Acts 25:11
9 But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to stand trial before me on these charges?”
10 Paul replied, “I am standing before the judgment seat of Caesar, where I ought to be tried. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well.
If, however, I am guilty of anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is no truth to their accusations against me, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”
12 Then Festus conferred with his council and replied, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”
13 After several days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice came down to Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus.
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- If, however, I am guilty of anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is no truth to their accusations against me, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”
- 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 Cæsar.
- WEB
- For if I have done wrong and have committed anything worthy of death, I don’t refuse to die; but if none of those things is true that they accuse me of, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!”
- ASV
- If then I am a wrong-doer, and have committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die; but if none of those things is [true] whereof these accuse me, no man can give me up unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.
- DARBY
- If then I have done any wrong and committed anything worthy of death, I do not deprecate dying; but if there is nothing of those things of which they accuse me, no man can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.
- BLB
- Therefore if indeed I am unrighteous and have done anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is nothing of which they can accuse me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!”
- ÅB
- Har jeg urett, og har jeg gjort noe som fortjener døden, da ber jeg meg ikke fri for å dø; men er det ikke noe i det som disse fører klagemål imot meg for, da kan ingen overgi meg til dem bare for å gjøre dem til lags; jeg innanker min sak for keiseren.
- OTB
- Hvis jeg er skyldig og har gjort noe som fortjener døden, nekter jeg ikke å dø; men hvis anklagene mot meg ikke er sanne, har ingen rett til å overgi meg til dem. Jeg anker til keiseren!”
- B1930
- Har jeg urett, og har jeg gjort noget som fortjener døden, da ber jeg mig ikke fri for å dø; men er det ikke noget i det som disse fører klagemål imot mig for, da kan ingen overgi mig til dem bare for å gjøre dem til lags; jeg innanker min sak for keiseren.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Acts 28:19
But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, even though I have no charge to bring against my nation.
Read in contextPsalms 7:3–5
O LORD my God, if I have done this, if injustice is on my hands,
Read in contextActs 26:32
And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
Read in contextActs 25:25
But I found he had done nothing worthy of death, and since he has now appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.
Read in contextJoshua 22:22
“The LORD, the Mighty One, is God! The LORD, the Mighty One, is God! He knows, and may Israel also know. If this was in rebellion or breach of faith against the LORD, do not spare us today.
Read in contextActs 25:21
But when Paul appealed to be held over for the decision of the Emperor, I ordered that he be held until I could send him to Caesar.”
Read in contextActs 22:25
But as they stretched him out to strap him down, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it lawful for you to flog a Roman citizen without a trial?”
Read in contextActs 25:10
Paul replied, “I am standing before the judgment seat of Caesar, where I ought to be tried. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well.
Read in context