New Living Translation
Acts 25:16
16I pointed out to them that Roman law does not convict people without a trial. They must be given an opportunity to confront their accusers and defend themselves.
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
14During their stay of several days, Festus discussed Paul’s case with the king. “There is a prisoner here,” he told him, “whose case was left for me by Felix. 15When I was in Jerusalem, the leading priests and Jewish elders pressed charges against him and asked me to condemn him. I pointed out to them that Roman law does not convict people without a trial. They must be given an opportunity to confront their accusers and defend themselves. 17“When his accusers came here for the trial, I didn’t delay. I called the case the very next day and ordered Paul brought in. 18But the accusations made against him weren’t any of the crimes I expected.
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 replied that Paul was at Caesarea and he himself would be returning there soon.
- Acts 26:1Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You may speak in your defense.” So Paul, gesturing with his hand, started his defense:
- Deuteronomy 17:4When you hear about it, investigate the matter thoroughly. If it is true that this detestable thing has been done in Israel,
- Deuteronomy 19:17then both the accuser and accused must appear before the Lord by coming to the priests and judges in office at that time.
- Proverbs 18:13Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish.
- John 7:51“Is it legal to convict a man before he is given a hearing?” he asked.
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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