Acts 25:16

To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him. To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver ('surrender') any man [to die]. (The bracketed words [eis ( G1519) apooleian ( G684)] are insufficiently supported, and seem an explanatory gloss.) Before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence , [ topon (G5117 ) - later Greek in this sense] "to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him....

13-27 Agrippa had the government of Galilee. How many unjust and hasty judgments the Roman maxim, ver. Acts 25:16, condemn! This heathen, guided only by the light of nature, followed law and custom exactly, yet how many Christians will not follow the rules of truth, justice, and charity, in judging their brethren! The questions about God's worship, the way of salvation, and the truths of the gospel, may appear doubtful and without interest, to worldly men and mere politicians. See how slightly this Roman speaks of Christ, and of the great controversy between the Jews and the Christians. But the day is at hand when Festus and the whole world will see, that all the concerns of the Roman empire were but trifles and of no consequence, compared with this question of Christ's resurrection. Those who have had means of instruction, and have despised them, will be awfully convinced of their sin...

Verse Acts 25:16. _IT IS NOT THE MANNER OF THE ROMANS TO DELIVER ANY MAN_ _TO DIE_] Χαριζεσθαι τινα ανθρωπον, To MAKE A PRESENT _of any man;_ _gratuitously_ to _give up_ the life of any man, through _favour_ or caprice. Here is a reference to the subject discussed on Acts 25:11. _BEFORE THAT HE WHICH IS ACCUSED HAVE THE ACCUSERS FACE TO FACE_, c.] For this righteous procedure the Roman laws were celebrated over the civilized world. APPIAN, in his _Hist. Roman_., says: ου πατριον σφισιν ακριτους καταδικαζεσθαι. _It is not their custom to_ _condemn men before they have been heard_. And PHILO _De Praesid._ _Rom_., says: τοτε γαρ κοινους ἑαυτους παρεχοντες δικαϚας εξ ισου, και των κατηγορων και απολογουμενων ακουομενοι,

IT IS NOT THE MANNER ... - He here states the reasons which he gave the Jews for not delivering Paul into their hands. In Acts 25:4, we have an account of the fact that he would not accede to the requests of the Jews; and he here states that the reason of his refusal was that it was contrary to the Roman law. Appian, in his Roman History, says, “It is not their custom to condemn men before they are heard.” Philo (DePraesi. Rom.) says the same thing. In Tacitus (History, ii.) it is said, “A defendant is not to be prohibited from adducing all things by which his innocence may be established.” It was for this that the equity of the Roman jurisprudence was celebrated throughout the world. We may remark that it is a subject of sincere gratitude to the God of our nation that this privilege is enjoyed in the highest perfection in this land. It is a right which every man has

EXPOSTION ACTS 25:1 _Foetus therefore having come _for _now when Foetus was come, _A.V.; _went up _for _he ascended, _A.V.; _to Jerusalem from Casarea _for _from Caesarea to Jerusalem, _A.V. THE PROVINCE (ἐπαρχία)_; _above, Acts 23:1. Acts 23:34. AFTER THREE DAYS, etc. It is an evidence of the diligence of Foetus that he lost no time in going to Jerusalem, the center of disaffection to the Roman government. ACTS 25:2 _And _for _then, _A.V.;_ chief priests _for _high priest, _A.V. an

TO WHOM I ANSWERED,.... As follows: IT IS NOT THE MANNER OF THE ROMANS TO DELIVER ANY MAN TO DIE; OR TO GIVE ANY MAN TO DESTRUCTION; to pass sentence of death upon him, without hearing his cause, and purely at the request of another, and merely to gratify him: BEFORE THAT HE WHICH IS ACCUSED HAVE THE ACCUSERS FACE TO FACE; so as to speak to his face, or before him, what they have to charge him with: AND HAVE LICENCE TO ANSWER FOR HIMSELF, CONCERNING THE CRIME LAID AGAINST HIM; and this was also according to the law of the Jews, John 7:51 though Festus, from such an application to him by the chief priests and elders, might conclude that their manner was different, he being ignorant of their laws and customs; but their prejudice to the apostle carried them to act such an illegal part, or at least to desire it might be acted: it is one of the

Acts 25:1. _Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem._ Porcius Festus had been appointed governor in the place of Felix, who had left Paul a prisoner so as to please the Jews, though he would have been willing enough to release him, if Paul or his friends, would have given him a sufficiently heavy bribe. He had trembled as Paul had «reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come,» but his conscience had not been so quickened as to make him act justly towards the apostle. Yet his unrighteous conduct was made to serve the Lord's purpose, which was that Paul should testify before one earthly ruler after another until he should ultimately appear before the cruel Nero himself at Rome. Paul was at Caesarea, but he was not at once brought before Festus; and when the governor went up to Jerusalem, the apostle's enemies rene...

CHAPTER 25 _ 1. Festus and the Jews. Paul appeals to Caesar (Acts 25:1)._ 2. King Agrippa visits Festus (Acts 25:13). 3. Paul brought before the King (Acts 25:23). The new governor, Festus, had arrived at Caesarea, and then went up to Jerusalem, the capital of the province. The Jews had not forgotten Paul, though they had not attempted another accusation before Felix, knowing that the case was hopeless. But they made at once an effort with the new governor. No sooner had this official made his appearance in Jerusalem than the high priest and the chief of the Jews made a report about Paul. Most likely Festus had not even heard of Paul up to that time. What really took place in Jerusalem, Festus later

AGRIPPA AND BERNICE: INTEREST OF AGRIPPA IN PAUL. Agrippa was seventeen years old when his father died (Acts 12:23). He obtained from Claudius and Nero certain territories in the N. of Palestine, but he had little power of action. He built _largely_ at Cæ sarea Philippi and at Berytus (Aleppo), and was not much interested in religious matters. Bernice was his sister, the sister also of Drusilla. After living many years with her brother she excited the admiration of Titus and lived with him at Rome. The private conversation of Festus and Agrippa (Acts 25:14) was probably given by the writer of the source, who was acquainted with the principles of Roman law, and made it up very correctly. Festus gives his view of the case publicly in...

I APPEAL TO CAESAR (Acts 25:1-12)...