Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 25:17

Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth.

17. when they were come hither ] The Greek is (as Rev. Ver.) “come together here.”

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Therefore when they were come hither … – See Act 25:6.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Festus had gratified the Jews in what lawfully he might, not detaining them at charges from their habitations: and that not only commends Festuss own justice, but Pauls innocence; for if Paul had not appeared guiltless, he would have left him to the rage of the Jews, whom he desired to gratify what he could.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

Therefore when they were come hither,…. To Caesarea, namely the chief priests and elders of the Jews:

without any delay on the morrow, I sat on the judgment seat: that is, the next day after they came down, Festus went into the judgment hall, and took his place there, in order to hear this cause; which circumstance he mentions, to show how expeditious he was:

and I commanded the man to be brought forth: from his place of confinement, to the hall, to answer for himself.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

When they were come together here ( ). Genitive absolute of second aorist active participle of , but without (they), merely understood.

Delay (). Old word from , only here in N.T.

Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament

1) “Therefore, when they were come hither,” (sunelthonton oun enthade) “When they had therefore come together,” when the colleague of Paul-hating Jewish conspirators had come together, in collusion against Paul, at Caesarea.

2) “Without any delay,” (anabolen medemian poiesamenos) “Making no delay,” whatsoever in arranging for their requested opportunity to “lay it on the line against Paul,” in Caesar’s public court in Caesarea. The idea of Festus was to show Agrippa that his constituents in Jerusalem had been extended courtesy of the court at Caesarea, without delay, since he had taken over.

3) “On the morrow I sat on the judgement seat,” (te ekses kathisas epi tou benatos) “On the very next day while I was sitting in the tribunal, the judgement seat,” to hear the trial in a manner of Roman court dignity.

4) “And commanded the man to be brought forth

(ekeleusa achthenai ton andra) “I commanded the man to be brought,” the man being Paul, against whom they had entered accusations of 1) Sedition or treason, 2) Heresy, and 3) Profaning or desecrating the temple, Act 24:5-9.

Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

“When therefore they were come together here, I made no delay, but on the next day sat on the judgment-seat, and commanded the man to be brought.”

So acting on his own words, once these leaders had come to Caesarea he had not delayed but had taken his official seat as Judge, and commanded that the man be brought before him.

Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett

Act 25:17-20 . After they had therefore come together here (to Caesarea, just as in Act 25:24 ), I made no delay , etc. See examples of (comp. , Act 24:22 ) in Wetstein.

Act 25:18 . ] belongs to . Comp. Act 25:7 .

(see the critical remarks): they brought no accusation . The classical expression would be . (Herod. i. 26; Thuc. vi. 76; Plat. Legg . ix. p. 856 E; and often in the orators), or (Dem. 275. 4).

(instead of ) ] In the case of a man already so long imprisoned, and assailed with such ardent hostility, Festus very naturally supposed that there existed some peculiar capital crimes, chiefly, perhaps, of a political nature. It is true that political charges were also brought forward (Act 25:8 ), but “hinc iterum conjicere licet, imo aperte cognoscere, adeo futiles fuisse calumnias, ut in judicii rationem venire non debuerint, perinde ac si quis convicium temere jactet,” Calvin.

Act 25:19 . .] concerning their own religion . Festus prudently uses this vox media , leaving it to Agrippa to take the word in a good sense, but reserving withal his own view, which was certainly the Roman one of the Judaica superstitio (Quinctil. iii. 8). Comp. on Act 17:22 .

] that he lives , namely, risen and not again dead. Moreover, the words bear quite the impress of the indifference and insignificance which Festus attached to this very point, inasmuch as, in regard to the , he does not even condescend to designate the mode of death, and, as regards the , sees in it an empty pretence ( , comp. Act 24:9 ).

Act 25:20 . ] but I, uncertain on my part . Quite in accordance with the circumstances of the case (for before the king, Festus might not lay himself open to any imputation of partiality), Luke makes the procurator keep silence over the real motive of his proposal (Act 25:9 ).

.] regarding the investigation to be held on account of these (to me so strange) matters ( in the judicial sense, as in Pol. vi. 16. 2). Instead of . . . (comp. Soph. Trach . 1233), Luke might have written only (as A H actually read) . . . (Heind. ad Plat. Crat . p. 409 C), or . . . (Stallb. ad Plat. Rep . p. 557 D).

Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary

17 Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth.

Ver. 17. Without delay ] This was well; judges should dismiss timely those whom they cannot presently despatch, as Jethro adviseth,Exo 18:13-26Exo 18:13-26 . It is recorded of Sir Thomas Moore, to his eternal commendation, that when he was Lord Chancellor, and sat in the Court of Chancery, he called for the next cause, and there was none remaining. But what meaneth Festus here to crack so much of his diligence in doing justice?

” Cur ego, si nequeo, ignoroque, Poeta salutor. “

Horat.

What is the honour of this world, or the applause of men (though well deserved), but a puff of stinking breath? and what advantageth it a man to have the world’s Euge, well done, and God’s Apage? Away with you.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

Act 25:17 . . . , Act 24:22 , for the phrase see Thuc., ii., 42; Plut., Camill. , 35, and Wetstein, in loco.

Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson