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Acts 25:9

in Acts 25

But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to stand trial before me on these charges?”

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

But Festus, desiring to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?

KJV

But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?

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This verse in Acts 25

Commentary

7 notes on this verse
But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure - Desirous of securing their favor, as he had just entered on his administration. Compare Act 24:27. In this he evinced rather a desire of popularity than an inclination to do justice. Had he been disposed to do right at once, he would have immediately discharged Paul.

This site's exposition

to do the Jews a favor

Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, proposes the transfer to Jerusalem he had just refused the accusers. The phrase repeats Felix's motive at 24:27 word for word, the same political calculation in a different governor.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 51 · Written before 407.

proposed

While as yet he had not got acquainted with the Jews, nor experienced the honor paid to him by them, he answered rightly: but now that he had been in Jerusalem ten days, he too wants to pleasure them by sacrificing Paul to them: then, also to receive Paul, "Wilt thou," says he, "be judged there of these things by me?" I am not giving thee up to them - but this was the fact - and he leaves the point to his own choice, that by this mark of respect he might get him to yield: since his was the sentence, and it would have been too barefaced, when he had been convicted of nothing here, to take him back thither.

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

The court being held in Cæsar's name, and by his authority and commission, before one that was delegated by him, it might well be said to be his judgment seat, as, with us, all writs run in the name of the sovereign, in whose name all courts are held.
But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure,....

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

Paul's reply, not given in full, was probably little more than a challenge to prove any of their charges, whether political or religious. Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure--to ingratiate himself with them. said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and . . . be judged . . . before me--or, "under my protection." If this was meant in earnest, it was temporizing and vacillating.

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

Willing to do the Jews a pleasure - This was merely to please them, and conciliate their esteem; for he knew that, as Paul was a Roman citizen, he could not oblige him to take a new trial at Jerusalem.

The words behind it

22 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

12 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 24:27After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.8 worksActs 12:3And seeing that this pleased the Jews, Herod proceeded to seize Peter during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.4 worksActs 25:20Since I was at a loss as to how to investigate these matters, I asked if he was willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried there on these charges.4 worksMark 15:15And wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.3 worksMark 15:6Now it was Pilate’s custom at the feast to release to the people a prisoner of their choosing.3 worksExodus 23:2You shall not follow the crowd in wrongdoing. When you testify in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd.3 works
The other 6 cross-references, with their words ▾
Acts 25:3to grant them a concession against Paul by summoning him to Jerusalem, because they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way.2 worksDaniel 6:16So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!”2 worksMatthew 27:15Now it was the governor’s custom at the feast to release to the crowd a prisoner of their choosing.2 worksActs 21:15After these days, we packed up and went on to Jerusalem.2 worksActs 18:22When Paul had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church at Jerusalem. Then he went down to Antioch.2 worksActs 12:11Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from Herod’s grasp and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating.”-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

    Acts 12:3

    And seeing that this pleased the Jews, Herod proceeded to seize Peter during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

    it leads to

    • Exodus 23:15

      You are to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread as I commanded you: At the appointed time in the month of Abib you are to eat unleavened bread for seven days, because that was…

    • Acts 24:27

      After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.

    • John 12:43

      For they loved praise from men more than praise from God.

  • Through

    Acts 24:27

    After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.

    it leads to

    • Acts 12:3

      And seeing that this pleased the Jews, Herod proceeded to seize Peter during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

    • Acts 25:14

      Since they were staying several days, Festus laid out Paul’s case before the king: “There is a certain man whom Felix left in prison.

  • Through

    Mark 15:15

    And wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.

    it leads to

    • Isaiah 50:6

      I offered My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who tore out My beard. I did not hide My face from scorn and spittle.

    • Matthew 27:26

      So Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.

    • John 19:1

      Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him flogged.

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); Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Acts of the Apostles; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 51; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in Acts 25 →