Acts 25:10 kjv
Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.
Acts 25:10 nkjv
So Paul said, "I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you very well know.
Acts 25:10 niv
Paul answered: "I am now standing before Caesar's court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well.
Acts 25:10 esv
But Paul said, "I am standing before Caesar's tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well.
Acts 25:10 nlt
But Paul replied, "No! This is the official Roman court, so I ought to be tried right here. You know very well I am not guilty of harming the Jews.
Acts 25 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 16:37 | "But Paul said to them, 'They have beaten us publicly, unarmed Romans, and have thrown us into prison; now do they actually release us secretly? No! But let them come and take us out themselves.'" | Paul asserts Roman citizenship rights |
| Acts 22:25 | "And as they stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion standing by, 'Is it lawful for you to whip a Roman citizen who is uncondemned?'" | Roman citizenship as protection |
| Acts 28:19 | "When the Jews opposed it, I had no alternative but to appeal to Caesar, not that I had any accusation to bring against my nation." | Appealing to Caesar as a last resort |
| Phil 1:7 | "It is right for me to feel as I do about all of you, because I hold you in my heart, since you have all shared with me in my grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel." | Paul's defense of the gospel |
| 2 Tim 4:16 | "At my first defense no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be charged against them." | Paul faced betrayal during defense |
| Rom 1:9 | "For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you" | Paul's commitment to the gospel |
| 1 Cor 9:12 | "If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we endure all things, so that we might not cause any impediment to the gospel of Christ." | Sharing rights vs. gospel focus |
| Gal 1:10 | "For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." | Not seeking human approval |
| John 18:36 | "Jesus answered, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have fought, that I might not be delivered to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the here.'" | Kingdom not of this world |
| Deut 32:31 | "For their rock is not our Rock, even our enemies themselves are judges." | Foreign powers judging Israel |
| Ps 5:11 | "But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, because you spread your protection over them; let those who love your name be exultant in you." | God's protection for the righteous |
| Matt 10:17 | "Beware of men, for they will deliver you up to courts and flog you in their synagogues," | Jesus' warning about persecution |
| Luke 21:12 | "But before all these things they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues and prisons, and you will be dragged before kings and governors for my name's sake." | Future persecution |
| Acts 18:15 | "But if there arise questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I am unwilling to be a judge of these matters." | Roman governor refusing judgment |
| Acts 23:35 | "Then the governor said, 'I will hear you when your accusers also come.' And he commanded him to be guarded in Herod's praetorium." | Governor postpones judgment |
| Acts 25:20 | "Being as I was still very much perplexed about the right way to investigate all these questions, I asked whether he wished to go to Jerusalem to be tried there before these things." | Festus seeks proper trial |
| Acts 26:32 | "And Agrippa said to Festus, 'This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.'" | Appeal to Caesar seals fate |
| 2 Cor 10:8 | "For even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed." | Apostolic authority |
| 1 Pet 2:13 | "Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme," | Subjection to governing authorities |
| Matt 5:39 | "but if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." | Turning the other cheek |
Acts 25 verses
Acts 25 10 Meaning
Paul asserts his unyielding right as a Roman citizen, stating he cannot be casually handed over to the Jewish authorities. His appeal to Caesar signifies a legal and ultimate defense against a potentially biased trial.
Acts 25 10 Context
In Acts chapter 25, Paul is in Caesarea, having appealed his case to the Roman governor Felix. Now, Festus has replaced Felix and, to gain favor with the Jews, proposes to send Paul back to Jerusalem for trial. Paul, knowing the animosity of the Jewish leaders and having experienced injustice before, invokes his right as a Roman citizen to appeal to Caesar (the Emperor in Rome). This highlights the tension between Jewish religious law and Roman legal authority, and Paul's strategic use of his Roman citizenship to protect his life and continue his ministry. The hearing involves King Agrippa II and Bernice, demonstrating the high-level political and legal arena in which Paul's case is being considered.
Acts 25 10 Word analysis
- ἐγώ (egō): "I". Emphasizes personal agency and the direct declaration from Paul.
- δὲ (de): "but" or "and". A conjunctive particle, here contrasting with the previous implicit agreement or acknowledging Festus's proposal.
- οὐκ (ouk): "not". A strong negation.
- ἀνέστρεψα (anestrepsa): "I have appealed" or "I have turned to". This is the perfect tense, indicating a completed action with continuing effect.
- τὴν (tēn): "the" (definite article).
- ἐμοὶ (emoi): "to me" (dative case of ego).
- δικαίωμα (dikaiōma): "right" or "legal claim." It signifies a legitimate and justifiable request based on law.
- καῖσαρος (Kaisaros): "Caesar" (genitive case of Kaisar). Referring to the Emperor of Rome.
- ἀνέπεμψα (anepempsa): "I have sent up" or "I have sent for examination." Another perfect tense verb, signifying Paul has officially lodged his appeal.
- εἰς (eis): "to" or "unto". Indicates the destination.
- ταύτην (tautēn): "this" (accusative feminine demonstrative pronoun).
- ἀναφέρω (anapherō): "I may be brought" or "I may be presented." Paul's ultimate desire is to stand before the Emperor.
- εἰμὶ (eimi): "I am" (present indicative of 'to be').
Group analysis: "ἐμοὶ δίκαιον οὐκ ἔστιν, ὃ μέλλεις αἰτεῖν, οὐκ ἀνέστρεψα.” (Emoi dikaios ouk estin, ho melleis aitein, ouk anestrepsa.) This clause structure emphasizes Paul's unwavering position. The denial of the proposal from Festus is direct and legally founded, expressed through his past action of appealing. The appeal to Caesar was not a desperate measure but a rightful, established legal procedure available to Roman citizens.
Acts 25 10 Bonus section
The legal procedure Paul invokes was significant. An appeal to Caesar (the provocatio ad Caesarem) was a fundamental right granted to Roman citizens, ensuring they would not be subject to summary judgment or arbitrary decisions by provincial governors. To send an appellant elsewhere or to deny the appeal would be a severe legal infraction against Roman citizenship. This act essentially removes Festus and Agrippa from the immediate decision-making authority regarding Paul's fate, placing it instead in the hands of Emperor Nero. This legal maneuver is crucial to the narrative, facilitating Paul's journey to Rome as prophesied.
Acts 25 10 Commentary
Paul’s declaration “I have appealed to Caesar” (Act 25:11) is a powerful assertion of his legal rights as a Roman citizen. When Governor Festus suggests transferring Paul’s trial from Caesarea to Jerusalem, Paul invokes his ultimate legal recourse: an appeal to the Roman Emperor. This action halts any further proceedings by Festus, as Roman law dictated that an appeal to Caesar must be honored. It underscores Paul's understanding and use of Roman legal structures to protect himself and to ensure his case could be heard on a higher, less biased level. It also strategically positions Paul to travel to Rome, which aligns with the divine plan revealed to him earlier (Acts 23:11).