Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 25:2
Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him,
2. Then the high priest ] R. V. “And the chief priests.” For the best MSS. give the plural. No doubt Ananias, as before, was the leader of the accusation, but he got others of his own class to support him in Jerusalem. He was their representative when the hearing was in Csarea.
and the chief of the Jews ] This might mean “the chief part;” therefore it is better, with R. V., to read “the principal men of the Jews.” The wealthiest men of the nation belonged to the Sadducees.
informed him against Paul ] The verb indicates that the proceedings here assumed a legal form. It was no mere mention in any irregular way, but a definite charge was made, no doubt in the same terms which Tertullus had used before.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Then the high priest – The high priest at this time was Ismael, the son of Fabi. He had been promoted to that office by Agrippa (Josephus, Antiq., book 20, chapter 8, section 8). It is probable, however, that the person here intended was Ananias, who had been high priest, and who would retain the name. See the notes on Act 23:2. Some mss. read high priests here in the plural number, and this reading is approved by Mill and Griesbach. There is, however, no improbability in supposing that the high priest Ismael might have been also as much enraged against Paul as the others.
Informed him against Paul – Informed him of the accusation against him, and doubtless endeavored to prejudice the mind of Festus against him. They thus showed their unrelenting disposition. It might have been supposed that after two years this unjust prosecution would be abandoned and forgotten. But malice does not thus forget its object, and the spirit of persecution is not thus satisfied. It is evident that there was here every probability that injustice would be done to Paul, and that the mind of Festus would be biased against him. He was a stranger to Paul, and to the embittered feelings of the Jewish character. He would wish to conciliate their favor upon entering into the duties of his office. A strong representation, therefore, made by the chief men of the nation, would be likely to prejudice him violently against Paul, and to unfit him for the exercise of impartial justice.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 2. The high priest – informed him against Paul] They supposed that as Felix, to please them, on the resignation of his government, had left Paul bound, so Festus, on the assumption of it, would, to please them, deliver him into their hand; but, as they wished this to be done under the colour of justice, they exhibited a number of charges against Paul, which they hoped would appear to Festus a sufficient reason why a new trial should be granted; and he be sent to Jerusalem to take this trial. Their motive is mentioned in the succeeding verse.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The chief of the Jews; the same who are called the elders, in Act 24:1.
Informed him against Paul; continued their accusation and prosecution of Paul. So restless is the rage and enmity, the adversaries of truth have against the professors of it.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
2. Then the high priestasuccessor of him before whom Paul had appeared (Ac23:2).
and the chief of the Jewsand”the whole multitude of the Jews” (Ac25:24) clamorously.
informed him against Paul . ..
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Then the high priest,…. Ananias, as in Ac 23:2 the Alexandrian copy, the Vulgate Latin version, and all the Oriental versions, read, “the chief priests”, the whole college of the priests:
and the chief of the Jews; their rulers and elders, the members of the Jewish sanhedrim;
informed him against Paul; they took the first opportunity of waiting upon him, when he was come to Jerusalem; hoping it might be a favourable one to them, since he was just entering upon his government, and might be willing to gratify the chief of the nation, and gain their affection and esteem, and since as yet he was not acquainted with their wicked dispositions and artifices; and brought a bill of information against Paul, and gave a large account of him, what a wicked man he was, and what evils he had committed; they laid many things to his charge, and very heavily accused him, and endeavoured to prepossess the governor, and prejudice him against him:
and besought him; that he would grant them the following request.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The principal men ( ). The first men, the leading men of the city, besides the chief priests. In verse 15 we have “the chief priests and the elders.” These chief men among the Jews would desire to pay their respects to the new Procurator on his first visit to Jerusalem. There was another high priest now, Ishmael in place of Ananias.
Informed him against Paul ( ). “This renewal of the charge after two years, on the very first opportunity, is a measure, not only of their unsleeping hatred, but of the importance which they attached to Paul’s influence” (Furneaux).
Besought (). Imperfect active, kept on beseeching as a special favour to the Jews.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Besought. The imperfect denotes their persistence : kept beseeching.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews,” (hoi archiereis kai protoi ton loudaion) “The chief (presiding priests) and the chiefs of the Jews,” the Jewish officials, including the priests, elders, and Sanhedrin council; Ananias, the former high priest, had been succeeded by Ishmael, son of Phabi; at this time, according to-Josephus Antiq, 20:8. They are later called “the whole multitude of the Jews,” Act 25:24.
2) “Informed him against Paul,” (enephanisan te auto) “And informed him,” (kata tou Paulou) “Against Paul,” filled his ear with accusations. and complaints against Paul, laid out slanted information against him before Festus, Act 25:15. They rehashed what they had given to Felix, the former governor, Act 21:27-31; Act 24:1; Act 24:5-6.
3) “And besought him,” (kai parekaloun auton) “And they besought him,” they appealed to Festus; They attempted to motivate or influence him, with ulterior motives, against Paul and the church of Jesus Christ, Mat 5:10-11.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(2) Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews . . .Some of the best MSS. give the plural, the chief priests. It is clear that they hoped to take advantage of the newness of Festus to his office. He was likely enough, they thought, to accept their statements and to yield to the pressure of those who had shown themselves powerful enough to bring about his predecessors recall. And they have not forgotten their old tactics. Once again priests and scribes are ready to avail themselves of the weapon of the assassin. Possibly Festus had heard from Felix or Lysias, or others, of the former plot, and took care to be on his guard against this, and so the conspirators were again baffled.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2. High priest Ananias had been assassinated, and Agrippa, who had the power of appointment, substituted Ismael, the son of Phabi, in his place.
Chief Not merely the Sanhedrin, as before, but the eminent by rank, wealth, or learning.
Informed him Brought accusation to him. They are still vindictive after two years are past, and as prompt in their action as Festus in his.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Act 25:2-3 . . . .] See on Act 24:1 .
] see the critical remarks, as in Act 22:30 ; consequently not merely the acting high priest (as in Act 24:1 ), who at that time was Ishmael , son of Phabi, and successor of Ananias. See Joseph. Antt . xx. 8. 8, 11.
] thus not merely the , Act 24:1 . The opposition now came forward in a larger spiritual and secular representation of the nation against the enemy of the national religion. It is true that most of these were without doubt Sanhedrists, and therefore also Festus, Act 25:15 , names them directly a potiori , Act 25:15 ; but this does not justify the assertion of Grotius, that Luke here uses as equivalent to . So also de Wette and Ewald. Act 25:5 is opposed to this view.
. . .] desiring for themselves favour against him . Comp. Act 25:15 .
. . .] The design of . .
. . .] an accompanying definition to , giving a significant explanation of the peculiar nature of this proceeding: inasmuch as they (thereby) formed a snare, in order to put him to death (through assassins), by the way .
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
2 Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him,
Ver. 2. Informed him against Paul ] , they gave him private intelligence (so the word signifies, saith Erasmus), they buzzed false reports into his ears: an old practice of persecutors. Proprie significat tacite et clam indicare. Truth seldom goes without a scratched face. The Arminians endeavoured to persuade the States of Holland that the orthodox pastors sought to diminish the authority of the civil magistrates, and to affect and arrogate to themselves a power collateral or equal to their power. a
a
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2. .] It has been imagined, that . of the rec. has been a correction to suit the former part of the narrative. But it may be that has been substituted for it, to suit the assertion of Festus, Act 25:15 . So Meyer and De Wette. The High Priest now was Ishmael the son of Phabi, Jos. Antt. xx. 8. 11 [see chronological table in Prolegg.].
is more general than , though most of the first men must have been members of the Sanhedrim. Festus, relating this application, Act 25:15 , calls them .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 25:2 . , cf. Act 23:15 , Act 24:1 : here the context evidently implies that legal and formal information was laid against Paul. If we read ., cf. Act 4:5 . : sometimes taken as = . in Act 25:15 , cf. Act 23:14 , Act 24:1 , but in Luk 19:47 we have . . . The difference of designation seems to indicate that they were not identical with the ., although perhaps including them, or possibly as their chief representatives: see also Plummer on Luke, l. c. Blass seems to identify with , cf. Act 4:5 , . : the word and the tense mark their importunity.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
high priest. Greek. archiereus. The texts read “chief priests”.
chief = first.
informed. Gr emphanizo. See Act 23:15 and App-106.
against. Greek. kata. App-104.
besought = were beseeching. Greek. parakaleo. App-134.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
2. .] It has been imagined, that . of the rec. has been a correction to suit the former part of the narrative. But it may be that has been substituted for it, to suit the assertion of Festus, Act 25:15. So Meyer and De Wette. The High Priest now was Ishmael the son of Phabi, Jos. Antt. xx. 8. 11 [see chronological table in Prolegg.].
is more general than , though most of the first men must have been members of the Sanhedrim. Festus, relating this application, Act 25:15, calls them .
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Act 25:2. [informed him against], appeared against [understanding ]) After so long intervals of time Jewish zeal [bigotry] does not abate: Act 25:24. So with the greater justice Paul embraced the Gentiles.-, besought) On this depends , that, Act 25:3.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Act 25:15, Act 24:1, Job 31:31, Pro 4:16, Rom 3:12-19
Reciprocal: Jer 26:11 – saying Luk 21:12 – before Act 23:12 – that Act 25:24 – about Rom 15:31 – I may
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2
Act 25:2. The leading Jews lost no time in approaching Festus with their complaints against Paul.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 25:2. Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul. Directly after his arrival at the seat of his new government, the procurator went up to the real capital of the province, Jerusalem, to become in some way acquainted with the national chiefs of that strange nation over whom he was placed. The majority of the older MSS., instead of high priest read here chief priests, including the chiefs of the priestly courses, and not improbably those who had for a longer or shorter period filled the office themselves of high priest. If the reading high priest be correct, the name of this high official here referred to would be Ismael the son of Plato, who had very recently been appointed to that dignity by Herod Agrippa II., in succession to that Ananias of whom we read when Paul was arrested and brought before the Sanhedrim, on the occasion when he addressed him as Thou whited wall (Act 23:3). The chief of the Jews is a general expression signifying the most eminent and influential men in the nation. Several of these would naturally have a seat in the Sanhedrim; but this information against Paul, and request that he should be tried by a Jewish tribunal, evidently proceeded from a broader area among the people than would be covered were the reference confined to the supreme council of the Sanhedrim.
The representation to Festus was evidently made as one in which the nation generally was interested. It is clear that, owing to the machinations of his sleepless enemies, a very strong hostile feeling to the great Gentile apostle had sprung up, of which this information and petition to the new procurator was the result.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
See notes on verse 1
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
These Jews realized that they did not have much hope of doing away with Paul through the Roman courts. Ishmael had succeeded Ananias as high priest during the final days of Felix’s governorship. [Note: See ibid., 20:8:8, 11.] The Jew’s case against Paul was too weak. Consequently they urged the new governor to return Paul to Jerusalem so they could kill him on the way there (cf. Act 23:12-15).