Acts 25:16

Acts 25:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.
• New International Version (NIV)“I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand over anyone before they have faced their accusers and have had an opportunity to defend themselves against the charges.
• English Standard Version (ESV)I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone before the accused met the accusers face to face and had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against him.
• New King James Version (NKJV)To them I answered, ‘It is not the custom of the Romans to deliver any man to destruction before the accused meets the accusers face to face, and has opportunity to answer for himself concerning the charge against him.’

Context of Acts 25:16

14Since they were staying several days, Festus laid out Paul’s case before the king: “There is a certain man whom Felix left in prison. 15While I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and elders of the Jews presented their case and requested a judgment against him. 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. 17So when they came here with me, I did not delay. The next day I sat on the judgment seat and ordered that the man be brought in. 18But when his accusers rose to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected.

Acts 25:16 word by word

πρὸς οὓς ἀπεκρίθην ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ἔθος Ῥωμαίοις χαρίζεσθαί τινα ἄνθρωπον πρὶν ἢ ὁ κατηγορούμενος κατὰ πρόσωπον ἔχοι τοὺς κατηγόρους, τόπον τε ἀπολογίας λάβοι περὶ τοῦ ἐγκλήματος.Read the interlinear

• I toldἀποκρίνωapokrinomai · to answerG611
• ·πρόςpros · to/withG4314
• ·ὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• it isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• notοὐou · noG3756
• Roman customἔθοςethos · customG1485
• Roman customῬωμαῖοςRhōmaios · RomanG4514
• to handχαρίζωcharizomai · to give graceG5483
• aτιςtis · oneG5100
• man overἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• beforeπρίνprin · beforeG4250
• ·ἤē · orG2228
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• ·κατηγορέωkatēgoreō · to accuseG2723
• ·ἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• has hadλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
• opportunityτόποςtopos · placeG5117
• toκατάkata · according toG2596
• faceπρόσωπονprosōpon · faceG4383
• accusersκατήγοροςkatēgoros · accuserG2725
• andτεte · and/bothG5037
• defend himselfἀπολογίαapologia · defenceG627
• againstπερίperi · aboutG4012
• chargesἔγκλημαegklēma · accusationG1462

Cross-references for Acts 25:16

• Acts 25:4But Festus replied, “Paul is being held in Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon.
• Acts 26:1Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense:
• Deuteronomy 17:4and if it is reported and you hear about it, you must investigate it thoroughly. If the report is true and such an abomination has happened in Israel,
• Deuteronomy 19:17both parties to the dispute must stand in the presence of the LORD, before the priests and judges who are in office at that time.
• Proverbs 18:13He who answers a matter before he hears it— this is folly and disgrace to him.
• John 7:51“Does our law convict a man without first hearing from him to determine what he has done?”

Commentaries on Acts 25:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die - , To Make a Present of any man; gratuitously to give up the life of any man, through favor or caprice. Here is a reference to the subject discussed on Acts 25:11. Before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, etc. - For this righteous procedure the Roman laws were celebrated over the civilized world. Appian, in his Hist. Roman., says: . It is not their custom to condemn men…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16It is not the manner … - He here states the reasons which he gave the Jews for not delivering Paul into their hands. In Acts 25:4-5, we have an account of the fact that he would not accede to the requests of the Jews; and he here states that the reason of his refusal was that it was contrary to the Roman law. Appian, in his Roman History, says, “It is not their custom to condemn men before they are heard.” Philo (DePraesi. Rom.) says the same thing. In…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-27Verses 13-27 Agrippa had the government of Galilee. How many unjust and hasty judgments the Roman maxim, ver. #(16), condemn! This heathen, guided only by the light of nature, followed law and custom exactly, yet how many Christians will not follow the rules of truth, justice, and charity, in judging their brethren! The questions about God's worship, the way of salvation, and the truths of the gospel, may appear doubtful and without interest, to worldly…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16This was a fundamental principle: Roman law did not convict people without a trial. They must be given an opportunity to confront their accusers and defend themselves (see 19:38–39). This showed Roman legal procedures in a positive way.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 16-2116-21. to deliver any man to die--On the word "deliver up," see on Ac 25:11.Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 25:16

• Citizens
• Paul
• Prisoners
• Roman Empire

In the dictionaries

• Accuser
• Affirm
• Herod Arippa II.
• James
• Offend
• Pleasure
• Principal
• Stand
• Acts of the Apostles
• Appeal

Commentaries on Acts 25

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings