God’s Word Translation
Acts 25:11
11If I am guilty and have done something wrong for which I deserve the death penalty, I don’t reject the idea of dying. But if their accusations are untrue, no one can hand me over to them as a favor. I appeal my case to the emperor!”
Acts 25:11 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Cesar.
- New International Version (NIV)If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”
- English Standard Version (ESV)If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar."
- New King James Version (NKJV)For if I am an offender, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying; but if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar.”
Context of Acts 25:11
9But Festus wanted to do the Jews a favor. So he asked Paul, “Are you willing to go to Jerusalem to be tried there on these charges with me as your judge?” 10Paul said, “I am standing in the emperor’s court where I must be tried. I haven’t done anything wrong to the Jews, as you know very well. If I am guilty and have done something wrong for which I deserve the death penalty, I don’t reject the idea of dying. But if their accusations are untrue, no one can hand me over to them as a favor. I appeal my case to the emperor!” 12Festus discussed the appeal with his advisers and then replied to Paul, “You have appealed your case to the emperor, so you’ll go to the emperor!” 13Later King Agrippa and Bernice came to the city of Caesarea to welcome Festus.
Read all of Acts 25Acts 25:11 word by word
εἰ μὲν οὖν ἀδικῶ καὶ ἄξιον θανάτου πέπραχά τι, οὐ παραιτοῦμαι τὸ ἀποθανεῖν· εἰ δὲ οὐδέν ἐστιν ὧν οὗτοι κατηγοροῦσίν μου, οὐδείς με δύναται αὐτοῖς χαρίσασθαι. Καίσαρα ἐπικαλοῦμαι.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- ifεἰei · ifG1487
- ·μένmen · on the other handG3303
- I be an offenderἀδικέωadikeō · to harmG91
- orκαίkai · andG2532
- have committedπράσσωprassō · to do/requireG4238
- any thingτιςtis · oneG5100
- worthyἄξιοςaxios · worthyG514
- of deathθάνατοςthanatos · deathG2288
- I refuseπαραιτέομαιparaiteomai · to refuse/excuseG3868
- notοὐou · noG3756
- to dieἀποθνήσκωapothnēskō · to dieG599
- butδέde · thenG1161
- there beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- noneοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762
- of these things whereofὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- theseοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- accuseκατηγορέωkatēgoreō · to accuseG2723
- meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- mayδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
- deliverχαρίζωcharizomai · to give graceG5483
- unto themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- I appeal untoἐπικαλέωepikaleomai · to call (on)/nameG1941
- CesarΚαῖσαρKaisar · CaesarG2541
Cross-references for Acts 25:11
- Acts 18:14Paul was about to answer when Gallio said to the Jews, “If there were some kind of misdemeanor or crime involved, reason would demand that I put up with you Jews.
- Joshua 22:22They said, “The Lord is ⌞the only true⌟ God! The Lord is ⌞the only true⌟ God! He knows, so let Israel know! If our act is rebellious or unfaithful to the Lord,
- 1 Samuel 12:3Here I am. Testify against me in front of the Lord and in front of his anointed king. Did I take anyone’s ox? Did I take anyone’s donkey? Did I cheat or oppress anyone? Did I take a bribe from anyone to look the other way? ⌞If so,⌟ I will give it all back.”
- Job 31:21If I have shaken my fist at an orphan because I knew that others would back me up in court,
- Psalms 7:3O Lord my God, if I have done this— if my hands are stained with injustice,
- Acts 16:37But Paul told the guards, “Roman officials have had us beaten publicly without a trial and have thrown us in jail, even though we’re Roman citizens. Now are they going to throw us out secretly? There’s no way they’re going to get away with that! Have them escort us out!”
- Acts 22:25But when the soldiers had Paul stretch out ⌞to tie him to the whipping post⌟ with the straps, Paul asked the sergeant who was standing there, “Is it legal for you to whip a Roman citizen who hasn’t had a trial?”
- 1 Thessalonians 2:15who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and who have persecuted us severely. They are displeasing to God. They are enemies of the whole human race
- Acts 25:10Paul said, “I am standing in the emperor’s court where I must be tried. I haven’t done anything wrong to the Jews, as you know very well.
- Acts 26:32Agrippa told Festus, “This man could have been set free if he hadn’t appealed his case to the emperor.”
- Acts 28:19But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal my case to the emperor. That doesn’t mean I have any charges to bring against my own people.
- 1 Samuel 27:1David said to himself, “One of these days Saul will sweep me away. The best thing for me to do is to make sure that I escape to Philistine territory. Then Saul will give up looking all over Israel for me, and I’ll escape from him.”
Commentaries on Acts 25:11
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11For 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, , from Festus, that he would send Paul to Jerusalem, Acts 25:3. Festus, willing to do the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11For if I be an offender - If I have injured the Jews so as to deserve death. If it can be proved that I have done injury to anyone. I refuse not to die - I have no wish to escape justice. I do not wish to evade the laws, or to take advantage of any circumstances to screen me from just punishment. Paul‘s whole course showed that this was the noble spirit which actuated him. No true Christian wishes to escape from the laws. He will honor them, and not seek…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 10-11Festus suggested that Paul have his trial in Jerusalem, which led Paul to appeal to Caesar. Paul did not fear death, but he opposed being transferred to a court biased toward condemnation, not justice (25:7).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. I appeal to Cæsar--The right of appeal to the supreme power, in case of life and death, was secured by an ancient law to every Roman citizen, and continued under the empire. Had Festus shown any disposition to pronounce final judgment, Paul, strong in the consciousness of his innocence and the justice of a Roman tribunal, would not have made this appeal. But when the only other alternative offered him was to give his own consent to be transferred to…Read the comment
Topics related to Acts 25:11
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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