The Meaning of Acts 25:19 Explained

Acts 25:19

KJV: But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

YLT: but certain questions concerning their own religion they had against him, and concerning a certain Jesus who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive;

Darby: but had against him certain questions of their own system of worship, and concerning a certain Jesus who is dead, whom Paul affirmed to be living.

ASV: but had certain questions against him of their own religion, and of one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But  had  certain  questions  against  him  of  their own  superstition,  and  of  one  Jesus,  which was dead,  whom  Paul  affirmed  to be alive. 

What does Acts 25:19 Mean?

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 25:19

But had [δε ειχον]
Descriptive imperfect active of εχω — echō and δε — de of contrast (but). [source]
Concerning their own religion [περι της ιδιας δεισιδαιμονιας]
See note on Acts 17:22 for discussion of this word. Festus would hardly mean “superstition,” whatever he really thought, because Agrippa was a Jew. And of one Jesus (και περι τινος Ιησου — kai peri tinos Iēsou). This is the climax of supercilious scorn toward both Paul and “one Jesus.” Who was dead Perfect active participle of τνησκω — thnēskō agreeing with Ιησου — Iēsou (genitive). As being dead. Whom Paul affirmed to be alive (ον επασκεν ο Παυλος ζηιν — hon ephasken ho Paulos zēin). Imperfect active of πασκω — phaskō old form of πημι — phēmi to say, in the N.T. only here and Acts 24:9; Romans 1:22. Infinitive ζηιν — zēin in indirect discourse with ον — hon (whom) the accusative of general reference. With all his top-loftical airs Festus has here correctly stated the central point of Paul‘s preaching about Jesus as no longer dead, but living. [source]
And of one Jesus [και περι τινος Ιησου]
This is the climax of supercilious scorn toward both Paul and “one Jesus.” [source]
Who was dead [τετνηκοτος]
Perfect active participle of τνησκω — thnēskō agreeing with Ιησου — Iēsou (genitive). As being dead. Whom Paul affirmed to be alive (ον επασκεν ο Παυλος ζηιν — hon ephasken ho Paulos zēin). Imperfect active of πασκω — phaskō old form of πημι — phēmi to say, in the N.T. only here and Acts 24:9; Romans 1:22. Infinitive ζηιν — zēin in indirect discourse with ον — hon (whom) the accusative of general reference. With all his top-loftical airs Festus has here correctly stated the central point of Paul‘s preaching about Jesus as no longer dead, but living. [source]
Whom Paul affirmed to be alive [ον επασκεν ο Παυλος ζηιν]
Imperfect active of πασκω — phaskō old form of πημι — phēmi to say, in the N.T. only here and Acts 24:9; Romans 1:22. Infinitive ζηιν — zēin in indirect discourse with ον — hon (whom) the accusative of general reference. With all his top-loftical airs Festus has here correctly stated the central point of Paul‘s preaching about Jesus as no longer dead, but living. [source]
Superstition [δεισιδαιμονίας]
See on Acts 17:22. Better, religion, as Rev. As Agrippa was a Jew by religion, Festus would not have insulted him by applying the word superstition to his faith. Note, however, that he speaks of it as their own religion, not identifying Agrippa with them. It was a non-committal expression, since the word meant either religion or superstition according to circumstances. He left Agrippa “to take the word in a good sense, but reserved his own view, which was certainly the Roman one” (Meyer). There is, indeed, a similar tact in Paul's use of the word to the Athenians. He selected “a word which almost imperceptibly shaded off from praise to blame” (Trench). [source]
Affirmed [ἔφασκεν]
The imperfect implies something habitual. “Paul kept asserting. ” [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 25:19

Acts 17:22 Too superstitious [δεισιδαιμονεστέρους]
This rendering and that of the Rev., somewhat superstitious, are both unfortunate. The word is compounded of δείδω , to fear, and δαίμων , a deity. It signifies either a religious or a superstitious sentiment, according to the context. Paul would have been unlikely to begin his address with a charge which would have awakened the anger of his audience. What he means to say is, You are more divinity-fearing than the rest of the Greeks. This propensity to reverence the higher powers is a good thing in itself, only, as he shows them, it is misdirected, not rightly conscious of its object and aim. Paul proposes to guide the sentiment rightly by revealing him whom they ignorantly worship. The American revisers insist on very religious. The kindred word δεισιδαιμονία occurs Acts 25:19, and in the sense of religion, though rendered in A. V. superstition. Festus would not call the Jewish religion a superstition before Agrippa, who was himself a Jew. There is the testimony of the Ephesian town-clerk, that Paul, during his three years' residence at Ephesus, did not rudely and coarsely attack the worship of the Ephesian Diana. “Nor yet blasphemers of your goddess” (Acts 19:37). [source]
Acts 17:22 Somewhat superstitious [ως δεισιδαιμονεστερους]
The Authorized Version has “too superstitious,” the American Standard “very religious.” Δεισιδαιμων — Deisidaimōn is a neutral word (from δειδω — deidō to fear, and δαιμων — daimōn deity). The Greeks used it either in the good sense of pious or religious or the bad sense of superstitious. Thayer suggests that Paul uses it “with kindly ambiguity.” Page thinks that Luke uses the word to represent the religious feeling of the Athenians (religiosus) which bordered on superstition. The Vulgate has superstitiosiores. In Acts 25:19 Festus uses the term δεισιδαιμονια — deisidaimonia for “religion.” It seems unlikely that Paul should give this audience a slap in the face at the very start. The way one takes this adjective here colours Paul‘s whole speech before the Council of Areopagus. The comparative here as in Acts 17:21 means more religions than usual (Robertson, Grammar, pp. 664f.), the object of the comparison not being expressed. The Athenians had a tremendous reputation for their devotion to religion, “full of idols” (Acts 17:16). [source]
Acts 24:9 Affirming [πασκοντες]
Alleging, with the accusative in indirect assertion as in Acts 25:19; Romans 1:22 (nominative with infinitive, Robertson, Grammar, p. 1038). Were so (ουτως εχειν — houtōs echein), “held thus,” common idiom. [source]
Romans 1:22 Professing [φάσκοντες]
The verb is used of unfounded assertion, Acts 24:9; Acts 25:19; Revelation 2:2. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 25:19 mean?

Questions however certain concerning the own religion they had against him and concerning a certain Jesus having been dead whom was affirming - Paul to be alive
ζητήματα δέ τινα περὶ τῆς ἰδίας δεισιδαιμονίας εἶχον πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ περί τινος Ἰησοῦ τεθνηκότος ὃν ἔφασκεν Παῦλος ζῆν

ζητήματα  Questions 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: ζήτημα  
Sense: a question, debate.
δέ  however 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
τινα  certain 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: τὶς  
Sense: a certain, a certain one.
περὶ  concerning 
Parse: Preposition
Root: περί 
Sense: about, concerning, on account of, because of, around, near.
ἰδίας  own 
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: ἴδιος  
Sense: pertaining to one’s self, one’s own, belonging to one’s self.
δεισιδαιμονίας  religion 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: δεισιδαιμονία  
Sense: in a good sense.
εἶχον  they  had 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἔχω  
Sense: to have, i.e. to hold.
πρὸς  against 
Parse: Preposition
Root: πρός  
Sense: to the advantage of.
περί  concerning 
Parse: Preposition
Root: περί 
Sense: about, concerning, on account of, because of, around, near.
τινος  a  certain 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: τὶς  
Sense: a certain, a certain one.
Ἰησοῦ  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.
τεθνηκότος  having  been  dead 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Participle Active, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: θνῄσκω  
Sense: to die, to be dead.
ὃν  whom 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ὅς 
Sense: who, which, what, that.
ἔφασκεν  was  affirming 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: φάσκω  
Sense: to affirm, allege, portend or profess.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Παῦλος  Paul 
Parse: Noun, Nominative 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.
ζῆν  to  be  alive 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: ζάω  
Sense: to live, breathe, be among the living (not lifeless, not dead).