The Meaning of Acts 25:14 Explained

Acts 25:14

KJV: And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix:

YLT: and as they were continuing there more days, Festus submitted to the king the things concerning Paul, saying, 'There is a certain man, left by Felix, a prisoner,

Darby: And when they had spent many days there, Festus laid before the king the matters relating to Paul, saying, There is a certain man left prisoner by Felix,

ASV: And as they tarried there many days, Festus laid Paul's case before the King, saying, There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix;

Discover Acts 25:14

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Acts 25:14?

MEANING: What does Acts 25:14 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Acts 25:14 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Acts 25:14?

What is the context of Acts 25:14?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix:

What does Acts 25:14 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Festus apparently wanted to discuss Paul"s case with Agrippa because he needed to clarify the charges against Paul ( Acts 25:27). Agrippa had a reputation for being an expert in Jewish matters since he was part Jewish and had grown up in the Herodian family. He was the person to whom Rome had given the authority to appoint the Jewish high priest and to preserve the temple treasury and vestments. ^[1]

Context Summary

Acts 25:13-27 - Seeking Charges Against His Prisoner

Mark the difference with which these two men regarded our Lord. To the one, He was the supreme object of his affection and his life; to the other, He was "one Jesus." Notice also that Paul had made clear his belief that Jesus was alive. Evidently the risen Christ had been the burden of Paul's preaching. Even Festus had come to understand that, although he would not accept it as true.

The Apostle's audience on the morrow was the most dignified and influential that he had addressed up to this point. As the Lord told Ananias that Saul had been chosen to bear His name before Gentiles and kings and the Children of Israel, so it came to pass. See Acts 9:15. There is no doubt that Paul was lifted far above the thought or fear of man by the consciousness that the Lord was standing by to strengthen him, so that through him the gospel might be fully known. Let us view every circumstance in our experience as the lamp-stand on which to place the lamp of testimony. It is a good thing to ask, "How far will this promote my Lord's business?" [source]

Chapter Summary: Acts 25

¹ The Jews accuse Paul before Festus
⁸ He answers for himself,
¹¹ and appeals unto Caesar
¹⁴ Afterwards Festus opens his matter to king Agrippa;
²³ and he is brought forth
²⁵ Festus clears him of having done anything worthy of death

Greek Commentary for Acts 25:14

Tarried [διετριβον]
Imperfect active of διατριβω diatribō common verb for spending time (Acts 12:19, etc.). [source]

Many days [πλειους ημερας]
More days (than a few). Accusative case for extent of time. Laid Paul‘s case (ανετετο τα κατα τον Παυλον anetheto ta kata ton Paulon). Second aorist middle indicative of ανατιτημι anatithēmi old verb to set before, to place up, as if for consultation in conference. Only twice in N.T. here and Galatians 2:2. The motive of Festus is not given, though it was natural enough in view of the quandary of Festus about Paul (the things about Paul) and Agrippa‘s interest in and responsibility for Jewish worship in the temple in Jerusalem. It is quite possible that Festus had a bit of εννυι ennui over the visit of these Jewish dignitaries as “more days” went by. Hence the tone of Festus about Paul in this proposal for the entertainment of Agrippa and Bernice is certainly one of superficial and supremely supercilious indifference. Left a prisoner Perfect passive participle of καταλειπω kataleipō to leave behind. Paul is one of Felix‘s left overs (left behind), a sort of “junk” left on his hands. This cowardly Roman procurator thus pictures the greatest of living men and the greatest preacher of all time to this profligate pair (brother and sister) of sinners. Undoubtedly today in certain circles Christ and his preachers are held up to like contempt. [source]

Laid Paul‘s case [ανετετο τα κατα τον Παυλον]
Second aorist middle indicative of ανατιτημι anatithēmi old verb to set before, to place up, as if for consultation in conference. Only twice in N.T. here and Galatians 2:2. The motive of Festus is not given, though it was natural enough in view of the quandary of Festus about Paul (the things about Paul) and Agrippa‘s interest in and responsibility for Jewish worship in the temple in Jerusalem. It is quite possible that Festus had a bit of εννυι ennui over the visit of these Jewish dignitaries as “more days” went by. Hence the tone of Festus about Paul in this proposal for the entertainment of Agrippa and Bernice is certainly one of superficial and supremely supercilious indifference. [source]

Left a prisoner [καταλελιμμενος δεσμιος]
Perfect passive participle of καταλειπω kataleipō to leave behind. Paul is one of Felix‘s left overs (left behind), a sort of “junk” left on his hands. This cowardly Roman procurator thus pictures the greatest of living men and the greatest preacher of all time to this profligate pair (brother and sister) of sinners. Undoubtedly today in certain circles Christ and his preachers are held up to like contempt. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 25:14

Acts 25:16 Before that the accused have [πριν η ο κατηγορουμενος εχοι]
This use of the optative in this temporal clause with πριν η prin ē instead of the subjunctive αν εχηι an echēi is in conformity with literary Greek and occurs only in Luke‘s writings in the N.T. (Robertson, Grammar, p. 970). This sequence of modes is a mark of the literary style occasionally seen in Luke. It is interesting here to note the succession of dependent clauses in Acts 25:14-16.The accusers face to face (κατα προσωπον τους κατηγορους kata prosōpon tous katēgorous). Same word κατηγορος katēgoros as in Acts 23:30, Acts 23:35; Acts 25:18. This all sounds fair enough. And have had opportunity to make his defence concerning the matter laid against him Literally, “And should receive (λαβοι laboi optative for same reason as εχοι echoi above, second aorist active of λαμβανω lambanō) opportunity for defence (objective genitive) concerning the charge” (εγκληματος egklēmatos in N.T. only here and Acts 23:19 which see). [source]

Galatians 2:2 Communicated [ἀνεθέμην]
Only here and Acts 25:14. Ἀνά up τιθέναι toset. To set up a thing for the consideration of others: to lay it before them. [source]

Colossians 4:7 All my affairs [τα κατ εμε παντα]
“All the things relating to me.” The accusative case the object of γνωρισει gnōrisei The same idiom in Acts 25:14; Philemon 1:2. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 25:14 mean?

As now many days they stayed there - Festus the king laid before the things relating to - Paul saying A man certain there is left by Felix [as] a prisoner

ὡς δὲ πλείους ἡμέρας διέτριβον ἐκεῖ ὁ Φῆστος τῷ βασιλεῖ ἀνέθετο τὰ κατὰ τὸν Παῦλον λέγων Ἀνήρ τίς ἐστιν καταλελειμμένος ὑπὸ Φήλικος δέσμιος

δὲ	now
Parse: Conjunction Root: δέ Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
πλείους	many
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Feminine Plural, Comparative Root: πολύς Sense: greater in quantity.
ἡμέρας	days
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Plural Root: ἡμέρα Sense: the day, used of the natural day, or the interval between sunrise and sunset, as distinguished from and contrasted with the night.
διέτριβον	they stayed
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural Root: διατρίβω Sense: to rub between, rub hard.
ὁ	-
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Φῆστος	Festus
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: Φῆστος Sense: the successor of Felix as procurator of Judea.
βασιλεῖ	king
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular Root: βασιλεύς Sense: leader of the people, prince, commander, lord of the land, king.
ἀνέθετο	laid before
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Middle, 3rd Person Singular Root: ἀνατίθημι Sense: to set forth (in words), communicate.
τὰ	the things
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Plural Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc.
κατὰ	relating to
Parse: Preposition Root: κατά Sense: down from, through out.
τὸν	-
Parse: Article, Accusative Masculine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Παῦλον	Paul
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular Root: Παῦλος Sense: Paul was the most famous of the apostles and wrote a good part of the NT, the 4 Pauline epistles.
λέγων	saying
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: λέγω Sense: to say, to speak.
Ἀνήρ	A man
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: ἀνήρ Sense: with reference to sex.
τίς	certain
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: τὶς Sense: a certain, a certain one.
ἐστιν	there is
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: εἰμί Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
καταλελειμμένος	left
Parse: Verb, Perfect Participle Middle or Passive, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: καταλείπω Sense: to leave behind.
Φήλικος	Felix
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular Root: Φῆλιξ Sense: a Roman procurator of Judea appointed by the emperor Claudius in A.
δέσμιος	[as] a prisoner
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: δέσμιος Sense: bound, in bonds, a captive, a prisoner.

What are the major concepts related to Acts 25:14?

Loading Information...

Similar Scriptures for Acts 25:14

Acts 24:27 [5]