, it signifies "to give a hearing to," implying a formal, judicial inquiry where all facts are presented. This shows Felix's intention to follow proper Roman legal procedure.
• you (σου - sou): Genitive form of "you" (singular). Indicates that Paul's case, specifically his defense, will be the subject of the hearing.
• fully (implied): While not a separate Greek word here, the phrase "I will hear you when..." implies a complete and proper hearing where Paul's full defense could be presented. This is inherent in the Roman legal process.
• when (ὅταν - hotan): A temporal conjunction meaning "when, whenever." It sets a clear condition for the hearing – the arrival of Paul's accusers. This adheres to Roman law requiring both parties for a just trial.
• your accusers (οἱ κατήγοροί σου - hoi katēgoroi sou):
  • κατήγοροι (katēgoroi): "Accusers, plaintiffs." Derived from kata (against) and agoreuō (to speak in public assembly), indicating those who bring a formal charge. This is a crucial legal term, signifying the need for the complaining parties to formally present their charges.
  • σου (sou): Possessive "your." These are the specific Jewish leaders from Jerusalem who sought Paul's life and made accusations against him.
• also arrive (παραγένωνται - paragenōntai): Aorist subjunctive of paraginomai, meaning "to come alongside, arrive, be present." It underscores the necessity of their physical presence in Caesarea for the hearing to proceed. It signifies the commencement of a formal proceeding.
• And he commanded (κελεύσας - keleusas): Aorist active participle of keleuō, "to command, order." This indicates Felix's direct and authoritative directive regarding Paul's custody. As governor, his word carried absolute legal weight.
• him (αὐτόν - auton): Paul, the direct object of Felix's command for custody.
• to be kept (φυλάσσεσθαι - phylassesthai): Present passive infinitive of phylassō, meaning "to guard, keep, protect, preserve." In this context, it refers to keeping someone under custody or arrest. It suggests a form of protective custody rather than immediate harsh imprisonment, awaiting legal proceedings.
• in Herod’s Praetorium (ἐν τῷ πραιτωρίῳ τοῦ Ἡρῴδου - en tō praitoriō tou Hērōdou):
  • Πραιτώριον (Praitorion): A Latin loanword (Praetorium). It refers to the headquarters of a Roman commander or governor, encompassing not just a building but often the entire administrative and judicial complex. In Caesarea, this was the grand palace built by Herod the Great, which was later converted into the Roman procurator's official residence and judicial seat.
  • τοῦ Ἡρῴδου (tou Hērōdou): "Of Herod." Specifies which Praetorium, differentiating it perhaps from a military camp's Praetorium. This location implies a relatively secure and well-appointed place of custody, not a common prison, reflecting Paul's Roman citizenship and the respect due to his accusers' stature. It was also conveniently located for legal proceedings.

Acts 23 35 Bonus section

The specific mention of "Herod's Praetorium" is significant. This was not a military barracks or a standard prison. Herod the Great built an magnificent palace in Caesarea, which, after Judea became a Roman province, served as the official residence and judicial headquarters for the Roman procurators. Keeping Paul there afforded him a degree of comfort and security relative to typical imprisonment and placed him directly under the governor's observation. It also served as a convenient location for trials, as all legal proceedings would occur within the Praetorium complex. This detailed geographical and architectural reference anchors the narrative firmly in its historical setting and underscores the political and legal environment in which Paul operated. Paul's time in Caesarea was a critical period of "waiting" that was sovereignly appointed by God to further His plans.

Acts 23 35 Commentary

Acts 23:35 provides a concise yet highly informative glimpse into the legal and administrative workings of Roman Judea and Paul's experience under Roman custody. Governor Felix's decision reflects adherence to fundamental Roman legal principles: the right to be heard (implied for Paul), the requirement for accusers to be present, and the principle of 'audi alteram partem' (hear the other side). By demanding the accusers' presence, Felix acted within standard Roman due process. His order to hold Paul in "Herod's Praetorium" indicates a secure but relatively superior place of custody compared to a common jail, suitable for a Roman citizen awaiting trial. This location was not just a prison; it was the governor's palace and administrative center, signaling Paul's status as a high-profile prisoner. The verse also implicitly highlights divine providence, as Paul is placed in a secure location, enabling his future appeal to Caesar and onward journey to Rome, central to God's plan for spreading the gospel to the Gentiles and even to the imperial capital. While Felix appears to follow proper procedure, later verses (Acts 24:26) reveal his ulterior motives, including a hope for a bribe.