Acts 25 17

Acts 25:17 kjv

Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth.

Acts 25:17 nkjv

Therefore when they had come together, without any delay, the next day I sat on the judgment seat and commanded the man to be brought in.

Acts 25:17 niv

When they came here with me, I did not delay the case, but convened the court the next day and ordered the man to be brought in.

Acts 25:17 esv

So when they came together here, I made no delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought.

Acts 25:17 nlt

"When his accusers came here for the trial, I didn't delay. I called the case the very next day and ordered Paul brought in.

Acts 25 verses

Acts 25 17 Meaning

Acts 25:17 describes Roman Governor Festus's prompt action in addressing the accusations against Paul after his arrival in Caesarea. He indicates that without delay, he convened his court the very next day, taking his official position on the judgment seat, and ordered Paul to be brought before him for the legal proceedings. This highlights his commitment to a swift, though not necessarily immediate, legal process, moving forward with the case as per Roman judicial procedure, rather than deferring the matter.

Acts 25 17 Context

Festus, the new Roman procurator (governor) of Judea, had just arrived in Caesarea, the administrative capital. Shortly after his arrival, the chief priests and leading men of the Jews in Jerusalem petitioned him to have Paul sent back to Jerusalem, hoping to ambush and kill him along the way (Acts 25:1-3). Festus, aware of their plot or at least recognizing the political pressure, proposed that they come down to Caesarea to present their charges there, where Paul was already imprisoned (Acts 25:4-5). After a ten-day stay in Jerusalem, Festus returned to Caesarea. Verse 17 signifies his resolve to deal with this important case promptly upon his return, demonstrating administrative efficiency and adherence to Roman legal protocol, setting the stage for Paul's renewed defense. This event unfolds the unfolding legal process for Paul as he moves closer to appealing to Caesar.

Acts 25 17 Word analysis

• Therefore (διό, dio): This Greek conjunction signals a logical consequence or reason, linking back to the previous context where Festus had returned to Caesarea and recognized the necessity of addressing Paul's case quickly. It implies "for this reason" or "because of this."
• when they had come together here (συνελθόντων οὖν ἐνθάδα, synelthontōn oun enthada): The phrase indicates the assembly of the accusers (the Jews who followed Festus from Jerusalem) and perhaps other officials in Caesarea. "Here" refers to Caesarea Maritima, the Roman provincial capital. The structure is a genitive absolute, which sets the time or circumstance for the main action.
• I made no delay (μηδένα ἀναβολὴν ποιησάμενος, mēdena anabolēn poiēsameno): Mēdena means "no one" or "no thing." Anabolē (ἀναβολή) means "postponement," "delay." Festus deliberately chose not to postpone or defer the proceedings. This reflects an administrative decision to move quickly, perhaps to avoid prolonged legal maneuvering or political pressure, and to maintain the appearance of swift justice.
• but (ἀλλά, alla): A strong adversative conjunction, emphasizing the contrast between making no delay and the immediate action taken.
• the very next day (τῇ ἑξῆς, tē hexēs): Literally "the following day." This specific timeframe underlines Festus's immediacy. He wasted no time after the parties (accusers and perhaps his own judicial council) were present.
• took my seat on the judgment seat (καθίσας ἐπὶ τοῦ βήματος, kathisas epi tou bēmatos): Kathisas means "having sat down" or "took a seat." Bēma (βῆμα) refers to a raised platform, often used by orators or magistrates to address the public or preside over court cases. This was the formal setting for judicial proceedings. Taking one's seat on the bema signified the official opening of a court hearing, vesting the magistrate with his full judicial authority. It was a visible display of Roman power and legal order.
• and commanded (κελεύσας, keleusas): From keleuō (κελεύω), meaning "to command" or "to order." This verb signifies Festus's authority and initiative in directing the proceedings.
• the man to be brought (ἀχθῆναι τὸν ἄνδρα, achthēnai ton andra): Achthēnai is the aorist infinitive passive of agō (ἄγω), "to bring" or "to lead." Ton andra (ὁ ἀνήρ, ho anēr) means "the man," here unequivocally referring to Paul. The passive voice implies that he was brought under authority.

Acts 25 17 Bonus section

The concept of the bema or judgment seat in the New Testament is crucial. While here it is a physical Roman legal platform, it also carries theological weight, appearing as the "judgment seat of Christ" (Rom 14:10, 2 Cor 5:10) where believers will give an account of their lives and works. This temporal judgment seat in Caesarea, therefore, acts as a subtle prefigurement of a greater, ultimate judgment, reminding the reader of God's perfect justice. Festus, despite his human intentions, was unknowingly part of a larger divine plan, moving Paul closer to Rome, the epicenter from which the Gospel would continue to spread to the ends of the earth. His actions, driven by a desire for good governance, were nonetheless superintended by God's providence.

Acts 25 17 Commentary

Acts 25:17 provides a snapshot of Roman legal procedure and Festus's approach to governance. Having inherited a volatile situation with Paul, and fresh from his inauguration as governor, Festus chose to demonstrate efficiency and adherence to due process. His immediate convening of court, symbolized by his taking a seat on the bema (judgment seat), underscored his authority and readiness to act. This act was not merely about dispatching a case but also about projecting Roman administrative control and order to both the Jewish leaders and the populace. The bema was a powerful visual, a physical manifestation of Rome's power to judge and govern. For Paul, it meant facing yet another Roman tribunal, a process that consistently, thus far, declared him innocent of breaking Roman law, despite the persistent Jewish accusations related to their internal religious customs. Festus's prompt action here, despite the pressures and desire of the Jewish leaders to remove Paul, set the stage for one of the most significant moments in Paul's journey – his appeal to Caesar, an ultimate recourse for Roman citizens to secure justice and escape provincial biases. The episode highlights the clash between religious animosity and legal impartiality, with the latter often protecting Paul.