God’s Word Translation
Acts 25:21
21But Paul appealed his case. He asked to be held in prison and to have His Majesty the Emperor decide his case. So I ordered him to be held in prison until I could send him to the emperor.”
Acts 25:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Cesar.
- New International Version (NIV)But when Paul made his appeal to be held over for the Emperor’s decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of the emperor, I ordered him to be held until I could send him to Caesar."
- New King James Version (NKJV)But when Paul appealed to be reserved for the decision of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I could send him to Caesar.”
Context of Acts 25:21
19They were disputing with him about their own religion and about some man named Jesus who had died. But Paul claimed that Jesus is alive. 20Their debate about these things left me puzzled. So I asked Paul if he would like to go to Jerusalem to have his case heard there. But Paul appealed his case. He asked to be held in prison and to have His Majesty the Emperor decide his case. So I ordered him to be held in prison until I could send him to the emperor.” 22Agrippa told Festus, “I would like to hear the man.” Festus replied, “You’ll hear him tomorrow.” 23The next day Agrippa and Bernice entered the auditorium with a lot of fanfare. Roman army officers and the most important men of the city entered the auditorium with them. Festus gave the order, and Paul was brought into the auditorium.
Read all of Acts 25Acts 25:21 word by word
τοῦ δὲ Παύλου ἐπικαλεσαμένου τηρηθῆναι αὐτὸν εἰς τὴν τοῦ Σεβαστοῦ διάγνωσιν ἐκέλευσα τηρεῖσθαι αὐτὸν ἕως οὗ ἀναπέμψω αὐτὸν πρὸς Καίσαρα.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Butδέde · thenG1161
- when Paulὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- when PaulΠαῦλοςPaulos · PaulG3972
- had appealedἐπικαλέωepikaleomai · to call (on)/nameG1941
- ·αὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- to be reservedτηρέωtēreō · to keep: guardG5083
- untoεἰςeis · towardG1519
- the hearingδιάγνωσιςdiagnōsis · decisionG1233
- of Augustusσεβαστόςsebastos · AugustanG4575
- I commandedκελεύωkeleuō · to orderG2753
- tillἕωςheōs · untilG2193
- ·ὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- I might sendπέμπωpempō · to sendG3992
- toπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- CesarΚαῖσαρKaisar · CaesarG2541
Cross-references for Acts 25:21
- 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.”
- 2 Timothy 4:16At my first hearing no one stood up in my defense. Everyone abandoned me. I pray that it won’t be held against them.
- Acts 27:1When it was decided that we should sail to Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were turned over to an army officer. His name was Julius, and he belonged to the emperor’s division.
- Luke 2:1At that time the Emperor Augustus ordered a census of the Roman Empire.
- Acts 25:12Festus 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!”
Commentaries on Acts 25:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Unto the hearing of Augustus - Ϛ ; To the discrimination of the emperor. For, although Ϛ is usually translated Augustus, and the Roman emperors generally assumed this epithet, which signifies no more than the venerable, the august, get here it seems to be used merely to express the emperor, without any reference to any of his attributes or titles.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21But when he had appealed - Acts 25:11. To be reserved - To be kept; not to be tried at Jerusalem, but to be sent to Rome for trial. Unto the hearing - Margin, “the judgment.” That Augustus might hear and decide the cause. Of Augustus - The reigning emperor at this time was Nero. The name Augustus ́ Sebastosproperly denotes “what is venerable, or worthy of honor and reverence.” It was first applied to Caesar Octavianus, who was the Roman emperor in the…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. 13-22Festus discussed Paul’s case with Herod Agrippa II, who came to Caesarea to pay a courtesy visit to the new governor. Herod Agrippa II ruled parts of the region from AD 50–100.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 25:21
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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