Acts 25 24

Acts 25:24 kjv

And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.

Acts 25:24 nkjv

And Festus said: "King Agrippa and all the men who are here present with us, you see this man about whom the whole assembly of the Jews petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying out that he was not fit to live any longer.

Acts 25:24 niv

Festus said: "King Agrippa, and all who are present with us, you see this man! The whole Jewish community has petitioned me about him in Jerusalem and here in Caesarea, shouting that he ought not to live any longer.

Acts 25:24 esv

And Festus said, "King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish people petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer.

Acts 25:24 nlt

Then Festus said, "King Agrippa and all who are here, this is the man whose death is demanded by all the Jews, both here and in Jerusalem.

Acts 25 verses

Acts 25 24 Meaning

Acts 25:24 records Governor Festus addressing a distinguished assembly, including King Agrippa, presenting the case of Paul. Festus explains that the "whole Jewish people" have repeatedly appealed to him, both in Jerusalem and in Caesarea, with a unified and insistent demand that Paul be put to death, declaring he is unfit to live any longer. This statement establishes the intense, widespread, and lethal nature of the accusations against Paul, setting the stage for his defense before Agrippa.

Acts 25 24 Context

Acts chapter 25 details Governor Festus's initial dealings with Paul following his appointment to Caesarea. Three days after arriving, Festus went to Jerusalem, where Jewish high priests and leading men immediately presented renewed charges against Paul, urging that he be transferred to Jerusalem for trial – a tactic intended for an ambush to kill him on the way (Acts 25:1-3). Festus, aware of their plot, refused and held the trial in Caesarea. During the hearing, Paul denied their accusations (Acts 25:7-8). When Festus, perhaps to appease the Jews, suggested a trial in Jerusalem, Paul, being a Roman citizen, exercised his right to appeal to Caesar (Acts 25:9-12), halting further provincial proceedings. However, Festus, new to his post and having no clear charges to send to Caesar, arranged for King Herod Agrippa II, an expert in Jewish customs and law, to hear Paul's case (Acts 25:13-22). Acts 25:24 is Festus's opening statement to Agrippa and the assembled dignitaries, explaining the dire situation Paul is in, framed by the overwhelming Jewish demand for his execution.

Acts 25 24 Word analysis

• King Agrippa (Βασιλεῦ Ἀγρίππα - Basileu Agrippa): Refers to Herod Agrippa II, the last of the Herodian line, a client king of Rome with jurisdiction over several territories and a renowned expert on Jewish customs and religion. Festus sought his informed judgment to help articulate a formal charge against Paul.

• and all you who are present with us: This addresses Bernice, Agrippa's sister and consort, along with the high-ranking military commanders and prominent citizens of Caesarea mentioned in verse 23. It signifies a public, formal, and authoritative assembly for Paul's hearing.

• look, you see this man: Festus gestures towards Paul, drawing the audience's attention to the specific individual central to the current dispute. The phrase conveys the immediate subject of discussion.

• about whom the whole Jewish people: (πᾶν τὸ πλῆθος τῶν Ἰουδαίων - pan to plēthos tōn Ioudaiōn). "The whole Jewish people" here suggests an exaggerated, though perhaps widespread, perception of universal condemnation from the Jewish leadership and populace. It emphasizes the perceived scope and unanimity of opposition, a key point Festus wished to convey regarding the pressure he was under.

• have petitioned me (ἐνέτυχόν μοι - enetychon moi): This Greek term denotes making an appeal or a formal request to an authority figure, often with a sense of persistence or intercession. It highlights that the Jewish accusations were not a single event but a repeated, insistent formal appeal to the governor.

• both in Jerusalem and here: This phrase indicates the continuous and geographically broad nature of the accusations. The demands for Paul's death followed him from the Jewish religious center in Jerusalem to the Roman administrative center in Caesarea, underscoring the relentless Jewish pursuit.

• clamoring (βοῶντες - boōntes): A present participle describing a continuous action of loud, insistent cries or demands. This term portrays the fervent and emotional intensity of the Jewish plea. It's often used for a crowd making demands (e.g., Lk 18:39, Acts 14:14), emphasizing public outcry and pressure.

• that he ought not to live any longer (μὴ δεῖν ζῆν μηκέτι - mē dein zēn mēketi): This is a direct and forceful demand for the death penalty. It means they believe he "must not live" or "should no longer be permitted to live." This exact phrase expresses the ultimate degree of their hatred and condemnation, a stark parallel to the demands for Jesus's crucifixion (Jn 19:7).

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "King Agrippa, and all you who are present with us": This phrase highlights the significant and influential audience before whom Paul's case is being presented, underscoring the gravity and formality of the proceedings.
  • "this man about whom the whole Jewish people have petitioned me": This establishes Paul as the contentious figure and frames the problem from Festus's perspective as one driven by intense, broad-based Jewish opposition.
  • "both in Jerusalem and here, clamoring": This emphasizes the consistent and persistent nature of the accusations across different locations and the passionate, vocal demand from his accusers.
  • "that he ought not to live any longer": This chilling declaration reveals the extreme religious animosity against Paul and the Messianic message he preached, portraying it as an existential threat to the established Jewish order, thus warranting the most severe punishment.

Acts 25 24 Bonus section

• Roman Judicial Diplomacy: Festus, new to his post, was keen to maintain good relations with the Jewish populace while upholding Roman law. Presenting Paul's case before Agrippa allowed him to leverage Agrippa's deep understanding of Jewish customs to clarify the accusations, thus framing a legal statement acceptable for Caesar without directly convicting Paul (whom Festus later admits has done "nothing deserving of death" in v. 25).
• Divine Sovereignty: Despite the intense and lethal opposition described in this verse, Paul's journey to Rome and his testimony before kings was part of God's overarching plan for him (Acts 9:15, 23:11). The fervent clamor for his death paradoxically propels him toward this prophetic fulfillment.
• Echoes of Jesus' Trials: The scene described, particularly the "clamoring that he ought not to live any longer," bears a striking resemblance to the public demands for Jesus's crucifixion (Lk 23:21, Jn 19:15). This highlights a recurring pattern of unjust accusations and death demands against those who faithfully proclaim God's truth.

Acts 25 24 Commentary

Acts 25:24 is Festus's candid summary of Paul's situation, laying bare the overwhelming pressure from the Jewish leadership. His words capture the intensity and persistence of the demands for Paul's death, emphasizing the widespread Jewish rejection of Paul and his message. This rejection wasn't a minor theological dispute but a fervent belief that Paul's very existence, let alone his teachings, was intolerable and dangerous, threatening the purity of their faith and nation. Festus, as a Roman governor, views this as a legal quandary with a strong public element. However, from a biblical perspective, it illustrates the ongoing conflict between God's truth, proclaimed through His apostles, and the spiritual opposition that seeks to silence it. The verse sets the stage for Paul's strategic defense, allowing him to preach the Gospel not only before King Agrippa but ultimately before Caesar, fulfilling Christ's prophetic word.