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Acts 25:8

in Acts 25

Then Paul made his defense: “I have committed no offense against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.”

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

while Paul said in his defence, Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Cæsar, have I sinned at all.

KJV

While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Cesar, have I offended any thing at all.

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This verse in Acts 25

Commentary

7 notes on this verse

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

While he answered for himself - In this instance St. Luke gives only a general account, both of the accusations and of St. Paul’s defense. But, from the words in this verse, the charges appear to have been threefold: 1. That he had broken the law. 2. That he had defiled the temple. 3. That he dealt in treasonable practices: to all of which he no doubt answered particularly; though we have nothing farther here than this, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all.

This site's exposition

against the law of the Jews

Paul's defense collapses to one sentence covering the law of the Jews, the temple, and Caesar. The threefold denial answers point for point the three charges Tertullus brought at 24:5-6: sedition, temple profanation, and by implication treason against Rome.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 51 · Written before 407.

proposed

But after they came down, they forthwith made their accusations shamelessly and with more vehemence: and not having been able to convict him on grounds relating to the Law, they again according to their custom stirred the question about Caesar, being just what they did in Christ's case. For that they had recourse to this is manifest by the fact, that Paul defends himself on the score of offences against Caesar.

The Medieval Church1 voice

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on Acts · Written before 1107.

proposed

Here is a clear and open declaration: I, says Paul, kept myself pure in all things, sinned neither against God, "nor against the law of the Jews," nor against man, nor against the temple, that is, I never dishonored the Jewish temples built of stones, …

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

No, he established the law. Preaching Christ, the end of the law, was no offence against the law. (2.) He had not profaned the temple, nor put any contempt at all upon the temple-service; his helping to set up the gospel temple did not at all offend against that temple which was a type of it.
While he answered for himself,....

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

While he answered ... - See this answer more at length in Act 24:10-21. As the accusations against him were the same now as then, he made to them the same reply.

The words behind it

19 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

17 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 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.6 worksActs 24:12Yet my accusers did not find me debating with anyone in the temple or riling up a crowd in the synagogues or in the city.6 works2 Corinthians 1:12And this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God—not in worldly wisdom, but in the grace of God.4 worksJeremiah 37:18Then Jeremiah asked King Zedekiah, “How have I sinned against you or your servants or these people, that you have put me in prison?4 worksActs 28:21The leaders replied, “We have not received any letters about you from Judea, nor have any of the brothers from there reported or even mentioned anything bad about you.3 worksActs 6:13–14where they presented false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law.3 works
The other 11 cross-references, with their words ▾
Acts 18:13“This man is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law,” they said.3 worksActs 6:14For we have heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.”3 worksDaniel 6:22My God sent His angel and shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, for I was found innocent in His sight, and I have done no wrong against you, O king.”2 worksActs 24:6and he even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him.2 worksGenesis 40:15For I was kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing for which they should have put me in this dungeon.”2 worksActs 23:1Paul looked directly at the Sanhedrin and said, “Brothers, I have conducted myself before God in all good conscience to this day.”2 worksActs 25:10Paul replied, “I am standing before the judgment seat of Caesar, where I ought to be tried. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well.2 worksActs 24:17–21After several years, then, I returned to Jerusalem to bring alms to my people and to present offerings.2 worksActs 19:37For you have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed our temple nor blasphemed our goddess.2 worksActs 22:1“Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.”2 worksMatthew 22:17So tell us what You think: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”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

    2 Corinthians 1:12

    And this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God—not in worldly wisdom,…

    it leads to

    • 1 Corinthians 2:13

      And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.

    • 2 Corinthians 2:17

      For we are not like so many others, who peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as men sent from God.

    • James 3:13–18

      Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

    • 1 Thessalonians 2:10

      You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous, and blameless our conduct was among you who believed.

    • Job 23:10–12

      Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

  • Through

    Acts 28:17

    After 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,…

    it leads to

    • Acts 22:5

      as the high priest and the whole Council can testify about me. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and I was on my way to apprehend these people and…

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • Acts 6:14

      For we have heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.”

  • Through

    Jeremiah 37:18

    Then Jeremiah asked King Zedekiah, “How have I sinned against you or your servants or these people, that you have put me in prison?

    it leads to

    • John 10:32

      But Jesus responded, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone Me?”

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); J. A. Alexander, The Acts of the Apostles Explained; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 51; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.

Read on in Acts 25 →