Note from Pastor John: Our ground-breaking non-Christian translation of the New Testament books is progressing. We have completed most of them, but much work still remains.
Hey
I’m working on Acts 25 and really enjoyed this passage. One of the good things about knowing some Greek is to be able to see something here. In verse 9, Festus wants to do the Jews a “xaris”. In verse 11, Paul uses the verb “xarizomai“. This isn’t plain “give” or “deliver” but has the idea of giving as a favor. Paul knew what was going on. The KJV, RSV and ESV don’t do it.
What a scene! It struck me that Paul was given a way out of going to Rome here, not that he had much expectation of a long life if he went back to Jerusalem. Him saying those words, “I appeal to Caesar”, may not quite be up there with Nathan’s, “You are the man”, and such, but it is on that way. It is hard for us, perhaps, to appreciate what uttering those words meant in that cruel, tyrannical world. Paul was trusting Jesus who had told him he would go there.
djc
Act 25:7 And when he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around, and brought many serious charges against Paulos, which they were not able to prove.Act 25:8 In his own defense, he said, ‘Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I done anything wrong.’Act 25:9 But Festus, willing to grant the Jews a favor, answered Paulos and said, ‘Will you go up to Jerusalem, to be judged before me there concerning these things?’Act 25:10 Then Paulos said, ‘I am standing at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. I have done the Jews no wrong, as even you yourself very well know.Act 25:11 For, if indeed I am doing wrong or have done anything worthy of death I do not seek to avoid death, but if there is nothing [in] what these men accuse me of, no one can give me up as a favor to them. I appeal to Caesar!’”