Acts 25:5

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. Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, [hoi ( G3588) dunatoi ( G1415)] - 'the men of power,' 'weight,' 'influence,' The Hearing at Caesarea before Festus-Being asked if he wouldabide a judgment at Jerusalem, the apostle declines, and appeals to the Emperor, to which Festus assents (25:6-12)...

− 5._Those, therefore. _It is in the Greek word for word, [literally] Those who are mighty or able; yet he meaneth those who can conveniently. Also, we may easily conjecture, that they did object the trouble and charges, and besought the governor that he would not make weary with a superfluous journey so many of their chief men, and also certain which were very aged; but would rather (which he might easily do) command Paul to be brought by a few keepers [guards]. Therefore, lest they complain that he is burdenous unto them, he unloadeth them of this necessity, and giveth them leave to choose out from among themselves such as they will. In the mean season, he doth sufficiently declare that he doth not believe their false reports; and he professeth that he will be an upright judge, and will do nothing but according to the truth of the matter. The next sentence also is diversely read among...

1-12 See how restless malice is. Persecutors deem it a peculiar favour to have their malice gratified. Preaching Christ, the end of the law, was no offence against the law. In suffering times the prudence of the Lord's people is tried, as well as their patience; they need wisdom. It becomes those who are innocent, to insist upon their innocence. Paul was willing to abide by the rules of the law, and to let that take its course. If he deserved death, he would accept the punishment. But if none of the things whereof they accused him were true, no man could deliver him unto them, with justice. Paul is neither released nor condemned. It is an instance of the slow steps which Providence takes; by which we are often made ashamed, both of our hopes and of our fears, and are kept waiting on God....

Verse Acts 25:5. _LET THEM - WHICH AMONG YOU ARE ABLE_] οι δυνατοι, _Those_ _who have authority_; for so is this word often used by good Greek authors, and by _Josephus_. Festus seems to have said: "I have heard clamours from the multitude relative to this man; but on such clamours no accusation should be founded: yourselves have only the voice of the multitude as the foundation of the request which you now make. I cannot take up accusations which may affect the life of a Roman citizen on such pretenses. Are there any _respectable_ _men_ among you; men in _office_ and _authority_, whose _character_ is a pledge for the _truth_ of their depositions, who can prove any thing against him? If so, let these come down to Caesarea, and the cause shall be tried before me; and thus we shall know whether he be a malefactor or not....

WHICH AMONG YOU ARE ABLE - Enjoy all the advantages of just trial, and exhibit your accusations with all the learning and talent in your power. This was all that they could reasonably ask at his hands....

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

LET THEM THEREFORE, SAID HE, WHICH AMONG YOU ARE ABLE,.... Who are at leisure, can spare time, and to whom it will be convenient, without interrupting other business, to take such a journey; and who are able to bear the expenses of it, without hurting their families, and whose health and age will admit of it; and above all, who are masters of this affair, and are capable of forming charges, and of supporting them with proper proofs and evidences: let such GO DOWN WITH ME; from Jerusalem to Caesarea: and accuse this man: in proper form, according to the rules of law, of what he is guilty, and can be proved upon him: IF THERE IS ANY WICKEDNESS IN HIM; or committed by him, anything that is absurd and unreasonable, notoriously flagitious and criminal; that is, contrary to the rules of reason, the common sense of mankind, and the laws of God and men; and especially of the Roman empire, or t...

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

TRIAL BEFORE FESTUS. Of Festus little is known, but nothing unfavourable. Here he appears as a conscientious magistrate, who keeps everyone in his proper place and does not allow the course of justice to be unduly delayed. Mommsen in ZNTW, 1901, p. 81, finds the account of Paul's trials before Felix and Festus, in spite of some editorial touches, to be quite in accordance with Roman legal form, and says that in this report alone is a case of appeal to the Emperor placed before us in living reality. The new procurator having entered on his office (Acts 25:1 _mg.)_ there is an end of the long delay. The animosity of the Jews against Paul is unabated after the two years. To their application (Acts 25:3) Festus replies by pointing out their proper legal course; those who are of power ...