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Acts 25:2

in Acts 25

where the chief priests and Jewish leaders presented their case against Paul. They urged Festus

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul; and they besought him,

KJV

Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him,

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This verse in Acts 25

Commentary

9 notes on this verse

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

The high priest - informed him against Paul - They supposed that as Felix, to please them, on the resignation of his government, had left Paul bound, so Festus, on the assumption of it, would, to please them, deliver him into their hand; but, as they wished this to be done under the color of justice, they exhibited a number of charges against Paul, which they hoped would appear to Festus a sufficient reason why a new trial should be granted; and he be sent to Jerusalem to take this trial. Their motive is mentioned in the succeeding verse.

This site's exposition

went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem

on Acts 25:1-2

Three days after his arrival in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem. There the chief priests and Jewish leaders presented their case against Paul, the charge unchanged in the roughly two years since chapter 24 closed.

This site's exposition

presented their case against Paul

The high priest by this date was Ishmael son of Phabi, whom Agrippa had appointed, as Barnes notes from Josephus. The Berean text follows manuscripts that read chief priests. Clarke reads their hope: Felix had left Paul bound to please them, and a new governor might do the same.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers2 voices

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 51 · Written before 407.

proposed

This man is succeeded in his office by another, and he leaves Paul a prisoner: and yet he ought not to have done this; he ought to have put an end to the business: but he leaves him, by way of gratifying them. They however were so urgent, that they again besought the judge. Yet against none of the Apostles had they set themselves thus pertinaciously; there, when they had attacked, anon they desisted. So providentially is he removed from Jerusalem, having to do with such wild beasts. And they nevertheless request that he might be brought again there to be tried. Here now God's providence interposed, not permitting the governor to do this: for it was natural that he having just come to the government would wish to gratify them: but God suffered him not.

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 51 · Written before 407.

proposed

"Now when Festus was come into the province," etc. At the very beginning, the priests came to him, who would not have hesitated to go even to Caesarea, unless he had been seen immediately coming up, since immediately on his arrival they come to him. And he spends ten days, in order, I suppose, to be open to those who wished to corrupt him with bribes. But Paul was in the prison. "They besought him," it says, "that he would send for him": why did they desire it as a favor, if he was deserving of death? But thus their plotting became evident even to him, so that discoursing of it (to Agrippa), he says, "desiring to have judgment against him." They wanted to induce him to pass sentence now immediately, being afraid of Paul's tongue.

The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews appeared against Paul - In so long a time their rage was not cooled. So much louder a call had Paul to the Gentiles.

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

These inhuman hellish methods, which all the world profess at least to abhor, have these persecutors recourse to, to gratify their malice against the gospel of Christ, and this too under colour of zeal for Moses. Tantum religio potuit suadere malorum--Such was their dire religious zeal. See how specious the pretence was.
Then the high priest,....
1 more voice on this verse

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Then the high priest - The high priest at this time was Ismael, the son of Fabi. He had been promoted to that office by Agrippa (Josephus, Antiq., book 20, chapter 8, section 8). It is probable, however, that the person here intended was Ananias, who had been high priest, and who would retain the name. See the notes on Act 23:2. Some mss. read “high priests” here in the plural number, and this reading is approved by Mill and Griesbach. There is, however, no improbability in supposing that the high priest Ismael might have been also as much enraged against Paul as the others. Informed him against Paul - Informed him of the accusation against him, and doubtless endeavored to prejudice the mind of Festus against him. They thus showed their unrelenting disposition. It might have been supposed that after two years this unjust prosecution would be abandoned and forgotten. But malice does not thus forget its object, and the spirit of persecution is not thus satisfied. It is evident that there was here every probability that injustice would be done to Paul, and that the mind of Festus would be biased against him. He was a stranger to Paul, and to the embittered feelings of the Jewish character. He would wish to conciliate their favor upon entering into the duties of his office. A strong representation, therefore, made by the chief men of the nation, would be likely to prejudice him violently against Paul, and to unfit him for the exercise of impartial justice.

The words behind it

16 Greek words

Every 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.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

7 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Acts 25:15While I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and elders of the Jews presented their case and requested a judgment against him.5 worksProverbs 4:16For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall.4 worksRomans 3:12–19All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”4 worksActs 24:1Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, who presented to the governor their case against Paul.4 worksJob 31:31if the men of my house have not said, ‘Who is there who has not had his fill?’—2 worksRomans 15:31Pray that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints there,2 works
The other 1 cross-references, with their words ▾
Acts 28:17After three days, he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had gathered, he said to them, “Brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, I was taken prisoner in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans.1 works

The walk

8 stops

Each 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 4:16

    For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall.

    it leads to

    • Psalms 36:4

      Even on his bed he plots wickedness; he sets himself on a path that is not good; he fails to reject evil.

    • Micah 2:1

      Woe to those who devise iniquity and plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they accomplish it because the power is in their hands.

    • Isaiah 57:20

      But the wicked are like the storm-tossed sea, for it cannot be still, and its waves churn up mire and muck.

    • 2 Peter 2:14

      Their eyes are full of adultery; their desire for sin is never satisfied; they seduce the unstable. They are accursed children with hearts trained in greed.

    • Proverbs 1:16

      For their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed blood.

  • Through

    Acts 24:1

    Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, who presented to the governor their case against Paul.

    it leads to

    • Acts 24:11

      You can verify for yourself that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship.

    • Acts 23:2

      At this, the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.

    • Psalms 11:2

      For behold, the wicked bend their bows. They set their arrow on the string to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.

Where this verse is studied

About Acts

The Pentecost, El Greco, about 1600, Museo del Prado. Public domain.
The Pentecost, El Greco, about 1600, Museo del Prado. Public domain.
Acts: the study guide →Read Acts 25 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 51; 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 William Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and the Roman Citizen.

Read on in Acts 25 →