Acts 25:5 kjv
Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him.
Acts 25:5 nkjv
"Therefore," he said, "let those who have authority among you go down with me and accuse this man, to see if there is any fault in him."
Acts 25:5 niv
Let some of your leaders come with me, and if the man has done anything wrong, they can press charges against him there."
Acts 25:5 esv
"So," said he, "let the men of authority among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them bring charges against him."
Acts 25:5 nlt
So he said, "Those of you in authority can return with me. If Paul has done anything wrong, you can make your accusations."
Acts 25 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 23:30 | Paul's transportation to Caesarea under guard | Basis for Paul being in Caesarea |
| Acts 24:1 | Arrival of Paul before Felix and accusations made | Immediate context of Paul's trial |
| Acts 24:2-9 | Specific charges brought against Paul by Tertullus on behalf of Jews | Detailed accusations by the accusers |
| Acts 25:1-3 | Sanhedrin's renewed plot to kill Paul, request for trial in Jerusalem | Jews' desire for Paul's condemnation |
| Acts 25:11 | Paul's appeal to Caesar's judgment | Paul's assertion of Roman citizenship rights |
| Acts 25:21 | Agrippa II's potential judgment in Paul's case | Agrippa's involvement in later proceedings |
| Philippians 1:13 | Paul imprisoned but advancing the gospel | Paul's persevering ministry despite bonds |
| 2 Timothy 4:16 | Paul's defense at his first hearing | Paul's consistent approach to trials |
| Psalm 27:1-2 | God as refuge and strength in times of trouble | Spiritual resource for Paul |
| Romans 8:31 | God's power on behalf of believers | Divine support for Paul |
| Jeremiah 1:19 | God's presence with His prophet | God's assurance to Paul |
| Matthew 10:16-20 | Jesus' instruction to disciples facing persecution | Parallel to Paul's situation |
| John 15:18-21 | The world's hatred for Jesus and His followers | Reason for opposition to Paul |
| Acts 6:9-10 | Opposition faced by Stephen and false testimony against him | Similar persecution of early believers |
| 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 | Judging and discerning motives of men | Evaluation of accusers' intentions |
| Colossians 1:24 | Suffering for the church | Paul's acceptance of hardship |
| 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 | Paul's recounting of his sufferings and trials | Broader context of Paul's struggles |
| Genesis 50:20 | Joseph's understanding of God turning evil to good | Divine sovereignty in human affairs |
| Isaiah 49:4-6 | The servant's mission and eventual vindication | Prophetic foreshadowing of Paul's ministry |
| John 18:38 | Pilate's question about truth | Theme of accusation and defense |
| Romans 13:1-7 | Submission to governing authorities | Religious duty in the Roman system |
Acts 25 verses
Acts 25 5 Meaning
This verse describes the action of some prominent men from the Jewish leadership (elders) going down to Caesarea. Their purpose was to present their charges against Paul before the Roman governor Felix. They did not seek a trial in Jerusalem.
Acts 25 5 Context
Following Paul's rescue from an assassination attempt by the Jews in Jerusalem (Acts 23:12-35), he was sent to Caesarea to appear before Governor Felix. The Jewish leadership, thwarted in their initial plan to kill Paul, continued their efforts to bring him down. Instead of pursuing him to Caesarea to press charges before Felix, a contingent of them, including Tertullus (likely their appointed orator), actually went down to Caesarea. Their motive was to present their case and accuse Paul directly to Felix. This highlights their persistent animosity and their use of the Roman legal system, albeit with deceptive tactics, to silence Paul and hinder his ministry.
Acts 25 5 Word Analysis
Καταβάντες (katabantes): Participle from καταβαίνω (katabainō). Means "having gone down."
- Significance: Emphasizes the geographical movement from Jerusalem to Caesarea, a coastal city and Roman administrative center.
τινὲς (tines): Indefinite pronoun, meaning "some" or "certain."
- Significance: Indicates not all of the Jewish leaders were present, but a specific group.
τῶν ἀρχόντων (tōn archontōn): Genitive plural of ἄρχων (archōn). Means "of the rulers" or "of the chief men."
- Significance: Refers to individuals holding positions of authority within the Jewish community, such as members of the Sanhedrin.
τῶν Ἰουδαίων (tōn Ioudaion): Genitive plural of Ἰουδαῖος (Ioudaios). Means "of the Jews."
- Significance: Identifies the ethnic and religious group to which these rulers belonged.
ἐκ τῆς Ἰουδαίας (ek tēs Ioudaías): Prepositional phrase from ἐκ (ek - "from") and Ἰουδαία (Ioudaia - "Judea"). Means "from Judea."
- Significance: Specifies their origin or jurisdiction, likely the region of Judea where Jerusalem is located.
εἰς Καισάρειαν (eis Kaisáreian): Prepositional phrase from εἰς (eis - "to") and Καισάρεια (Kaisáreia - "Caesarea"). Means "to Caesarea."
- Significance: The destination city, a significant Roman administrative and military hub in Judea.
ἐφίστημι (ephistēmi): Verb meaning "to stand by," "to present oneself," or "to come before."
- Significance: Indicates their appearance and action before Felix to bring charges.
Words-group analysis: "τινὲς τῶν ἀρχόντων τῶν Ἰουδαίων ἐκ τῆς Ἰουδαίας εἰς Καισάρειαν" ("some of the rulers of the Jews from Judea to Caesarea") collectively sets the scene, identifying the key players (Jewish leaders), their origin (Judea), and their destination (Caesarea). "Καταβάντες ... ἐφίστημι" ("having gone down... presented themselves") describes their specific action in pursuing Paul to that location.
Acts 25 5 Bonus Section
This action underscores the clash between the early Christian message and the established religious and political powers of Judaism. It also illustrates the role of Roman governance and law in the spread of Christianity, providing both protection (as in Paul being guarded) and prosecution. The specific individuals mentioned are likely members of the Sanhedrin, whose authority was being challenged by Paul's teachings on Jesus’ resurrection. The deliberate move to Caesarea circumvented any potential bias that might have favored Paul within Jerusalem, and also sought to exploit Roman jurisdiction.
Acts 25 5 Commentary
The Jewish leaders demonstrated persistence in their opposition to Paul. They did not accept Paul being sent away from Jerusalem to Caesarea and chose to follow him. Their "going down" to Caesarea signifies not just a geographical move but an escalation of their effort to condemn Paul. They sought to confront Felix, relying on Tertullus to articulate their accusations. This also reveals the legal maneuvering involved, where influential men would hire skilled orators to present their cases before Roman authorities. Their avoidance of a trial in Jerusalem, where their plot could be more easily exposed, shows their strategic pursuit of conviction for Paul.