Act 25:11-12 | RWP | e4.org | If I am a wrong-doer ( ε μεν ουν αδικω ). Condition of the first class with ε and the present active indicative of αδικεω ( α privative and δικη ): "If I am in the habit of doing injustice," assuming it to be true for the sake of argument. And have committed anything worthy of death ( κα αξιον θανατου πεπραχα ). Same condition with the difference in tense ( πεπραχα , perfect active indicative) of a single case instead of a general habit. Assuming either or both Paul draws his conclusion. I refuse not to die ( ου παραιτουμα το αποθανειν ). Old verb to ask alongside, to beg from, to deprecate, to refuse, to decline. See on . Josephus ( Life , 29) has θανειν ου παραιτουμα . Here the articular second aorist active infinitive is in the accusative case the object of παραιτουμα : "I do not beg off dying from myself." But if none of these things is ( ε δε ουδεν εστιν ). Δε here is contrasted with μεν just before. No word for "true" in the Greek. Εστιν ("is") in the Greek here means "exists." Same condition (first class, assumed as true). Whereof these accuse me ( ων ουτο κατηγορουσιν μου ). Genitive of relative ον by attraction from α (accusative with κατηγορουσιν ) to case of the unexpressed antecedent τουτων ("of these things"). Μου is genitive of person after κατηγορουσιν . No man can give me up to them ( ουδεις με δυνατα αυτοις χαρισασθα ). "Can" legally. Paul is a Roman citizen and not even Festus can make a free gift ( χαρισασθα ) of Paul to the Sanhedrin. I appeal unto Caesar ( Καισαρα επικαλουμα ). Technical phrase like Latin Caesarem appello . Originally the Roman law allowed an appeal from the magistrate to the people ( provocatio ad populum ), but the emperor represented the people and so the appeal to Caesar was the right of every Roman citizen. Paul had crossed the Rubicon on this point and so took his case out of the hands of dilatory provincial justice (really injustice). Roman citizens could make this appeal in capital offences. There would be expense connected with it, but better that with some hope than delay and certain death in Jerusalem. Festus was no better than Felix in his vacillation and desire to curry favour with the Jews at Paul's expense. No doubt Paul's long desire to see Rome ( ; ) and the promise of Jesus that he would see Rome ( ) played some part in Paul's decision. But he made it reluctantly for he says in Rome ( ): "I was constrained to appeal." But acquittal at the hands of Festus with the hope of going to Rome as a free man had vanished.

‏ Acts 25:11-12

If I am a wrong-doer ( ε μεν ουν αδικω ). Condition of the first class with ε and the present active indicative of αδικεω ( α privative and δικη ): "If I am in the habit of doing injustice," assuming it to be true for the sake of argument.

And have committed anything worthy of death ( κα αξιον θανατου πεπραχα ). Same condition with the difference in tense ( πεπραχα, perfect active indicative) of a single case instead of a general habit. Assuming either or both Paul draws his conclusion.

I refuse not to die ( ου παραιτουμα το αποθανειν ). Old verb to ask alongside, to beg from, to deprecate, to refuse, to decline. See on Lu 14:18f. Josephus (Life, 29) has θανειν ου παραιτουμα. Here the articular second aorist active infinitive is in the accusative case the object of παραιτουμα: "I do not beg off dying from myself."

But if none of these things is ( ε δε ουδεν εστιν ). Δε here is contrasted with μεν just before. No word for "true" in the Greek. Εστιν ("is") in the Greek here means "exists." Same condition (first class, assumed as true).

Whereof these accuse me ( ων ουτο κατηγορουσιν μου ). Genitive of relative ον by attraction from α (accusative with κατηγορουσιν ) to case of the unexpressed antecedent τουτων ("of these things"). Μου is genitive of person after κατηγορουσιν.

No man can give me up to them ( ουδεις με δυνατα αυτοις χαρισασθα ). "Can" legally. Paul is a Roman citizen and not even Festus can make a free gift ( χαρισασθα ) of Paul to the Sanhedrin.

I appeal unto Caesar ( Καισαρα επικαλουμα ). Technical phrase like Latin Caesarem appello. Originally the Roman law allowed an appeal from the magistrate to the people (provocatio ad populum), but the emperor represented the people and so the appeal to Caesar was the right of every Roman citizen. Paul had crossed the Rubicon on this point and so took his case out of the hands of dilatory provincial justice (really injustice). Roman citizens could make this appeal in capital offences. There would be expense connected with it, but better that with some hope than delay and certain death in Jerusalem. Festus was no better than Felix in his vacillation and desire to curry favour with the Jews at Paul's expense. No doubt Paul's long desire to see Rome (19:21; Ro 15:22-28) and the promise of Jesus that he would see Rome (Ac 23:11) played some part in Paul's decision. But he made it reluctantly for he says in Rome (Ac 28:19): "I was constrained to appeal." But acquittal at the hands of Festus with the hope of going to Rome as a free man had vanished.

When he had conferred with the council ( συνλαλησας μετα του συμβουλιου ). The word συμβουλιον in the N.T. usually means "counsel" as in Mt 12:14, but here alone as an assembly of counsellors or council. But the papyri (Milligan and Moulton's Vocabulary) furnish a number of instances of this sense of the word as "council." Here it apparently means the chief officers and personal retinue of the procurator, his assessors ( ασσεσσορες χονσιλιαρι ). These local advisers were a necessity. Some discretion was allowed the governor about granting the appeal. If the prisoner were a well-known robber or pirate, it could be refused.

Thou hast appealed unto Caesar ( Καισαρα επικεκλησα ). The same technical word, but the perfect tense of the indicative.

Unto Caesar thou shalt go ( επ Καισαρα πορευση ). Perhaps the volitive future (Robertson, Grammar, p. 874). Bengel thinks that Festus sought to frighten Paul with these words. Knowling suggests that "they may have been uttered, if not with a sneer, yet with the implication 'thou little knowest what an appeal to Caesar means.'" But embarrassment will come to Festus. He has refused to acquit this prisoner. Hence he must formulate charges against him to go before Caesar.