Acts 25:11

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 25:1-12

We commonly say, ?New lords, new laws, new customs;? but here was a new governor, and yet Paul had the same treatment from him that he had from the former, and no better. Festus, like Felix, is not so just to him as he should have been, for he does not release him; and yet not so unjust to him as the Jews would have had him to be, for he will not condemn him to die, nor expose him to their rage. Here is, I. The pressing application which the high priest and other Jews used with the governor to... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 25:1-12

25:1-12 Three days after he had entered into his province, Festus went up to Jerusalem. The chief priests and the chief men of the Jews laid information before him against Paul. They urged him, asking a favour against Paul, to send for him to be brought to Jerusalem, for they were hatching a plot to murder him on the way. But Festus replied that Paul was under guard at Caesarea and that he himself would soon be leaving. "So," he said, "let your men of power come down with me, and, if there is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 25:11

For if I be an offender ,.... Against the law of Moses, or the temple at Jerusalem, or Caesar the Roman emperor: or have committed anything worthy of death ; by the laws of the Romans, as sedition, murder, &c.; I refuse not to die ; signifying that he did not decline going to Jerusalem, either through any consciousness of guilt, or fear of death; for if anything could be proved against him, that was of a capital nature, he did not desire to escape death; he was ready to die for... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 25:11

For if I be an offender - If it can be proved that I have broken the laws, so as to expose me to capital punishment, I do not wish to save my life by subterfuges; I am before the only competent tribunal; here my business should be ultimately decided. No man may deliver me unto them - The words of the apostle are very strong and appropriate. The Jews asked as a favor, χαριν , from Festus, that he would send Paul to Jerusalem, Acts 25:3 . Festus, willing to do the Jews χαριν , this... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 25:11

Verse 11− 11.I appeal unto Caesar. After that he hath professed that he doth not refuse to die if he be found guilty, he freely useth such helps as he could find at the hands of men. Wherefore, if we be at any time brought into like straits, we must not be superstitious, but we may crave help of the laws and politic order. Because it is written, that magistrates are made and appointed by God to the praise of the godly ( Romans 13:3; and 1 Peter 2:13). Neither was Paul afraid to go to law under... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 25:1-12

Persistent hatred. There is a bitterness and a dogged persistency in the enmity of an Oriental, and an inextinguishable thirst for revenge, which are unlike anything we know of among ourselves. Some knowledge and perception of this are necessary to enable us to understand many things in the Old Testament, including allusions to his enemies in some of the Psalms of David. The conduct of the Jews to St. Paul is a remarkable example of this persevering hatred, which nothing could avert or... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 25:1-12

Tenacity in right. Paul is brought before a fresh judge. He defends the principles of duty and right in the same spirit as before, with perfect boldness, as the state of the matter demands, and at the same time with due respect to the office of the judge. I. CONSTANCY IN THE DEFENSE OF RIGHT . Let us view this in contrast: 1. To the audacity of the hypocrite. They brought many and heavy charges against Paul, which they were unable to prove. Again, "the servant is as... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 25:1-12

The way opened to Rome. I. A WAY WHICH HAD TO BE CUT THROUGH JEWISH CRAFT AND MALICE on the one hand, and ROMAN INDIFFERENCE AND AVARICE on the other. Festers: a true heathen, ignorant, worldly, ready to use power for self-aggrandizement, hating the provincial strifes. The Jews: inveterate haters, keeping up their spite for two years; subtle-minded plotters, using Festus's visit to Jerusalem to get Paul into their power; absolutely unprincipled and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 25:1-16

The enlightened, the unenlightened, and the great Overruler. This piece of sacred history suggests— I. THAT SOMETIMES THE BLACKEST DEEDS LIE AT THE DOOR OF THE ENLIGHTENED . Who more enlightened than these Jews, so far as outward privileges were concerned? They had the fullest opportunity of knowing the truth and of acting uprightly. They "had the mind" of God; revelation had shone on their path with full, strong light. Yet we find them ( Acts 25:2 , Acts... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 25:10-11

Courage to live. Paul knows that he is "standing" (see Revised Version) already at the bar of Caesar. There he elects still to stand. And his formal appeal to Caesar is but the public and legal registration of his deliberate and decisive choice to that effect. There were, no doubt, two sides to the question that had been before Paul, though it savored ever so little of the nature of a question with him. The two sides were these—that justice was nearer him when he was before Caesar than... read more

Group of Brands