EasyEnglish Bible 2018
Acts 25:16
16I answered them, “You are saying that this man has done wrong things. He must first stand in front of you who are speaking against him. Then he can answer you, and I can judge who is right. That is what our Roman law says must happen.”
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
14They stayed in Caesarea for many days. While they were there, Festus explained to King Agrippa the problem about Paul. He said, ‘There is a man here that Felix left in prison. 15When I went to Jerusalem, the important Jews and the leaders of their priests spoke to me about him. They said, “Paul has done some very bad things. You should judge him and he should die.” I answered them, “You are saying that this man has done wrong things. He must first stand in front of you who are speaking against him. Then he can answer you, and I can judge who is right. That is what our Roman law says must happen.” 17So when I came back here, the Jewish leaders and the leaders of their priests came with me. I did not wait for long. On the next day I sat down on my special seat as judge. I told my soldiers to bring this man to me. 18The men who had spoken against him stood up. I thought they would say that Paul had done some very bad thing. But they did not say that.
Read all of Acts 25Acts 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
Words taken from the KJV.
- Toπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- whomὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- I answeredἀποκρίνωapokrinomai · to answerG611
- ·ὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- It isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- notοὐou · noG3756
- the mannerἔθοςethos · customG1485
- of the RomansῬωμαῖοςRhōmaios · RomanG4514
- to deliverχαρίζωcharizomai · to give graceG5483
- anyτιςtis · oneG5100
- manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
- toεἰςeis · towardG1519
- dieἀπώλειαapōleia · destructionG684
- beforeπρίνprin · beforeG4250
- thatἤē · orG2228
- he whichὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- is accusedκατηγορέωkatēgoreō · to accuseG2723
- haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- the accusersκατήγοροςkatēgoros · accuserG2725
- faceπρόσωπονprosōpon · faceG4383
- toκατάkata · according toG2596
- andτεte · and/bothG5037
- haveλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
- licenceτόποςtopos · placeG5117
- to answer for himselfἀπολογίαapologia · defenceG627
- concerningπερίperi · aboutG4012
- the crime laid against himἔγκλημαegklēma · accusationG1462
Cross-references for Acts 25:16
- Acts 25:4But Festus answered them, ‘Paul will remain in prison in Caesarea. I myself will return there soon.
- Acts 26:1King Agrippa said to Paul, ‘You may now say what you think about this problem.’ Paul raised his hand so that people would listen to him.
- Deuteronomy 17:4If you hear news like that, you must check the report carefully. If it is true that a wicked thing like that has happened in Israel,
- Deuteronomy 19:17Then both of them must stand in front of the judges that the Lord has chosen. Those are the priests and the judges who have authority at that time.
- Proverbs 18:13Listen carefully before you answer. If you answer too quickly, you will be ashamed like a fool.
- John 7:51‘We must find out first what this man has done. Then we can decide if it is right to punish him. Our law says that we must listen to him first.’
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
In the dictionaries
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
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