Acts 25:16
in Acts 25I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand a man over before he has had an opportunity to face his accusers and defend himself against their charges.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
To whom I answered, that it is not the custom of the Romans to give up any man, before that the accused have the accusers face to face, and have had opportunity to make his defence concerning the matter laid against him.
KJV
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.
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This verse in Acts 25
Commentary
9 notes on this verseIt is clear that Pilate, having handed Jesus over to the Jews, did this with a villainous purpose, since he despised both the judgment of God and Roman law in order to please the murderers by delivering innocent blood to death, although for such an …
This site's exposition
whom Felix left in prison
on Acts 25:14-16
Festus tells the king of a man Felix left in prison. He states the Roman custom that an accused man faces his accusers before he is handed over. That principle stands in some tension with his own proposal at verse 9.
This site's exposition
face his accusers
The verb behind hand over means to give a man away as a favor, which the chief priests had asked of Festus, as Clarke explains. Barnes and Clarke cite Appian, who wrote the same of Roman custom. Henry applies the rule to private judgment of others.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
It is not the custom of the Roman - How excellent a rule, to condemn no one unheard! A rule, which as it is common to all nations, (courts of inquisition only excepted,) so it ought to direct our proceedings in all affairs, not only in public, but private life.
(1.) He found him a prisoner when he came into the government of this province; and therefore could not of his own knowledge give an account of his cause from the beginning: There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix; and therefore, if there were any thing amiss in the first taking of him into custody, Festus is not to answer for that, for he found him in bonds.
To whom I answered,....
This rule we ought to be governed by in our private censures in common conversation; we must not give men bad characters, nor condemn their words and actions, till we have heard what is to be said in their vindication.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
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 favor or caprice. Here is a reference to the subject discussed on Act 25:11. Before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, etc. - 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.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
It is not the manner ... - He here states the reasons which he gave the Jews for not delivering Paul into their hands. In Act 25:4-5, 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: to be heard; to know the charges against him; to be confronted with the witnesses; to make his defense; and to be tried by the laws, and not by the passions and caprices of people. In this respect our jurisprudence surpasses all that Rome ever enjoyed, and is not inferior to that of the most favored nation of the earth. To deliver - To give him up as a favor χαρίζεσθαι charizesthai to popular clamor and caprice. Yet our Saviour, in violation of the Roman laws, was thus given up by Pilate, Mat 27:18-25. Have the accusers face to face - That he may know who they are and hear their accusations. Nothing contributes more to justice than this. Tyrants permit people to be accused without knowing who the accusers are, and without an opportunity of meeting the charges. […]
The words behind it
27 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| πρὸς | pros | to | G4314 → | 700 times |
| οὓς | hous | whom | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| ἀπεκρίθην | apekrithen | I answered | G611 → | 231 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| οὐκ | ouk | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| ἔστιν | estin | it is | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| ἔθος | ethos | [the] custom | G1485 → | 12 times |
| Ῥωμαίοις | rhomaiois | with Romans | G4514 → | 12 times |
| χαρίζεσθαί | charizesthai | to give up | G5483 → | 23 times |
| τινα | tina | any | G5100 → | 528 times |
| ἄνθρωπον | anthropon | man | G444 → | 549 times |
| πρὶν | prin | before | G4250 → | 13 times |
| ἢ | e | than | G2228 → | 342 times |
| ὁ | ho | the [one] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κατηγορούμενος | kategoroumenos | being accused | G2723 → | 22 times |
| κατὰ | kata | to | G2596 → | 468 times |
| πρόσωπον | prosopon | face | G4383 → | 75 times |
| ἔχοι | echoi | he would be [able] | G2192 → | 707 times |
| τοὺς | tous | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κατηγόρους, | kategorous | accusers | G2725 → | 4 times |
| τόπον | topon | [the] opportunity | G5117 → | 94 times |
| τε | te | and | G5037 → | 213 times |
| ἀπολογίας | apologias | of defense | G627 → | |
| λάβοι | laboi | he would have | G2983 → | 257 times |
| περὶ | peri | concerning | G4012 → | 332 times |
| τοῦ | tou | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐγκλήματος. | egklematos | accusation. | G1462 → |
πρὸςto
prosG4314 →700 times
οὓςwhom
housG3739 →1405 times
ἀπεκρίθηνI answered
apekrithenG611 →231 times
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
οὐκnot
oukG3756 →1664 times
ἔστινit is
estinG1510 →2333 times
ἔθος[the] custom
ethosG1485 →12 times
Ῥωμαίοιςwith Romans
rhomaioisG4514 →12 times
χαρίζεσθαίto give up
charizesthaiG5483 →23 times
τιναany
tinaG5100 →528 times
ἄνθρωπονman
anthroponG444 →549 times
πρὶνbefore
prinG4250 →13 times
ἢthan
eG2228 →342 times
ὁthe [one]
hoG3588 →19766 times
κατηγορούμενοςbeing accused
kategoroumenosG2723 →22 times
κατὰto
kataG2596 →468 times
πρόσωπονface
prosoponG4383 →75 times
ἔχοιhe would be [able]
echoiG2192 →707 times
τοὺςthe
tousG3588 →19766 times
κατηγόρους,accusers
kategorousG2725 →4 times
τόπον[the] opportunity
toponG5117 →94 times
τεand
teG5037 →213 times
ἀπολογίαςof defense
apologiasG627 →
λάβοιhe would have
laboiG2983 →257 times
περὶconcerning
periG4012 →332 times
τοῦthe
touG3588 →19766 times
ἐγκλήματος.accusation.
egklematosG1462 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Proverbs 18:17The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.
it leads to
- Proverbs 18:13
He who answers a matter before he hears it—this is folly and disgrace to him.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 18:13
Through
John 7:51“Does our law convict a man without first hearing from him to determine what he has done?”
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 1:17
Show no partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be intimidated by anyone, for judgment belongs to God. And bring to me any case too difficult for you, and I…
- Deuteronomy 19:15–19
A lone witness is not sufficient to establish any wrongdoing or sin against a man, regardless of what offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or…
- Acts 23:3
Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit here to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck.”
- Deuteronomy 17:8–11
If a case is too difficult for you to judge, whether the controversy within your gates is regarding bloodshed, lawsuits, or assaults, you must go up to the place the LORD your God will…
- Deuteronomy 1:17
Through
Acts 23:30When I was informed that there was a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also instructed his accusers to present their case against him before you.
it leads to
- Acts 24:19
who ought to appear before you and bring charges, if they have anything against me.
- Acts 25:5–6
So if this man has done anything wrong, let some of your leaders come down with me and accuse him there.”
- Acts 23:20
He answered, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul to the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of acquiring more information about him.
- Acts 24:19
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies2
About Acts
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Acts of the Apostles; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.