Acts 25:27

ἄλογον, cf. Thuc., vi., 85, Xen., Ages., xi., 1 (elsewhere in N.T., 2 Peter 2:12; Jude 1:10, cf. Wis 11:15-3, 3Ma 5:40 (A om.), 4Ma 14:14; 4Ma 14:18). It would seem from the verse that the procurator was not bound to send the litteræ dimissoriæ (O. Holtzmann). πέμποντα : for construction cf. Hebrews 2:10, or the expression may be quite general “that any one sending,” etc. σημᾶναι : here per litteras significare, as in classical Greek (Wetstein). This decisive turn given to events by Paul's appeal is regarded by Weizsäcker (Apostolic Age, ii., 124, E.T.) as the most certain event in the whole history of the case; Paul as a prisoner could only be taken to Rome if he was to be brought before the emperor's court, and this had to be done if he invoked such intervention. On Zeller's and Weizsäcker's attempt to see in the appearance of Paul before Agrippa a mere repetition of the episode of our Lord before Annas cf. Spitta's reply, Apostelgeschichte, p. 281.