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Acts 25:5

in Acts 25

So if this man has done anything wrong, let some of your leaders come down with me and accuse him there.”

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

Let them therefore, saith he, that are of power among you go down with me, and if there is anything amiss in the man, let them accuse him.

KJV

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.

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This verse in Acts 25

Commentary

9 notes on this verse

A commentator

John Calvin

1509–1564

Commentaries (1554)

It is in the Greek word for word, [literally] Those who are mighty or able; yet he meaneth those who can conveniently.

This site's exposition

Paul is being held in Caesarea

on Acts 25:4-5

Festus refuses the transfer and keeps Paul at Caesarea, a decision that unknowingly saves Paul's life a second time. He invites the accusers to come down instead, offering the face-to-face process Roman law required and the plotters had tried to bypass.

This site's exposition

let some of your leaders come down

The word the Berean renders leaders means those who are able. Clarke takes it as men of standing and authority, while Calvin reads it as those who could conveniently travel down. Either way, Festus wanted accusers who would answer for their words.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 51 · Written before 407.

proposed

What are ye afraid of? What are ye in such a hurry? In fact, that expression, "that he should be kept" shows this. Does he want to escape? "Let them therefore," he says, "which among you are able, accuse him." Again accusers, again at Caesarea, again Paul is brought forth. And having come, immediately "he sat on the judgment-seat" with all his haste: they so drove, so hurried him.

The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

Let those of you who are able - Who are best able to undertake the journey, and to manage the cause. If there be any wickedness in him - So he does not pass sentence before he hears the cause.

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

Paul's trial before Festus. Festus staid at Jerusalem about ten days, and then went down to Cæsarea, and the prosecutors, it is likely, in his retinue; for he said they should go down with him; and, since they are so eager in the prosecution, he is willing this cause should be first called; and, that they may hasten home, he will despatch it the next day.
Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able,....

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

Let them - which among you are able - Οἱ 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.”
1 more voice on this verse

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

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.

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

10 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.

John 18:29–30So Pilate went out to them and asked, “What accusation are you bringing against this man?”3 worksActs 25:16I 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.3 worksActs 25:25But I found he had done nothing worthy of death, and since he has now appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.3 worksActs 25:18–19But when his accusers rose to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected.3 works1 Samuel 24:11–12See, my father, look at the corner of your robe in my hand. For I cut it off, but I did not kill you. See and know that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands. I have not sinned against you, even though you are hunting me down to take my life.2 worksActs 18:14But just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio told the Jews, “If this matter involved a wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to hear your complaint.2 works
The other 4 cross-references, with their words ▾
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.2 worksActs 24:8By examining him yourself, you will be able to learn the truth about all our charges against him.”2 worksPsalms 7:3–5O LORD my God, if I have done this, if injustice is on my hands,2 worksActs 25:1Three days after his arrival in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem,2 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

    Acts 25:16

    I 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.

    it leads to

    • John 7:51

      “Does our law convict a man without first hearing from him to determine what he has done?”

    • Deuteronomy 19:17–18

      both parties to the dispute must stand in the presence of the LORD, before the priests and judges who are in office at that time.

    • Acts 23:30

      When 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.

    • Proverbs 18:17

      The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

  • Through

    Acts 25:25

    But I found he had done nothing worthy of death, and since he has now appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.

    it leads to

    • Acts 23:29

      I found that the accusation involved questions about their own law, but there was no charge worthy of death or imprisonment.

    • Acts 25:11–12

      If, however, I am guilty of anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is no truth to their accusations against me, no one has the right to hand…

    • Acts 23:9

      A great clamor arose, and some scribes from the party of the Pharisees got up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken…

    • Luke 23:4

      Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”

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 9 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentaries; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 51; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

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