Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 25:12
Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.
12. when he had conferred with the council ] Having taken the opinion of those who sat as assessors with him. Such persons would be specially needed for a new governor, and the governors of Juda were changed frequently. Of the existence of such assessors in the provinces, see Suetonius Tib. 33; Galba 19.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
When he had conferred with the council – With his associate judges, or with those who were his counselors in the administration of justice. They were made up of the chief persons, probably military as well as civil, who were about him, and who were his assistants in the administration of the affairs of the province.
Unto Caesar shalt thou go – He was willing in this way to rid himself of the trial, and of the vexation attending it. He did not dare to deliver him to the Jews in violation of the Roman laws, and he was not willing to do justice to Paul, and thus make himself unpopular with the Jews. He was, therefore, probably rejoiced at the opportunity of thus freeing himself from all the trouble in the case in a manner against which none could object.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 12. Conferred with the council] From this circumstance, we may learn that the appeal of Paul to Caesar was conditional; else Festus could not have deliberated with his council whether it should be granted; for he had no power to refuse to admit such an appeal. We may, therefore, understand Paul thus: “I now stand before a tribunal where I ought to be judged; if thou refuse to hear and try this cause, rather than go to Jerusalem, I appeal to Caesar.” Festus, therefore, consulted with the council, whether he should proceed to try the cause, or send Paul to Rome; and it appears that the majority were of opinion that he should be sent to Caesar.
Hast thou appealed unto Caesar, c.] Rather, Thou hast appealed unto Caesar, and to Caesar thou shalt go. The Jews were disappointed of their hope and Festus got his hand creditably drawn out of a business with which he was likely to have been greatly embarrassed.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Conferred with the council; either of the Jews, and those of the sanhedrim, that he might inform them of the law or custom of the Romans, and how that he could not but admit of St. Pauls appeal; or with his own council; it being usual with the Roman presidents to do nothing of moment without the advice of their council, or assistants.
Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? Or without an interrogation: Thou hast appealed unto Caesar; which Festus was glad of, that without danger on the one hand, or ill will on the other, he might get rid of that difficult business.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
12. Festuslittle expectingsuch an appeal, but bound to respect it.
having conferred with thecouncilhis assessors in judgment, as to the admissibility ofthe appeal.
said, Hast thoufor”thou hast.”
to Csar shalt thou goasif he would add perhaps “and see if thou fare better.”
Ac25:13-27. HERODAGRIPPA II ONA VISIT TO FESTUS,BEING CONSULTEDBY HIM ON PAUL’SCASE, DESIRESTO HEAR THEAPOSTLE, WHOIS ACCORDINGLYBROUGHT FORTH.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council,…. Not with the Jewish sanhedrim, or any part of it that came down on this occasion; but with Roman counsellors, which he had to assist him in judgment, when any difficult matters were before him; the Syriac and Ethiopic versions render it, “with his counsellors”; and the Arabic reads in the singular number, “with his counsellor”; with these he advised, whether it was proper to admit of Paul’s appeal, or not; and having had their opinion,
he answered, hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go: the question is put, partly for the more certain knowledge of the thing, that there might be no mistake in it; and partly on account of the Jews, that they might see that though he was disposed to do them a favour, it was not in his power, because of this appeal; and it may be with some resentment in himself, since it carried in it a sort of reflection upon him, as if he was incapable of issuing this affair, or would not be just and faithful in it.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
When he had conferred with the council ( ). The word 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 ( ). 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 ( ). The same technical word, but the perfect tense of the indicative.
Unto Caesar thou shalt go ( ). 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.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
The council. A body of men chosen by the governor himself from the principal Romans of the province. These were called assessors, sometime friends, sometimes captains. Though a Roman citizen had the right of appeal to the emperor, a certain discretion was allowed the governors of provinces as to admitting the appeal. It might be disallowed if the affair did not admit of delay, or if the appellant were a known robber or pirate. In doubtful cases the governor was bound to consult with his council, and his failure to do so exposed him to censure. Cicero, in his impeachment of Verres, the brutal governor of Sicily, says; “Will you deny that you dismissed your council, the men of rank with whom your predecessor and yourself had been wont to consult, and decided the case yourself?” (ii., 33). That Festus exercised this discretion in Paul ‘s case is shown by his conferring with the council.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council,” (tote ho phestos sullalesas meta tou sumbouliou) “Then after Festus had conferred with the council,” his own councilors, assistants he had chosen to assist him in making decisions in administering justice. He accepted the premise that wisdom or safety existed “in the midst of the council,” Pro 11:14.
2) “Answered, hast thou appealed unto Caesar?” (apekrithe Kaisara epikeklesai) “He replied (to Paul) you have appealed to Caesar.” By this time it appears that Paul had detected a bias in Festus, that would incline his decision more favorably to the Jewish murderous wolf-pack for political gain, than toward any semblance of justice. To call for an appeal of a case to Caesar, verbally, was all required under the Roman law, and all further proceedings were then suspended, in cases of life and death.
3) “Unto Caesar shalt thou go.” (epi Kaisara poreuse) “You shall go to Caesar,” to be tried before Caesar in Rome, where God had promised him that one day he would go to witness, Act 19:21; Act 23:11. The idea of this phrase is “and see if you fare better, get better treatment there.” Festus perhaps also felt that Paul had come to mistrust his impartiality and character in this matter, based on what he had seen and heard of Festus.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
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12. Festus having talked with the council The governors did use to have certain of the chief citizens which did attend upon them, and sat with them in judgment, that they might decree nothing without the consent of the council. Furthermore, it doth seem that Festus pronounced this with indignation, when he said interrogatively, Hast thou appealed to Caesar? to wit, because it grieved him that he could not do the Jews such a pleasure as he desired; though I leave that indifferent, because it is neither of any great importance, and it leaneth only to a conjecture.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(12) Hast thou appealed unto Csar? unto Csar shalt thou go.There is obviously something like a sneer in the procurators acceptance of St. Pauls decision. He knew, it may be, better than the Apostle to what kind of judge the latter was appealing, what long delays there would be before the cause was heard, how little chance there was of a righteous judgment at last.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
12. Council A judge was bound by law to admit the appeal, except in cases excluding delay, such as pirates, notorious robbers, leaders of seditions and factions taken in the act.
Hast thou It is now agreed among scholars that this is not an interrogation, but an affirmation. Thou hast appealed unto Cesar, unto Cesar wilt thou go. As this was the proper announcement of the result of the consultation, a question would be out of place. Cesar was originally the proper name of Julius Cesar, who established the Roman imperial power on the ruins of the old republic, afterward it was adopted as the permanent titular name of the successive emperors.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you shall go.” ’
Festus was probably relieved to be saved from a difficult dilemma. On the one had he wanted to be fair. On the other he did not want to offend the Jewish authorities, especially at the beginning of his term in office. But he was also probably a little annoyed. It would be quite clear to him that Paul was doubtful whether he would get justice here. But an appeal to Caesar by a Roman citizen was not something he could refuse. He then covered himself by calling his advisers together and seeking their opinion. A man could not be sent to Caesar unless the crime was serious enough. But there was only one conclusion that they could come to. The Jews were constantly seeking the death penalty, and that hinted at a capital crime. Thus whatever they thought of the idea they could not dismiss an appeal to Caesar.
Nevertheless it must be noted that Festus did have another alternative. He could have ordered Paul’s release. He was not quite as fairminded as he probably liked to think he was. He was too sensitive about offending the Jewish authorities on whom might depend the success of his procuratorship. Had he known that he was going to die within two years he might have made a different decision. We should always ask ourselves, what will my decision look like if I die tomorrow?
Then Festus called Paul in and gave him the decision that had been reached. “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you shall go.” Luke wants us to know that God’s will was going forward (Act 23:11).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Act 25:12. Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, It was customary for a considerable number of persons of some distinction to attend the Roman praefects into their provinces, with whom they were used to consult, especially in matters of judicature.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Act 25:12 . The conference of Festus with the council acting as his advisers, as may be inferred from the answer afterwards given, referred to the question whether the of the Emperor was to be granted without more ado. For in cases of peculiar danger, or of manifest groundlessness of the appeal, it might be refused. See Geib, l.c. p. 684 f. The consiliarii (Suet. Tib . 33) of the provincial rulers were called also , assessores (Suet. Galba , 19). See generally, Perizonius, de Praetorio , p. 718; Ewald, p. 326.
After ., the elsewhere usual note of interrogation (which simply spoils the solemnity and force of the answer) is already condemned by Grotius.
Baumgarten thinks that, from the appeal to Caesar (which in his view will not have been pernicious to Paul), and from Act 27:24 , it may be inferred that the Acts of the Apostles is decidedly favourable to the supposition of a liberation of Paul from the Roman imprisonment. Too rash a conclusion. Neither the appeal nor Act 27:24 points beyond Rome . To Rome he wished to go (appeal), and was to go (Act 27:24 ).
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.
Ver. 12. Hast thou appealed, &c. ] Elegans loquendi forma, saith Piscator: such as are those, 1Co 7:18 ; 1Co 7:21 ; 1Co 7:27 Rom 13:3 . A cutted kind of speech, say others, savouring of discontent.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
12. ] The ‘ conventus ,’ or of citizens in the provinces, assembled to try causes on the ( ), see ch. Act 19:38 . A certain number of these were chosen as judices, for the particular causes, by the proconsul, and these were called his ‘ consiliarii ’ (Suet. Tib. 33), or ‘ assessores ’ ( , Suet. Galba 19). So in Jos. (B. J. ii. 16. 1), Cestius, on receiving an application from Jerusalem respecting the conduct of Florus, , i.e. with his assessors, or . He consulted them to decide whether the appeal was to be conceded, or if conceded, to be at once acted on. (Mr. Lewin cites from the Digests, xlix. 5. 7: ‘Si res dilationem non recipiat, non permittitur appellare.’)
The sense is stronger and better without a question at . Thus were the two the design of Paul (ch. Act 19:21 ), and the promise of our Lord to him (ch. Act 23:11 ) brought to their fulfilment, by a combination of providential circumstances. We can hardly say, with De W. and Meyer, that these must have influenced Paul in making his appeal; that step is naturally accounted for, and was rendered necessary by the difficulties which now beset him; but we may be sure that the prospect at length, after his long and tedious imprisonment, of seeing Rome , must at this time have cheered him, and caused him to hear the of Festus with no small emotion.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 25:12 . ., i.e. , his assessors, assessores consiliarii , with whom the procurators were wont to consult in the administration of the law. They were probably composed, in part at all events, of the higher officials of the court, cf. Suet., Tiber. , 33, Lamprid., Vita Alex. Sev. , 46, Jos., Ant. , xiv., 10, 2, Schrer, Jewish People , div. i., vol. ii., p. 60, E.T.; and see further on the word Deissmann, Neue Bibelstudien , p. 65, and references in Grimm-Thayer, sub v. It would seem that the procurator could only reject such an appeal at his peril, unless in cases where delay might be followed by danger, or when there was manifestly no room for an appeal, Dig. , xlix., 5, and see Bethge, Die Paulinischen Reden , p. 252, and Blass, in loco. . .: no question, W.H [393] , R.V., Weiss (as in A.V.); “asynd. rhetoricum cum anaphora,” Blass, cf. 1Co 7:18 ; 1Co 7:21 ; 1Co 7:27 . The decision of the procurator that the appeal must be allowed, and the words in which it was announced were not meant to frighten Paul, as Bengel supposed, but at the same time they may have been uttered, if not with a sneer, yet with the implication “thou little knowest what an appeal to Csar means”. Moreover, Festus must have seen that the appeal was based upon the prisoner’s mistrust of his character, for only if the accused could not trust the impartiality of the governor had he any interest in claiming the transference of his trial to Rome.
[393] Westcott and Hort’s The New Testament in Greek: Critical Text and Notes.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
conferred. Greek. sullaleo. Only here; Mat 17:3. Mar 9:4. Luk 4:36; Luk 9:30; Luk 22:4.
council. See Mat 12:14. Greek. sumboulion. Not the same word used for “council” elsewhere in Acts, which is sunedrion. See Act 4:15, &c. It means the assessors of the court, or chief officers of the government.
unto = before. Greek. epi. App-104. One can detect atone of resentment, since Paul’s appeal had baffled the desire of Festus to gain favour with the Jews.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
12. ] The conventus, or of citizens in the provinces, assembled to try causes on the (), see ch. Act 19:38. A certain number of these were chosen as judices, for the particular causes, by the proconsul, and these were called his consiliarii (Suet. Tib. 33), or assessores (, Suet. Galba 19). So in Jos. (B. J. ii. 16. 1), Cestius, on receiving an application from Jerusalem respecting the conduct of Florus, , i.e. with his assessors, or . He consulted them to decide whether the appeal was to be conceded, or if conceded, to be at once acted on. (Mr. Lewin cites from the Digests, xlix. 5. 7: Si res dilationem non recipiat, non permittitur appellare.)
The sense is stronger and better without a question at . Thus were the two-the design of Paul (ch. Act 19:21), and the promise of our Lord to him (ch. Act 23:11)-brought to their fulfilment, by a combination of providential circumstances. We can hardly say, with De W. and Meyer, that these must have influenced Paul in making his appeal; that step is naturally accounted for, and was rendered necessary by the difficulties which now beset him; but we may be sure that the prospect at length, after his long and tedious imprisonment, of seeing Rome, must at this time have cheered him, and caused him to hear the of Festus with no small emotion.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Act 25:12. , with the council) This consisted of the persons who were with the governor.-, thou shalt go) Festus seems to have said this by way of terrifying Paul.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
unto Caesar shalt: Act 25:21, Act 19:21, Act 23:11, Act 26:32, Act 27:1, Act 28:16, Psa 76:10, Isa 46:10, Isa 46:11, Lam 3:37, Dan 4:35, Rom 15:28, Rom 15:29, Phi 1:12-14, Phi 1:20
Reciprocal: Luk 21:12 – before Act 25:25 – and that
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
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Act 25:12. This council was not the Sanhedrin, but a consultation with the advisers of Festus. After the consultation, Festus, as the “lower court,” granted the appeal.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 25:12. Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council. The council here referred to was not the members of the Sanhedrim then present at Csarea, but certain officials whom Suetonius calls consiliarii. These advisers or assessors were taken into counsel in questions of difficulty. Gloag refers to a similar case in the administration of Cumanus, when Josephus (Antiquities) tells us that the governor took counsel with his friends before he put to death a Roman soldier who had wantonly destroyed the sacred books of the Jews; and to another like incident in the life of Cestius Gallus, the Proconsul of Syria, who, on receiving contradictory reports from Florus, the Procurator of Juda, and the rulers of Jerusalem, concerning certain disturbances among the Jews, consulted with his principal men, that is, with his council (Josephus, Wars of the Jews). In the present case the point of discussion was, Should the appeal of Paul to Csar be allowed or not? If the accusation against the citizen appealing were perfectly clear, as in the case of a notorious malefactor or rebel, the request to be allowed to appeal might be refused by the Roman official presiding over the court. In the present instance, however, no fair ground of refusal occurred to Festus, who proceeded to signify his consent to Pauls request.
Hast thou appealed unto Csar? unto Csar shalt thou go. This reply of Festus to Paul, granting him, after consulting with his assessors, his request to be sent to Rome for trial, is not interrogative, as in the English Version. It simply expresses the decision of the court. Bengel sees in the curt phraseevidently in the very words in which Festus addressed the apostle at the close of the hearingan intention on the part of the speaker of alarming the prisoner, who had declined to comply with what was evidently the judges wishviz., to waive the right of his citizenship, and to consent to be judged by the Sanhedrim at Jerusalem. Without, perhaps, quite conceding this, we cannot help suspecting that over the procurators face something like a smile of derision passed when he delivered his sentence: Well, you have appealed to Csars court; to Csars court you shall go, Festus knowing well the reception, the weary delays and harsh treatment, such a prisoner would probably meet with at Rome.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
12. This appeal put an end to the trial, as it did to the murderous hopes of Paul’s enemies. (12) “Then Festus, having conferred with his council, answered, You have appealed to Csar; to Csar you shall go.” The conference with his advisers was probably in reference to Paul’s right to make the appeal; for he would hardly have dared, if the right was unquestioned, to hesitate about allowing it. His answer indicates some irritation under the severe rebuke of Paul’s last speech.
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
12. Then Festus, speaking with the assembly [i. e., privately taking council with them], responded, Thou hast appealed to Caesar; unto Caesar thou shalt go. Here we have a finale of the aspirations, contemplations and prayers which had struggled in the bosom of Paul a quarter of a century. Now, behold! victory is in sight. The wrath and power of the empire are pledged to send Paul to Rome.
Fuente: William Godbey’s Commentary on the New Testament
Paul’s appeal got Festus off the hook with the Jews, so the governor willingly granted it. He could have released Paul because he was innocent (cf. Act 26:32), but the charges against him were political sedition and profaning the temple, both of which were capital offenses.
"The narrator shows unusual interest in Felix and Festus. They are complex characters with conflicting tendencies. Felix is attracted to Paul and his message, yet seeks a bribe and leaves Paul in prison to appease Paul’s enemies. Festus presents a favorable image of himself to the public, but his handling of Paul’s case is tainted with favoritism. Neither one is willing to offend the high priests and elders by releasing Paul. The narrator’s characterization of the Roman governors contributes to a portrait of Paul as one caught in a web of self-interested maneuvers by people who vie for support within the political jungle. However, Paul is not just a helpless victim. As opportunity comes, he continues to bear witness to his Lord. Although Paul continues to be denied justice and freedom, the saving purpose of God still has use for this resourceful and faithful prisoner." [Note: Tannehill, 2:314.]
Jesus had also stood trial before two Roman officials: Pontius Pilate and Herod Antipas I.