Acts 25:10
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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.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Then said Paul, I stand at CÃ&brvbrsar's judgment seat--that is, I am already before the proper tribunal. This seems to imply that he understood Festus to propose handing him over to the Sanhedrim for judgment (and see on Act 25:11), with a mere promise of protection from him. But from going to Jerusalem at all he was too well justified in shrinking, for there assassination had been quite recently planned against him. to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou knowest very well--literally, "better," that is, (perhaps), better than to press such a proposal. if there be none of these things . . . no man may deliver me unto them--The word signifies to "surrender in order to gratify" another.
Open source ↗Some think that Felix was turned out, and Festus succeeded him, quickly after Paul's imprisonment, and that the two years mentioned in the close of the foregoing chapter are to be reckoned from the beginning of Nero's reign; but it seems more natural to compute them from Paul's being delivered into the hands of Felix. However, we have here much the same management of Paul's case as we had in the foregoing chapter; cognizance is here taken of it, I. By Festus the governor; it is brought before him by the Jews (Act 25:1-3). The hearing of it is appointed to be, not at Jerusalem, as the Jews desired, out at Caesarea (Act 25:4-6). The Jews appear against Paul and accuse him (Act 25:7), but he stands upon his own innocency (Act 25:8); and to avoid the removing of the cause to Jerusalem, to which he was pressed to consent, he at length appeals to Caesar (Act 25:9-12). II. By king Agrippa, to whom Festus relates his case (Act 25:13-21), and Agrippa desires he might have the hearing of it himself (Act 25:22). The court is accordingly set, and Paul brought to the bar (Act 25:23), and Festus opens the cause (Act 25:24-27), to introduce Paul's defence in the next chapter.
Open source ↗25:10-11 Festus’s suggestion that Paul be tried in Jerusalem motivated the apostle’s appeal to Caesar. Paul was not afraid of death, but he objected to being turned over to a biased court intent on murder, not justice (25:7).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
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Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.
They examined me and wanted to release me, because there was no basis for a death sentence against me.
But I found he had done nothing worthy of death, and since he has now appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.
On their way out, they said to one another, “This man has done nothing worthy of death or imprisonment.”
I found that the accusation involved questions about their own law, but there was no charge worthy of death or imprisonment.
So when they came here with me, I did not delay. The next day I sat on the judgment seat and ordered that the man be brought in.
After spending no more than eight or ten days with them, Festus went down to Caesarea. The next day he sat on the judgment seat and ordered that Paul be brought in.