The Meaning of Acts 24:20 Explained

Acts 24:20

KJV: Or else let these same here say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council,

YLT: or let these same say if they found any unrighteousness in me in my standing before the sanhedrim,

Darby: or let these themselves say what wrong they found in me when I stood before the council,

ASV: Or else let these men themselves say what wrong-doing they found when I stood before the council,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Or else  let  these  same  [here] say,  if  they have found  any  evil doing  in  me,  while I  stood  before  the council, 

What does Acts 24:20 Mean?

Context Summary

Acts 24:17-27 - A Trembling But Venal Judge
The case had broken down. Paul's statement of faith and the absence of confirmatory evidence directly contradicted the only charge against him. Felix dared not hand over Paul as guilty, and he was equally unwilling to offend the high priest's party; so he postponed his decision. In the meantime Paul's custody was not to be severe. His friends might freely see him, and the long hours were doubtless lightened by visits from Luke and Aristarchus, Philip the evangelist, and other members of the local Christian community.
At first the governor was prepossessed in Paul's favor. He had some intimate knowledge concerning the tenets of the early Church, Acts 24:22. He had studied it as an intellectual system, and was interested to have opportunity for conversation with its foremost exponent. But his illicit union with Drusilla, whose husband was living, and his hope to receive a bribe from Paul's friends, made him obtuse and dead to the claims of Christ. Paul, on the other hand, seemed oblivious to any thought of himself or of his dependence on the governor's whim, and used his one opportunity in seeking the salvation of this weak and sordid soul. It was in vain. Felix was anchored to a mudbank and would not avail himself of the rising tides of life about him. [source]

Chapter Summary: Acts 24

1  Paul being accused by Tertullus the orator,
10  answers for his life and doctrine
24  He preaches Christ to the governor and his wife
26  The governor hopes for a bribe, but in vain
27  Felix, succeeded by Festus, leaves Paul in prison

Greek Commentary for Acts 24:20

These men themselves [αυτοι ουτοι]
Since the Asiatic Jews are not present and these men are. [source]
Wrong doing [αδικημα]
Or misdeed. Old word from αδικεω — adikeō to do wrong. In the N.T. only here and Acts 18:14; Revelation 18:5. Paul uses “αδικημα — adikēma ” from the standpoint of his accusers. “To a less sensitive conscience his action before the Sanhedrin would have seemed venial enough” (Furneaux). When I stood (σταντος μου — stantos mou). Genitive absolute, second aorist active participle of ιστημι — histēmi (intransitive), “when I took my stand.” Before the council Same use of επι — epi with genitive as in Acts 24:19. [source]
When I stood [σταντος μου]
Genitive absolute, second aorist active participle of ιστημι — histēmi (intransitive), “when I took my stand.” [source]
Before the council [επι του συνεδριου]
Same use of επι — epi with genitive as in Acts 24:19. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 24:20

Acts 18:14 Wrong [αδικημα]
Injuria. Old word, a wrong done one. In N.T. only here, Acts 24:20; Revelation 18:5. Here it may mean a legal wrong to the state. Wicked villainy (ραιδιουργημα — rhāidiourgēma). A crime, act of a criminal, from ραιδιουργος — rhāidiourgos (ραιδιος — rhāidios easy, εργον — ergon work), one who does a thing with ease, adroitly, a “slick citizen.” Reason would that I should bear with you Literally, “according to reason I should have put up with you (or held myself back from you).” This condition is the second class (determined as unfulfilled) and means that the Jews had no case against Paul in a Roman court. The verb in the conclusion The use of αν — an makes the form of the condition plain. [source]
Acts 23:30 Charging his accusers also [παραγγειλας και τοις κατηγοροις]
First aorist active participle of παραγγελλω — paraggellō with which compare ματων — mathōn above (Acts 23:27), not subsequent action. Dative case in κατηγοροις — katēgorois Before thee (επι σου — epi sou). Common idiom for “in the presence of” when before a judge (like Latin apud) as in Acts 24:20, Acts 24:21; Acts 25:26; Acts 26:2. What happened to the forty conspirators we have no way of knowing. Neither they nor the Jews from Asia are heard of more during the long five years of Paul‘s imprisonment in Caesarea and Rome. [source]
Acts 23:30 Before thee [επι σου]
Common idiom for “in the presence of” when before a judge (like Latin apud) as in Acts 24:20, Acts 24:21; Acts 25:26; Acts 26:2. What happened to the forty conspirators we have no way of knowing. Neither they nor the Jews from Asia are heard of more during the long five years of Paul‘s imprisonment in Caesarea and Rome. [source]
Acts 24:21 For this one voice [περι μιας ταυτης πωνης]
The normal Greek idiom with the attributive use of ουτος — houtos calls for the article before μιας — mias though some inscriptions show it as here (Robertson, Grammar, p. 702). That Genitive of the relative attracted to the case of the antecedent εκεκραχα — phōnēs I cried (περι — ekekraxa). Reduplicated aorist as is usual with this verb in the lxx (Judges 3:15). Robertson, Grammar, p. 348. -DIVIDER-
Touching (κρινομαι — peri). Concerning (around, about). I am called in question (επ υμων — krinomai). As in Acts 23:6. -DIVIDER-
Before you (eph' humōn). Same idiom as in Acts 24:19, Acts 24:20. [source]

Acts 24:21 That [ης]
Genitive of the relative attracted to the case of the antecedent εκεκραχα — phōnēs I cried (περι — ekekraxa). Reduplicated aorist as is usual with this verb in the lxx (Judges 3:15). Robertson, Grammar, p. 348. -DIVIDER-
Touching (κρινομαι — peri). Concerning (around, about). I am called in question (επ υμων — krinomai). As in Acts 23:6. -DIVIDER-
Before you (eph' humōn). Same idiom as in Acts 24:19, Acts 24:20. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 24:20 mean?

Otherwise themselves it let them say any they found unrighteousness having stood in me before the Council
αὐτοὶ οὗτοι εἰπάτωσαν τί εὗρον ἀδίκημα στάντος μου ἐπὶ τοῦ συνεδρίου

  Otherwise 
Parse: Conjunction
Root:  
Sense: either, or, than.
αὐτοὶ  themselves 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
εἰπάτωσαν  let  them  say 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
τί  any 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: τίς  
Sense: who, which, what.
εὗρον  they  found 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: εὑρίσκω  
Sense: to come upon, hit upon, to meet with.
ἀδίκημα  unrighteousness 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: ἀδίκημα  
Sense: a misdeed, evil doing, iniquity.
στάντος  having  stood 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: ἵστημι  
Sense: to cause or make to stand, to place, put, set.
μου  in  me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ἐπὶ  before 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐπί  
Sense: upon, on, at, by, before.
συνεδρίου  Council 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Neuter Singular
Root: συνέδριον  
Sense: any assembly (esp.

What are the major concepts related to Acts 24:20?

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