The Meaning of Acts 25:20 Explained

Acts 25:20

KJV: And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters.

YLT: and I, doubting in regard to the question concerning this, said, If he would wish to go on to Jerusalem, and there to be judged concerning these things --

Darby: And as I myself was at a loss as to an inquiry into these things, I said, Was he willing to go to Jerusalem and there to be judged concerning these things?

ASV: And I, being perplexed how to inquire concerning these things, asked whether he would go to Jerusalem and there be judged of these matters.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  because I  doubted  of  such  manner  of questions,  I asked  [him] whether  he would  go  to  Jerusalem,  and there  be judged  of  these matters. 

What does Acts 25:20 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 25:20

Being perplexed [απορουμενος]
Present middle participle of the common verb απορεω — aporeō (α — a privative and πορος — poros way), to be in doubt which way to turn, already in Mark 6:20 which see and Luke 24:4. The Textus Receptus has εις — eis after here, but critical text has only the accusative which this verb allows (Mark 6:20) as in Thucydides and Plato. [source]
How to inquire concerning these things [την περι τουτων ζητησιν]
Literally, “as to the inquiry concerning these things.” This is not the reason given by Luke in Acts 25:9 (wanting to curry favour with the Jews), but doubtless this motive also actuated Festus as both could be true. Whether he would go to Jerusalem (ει βουλοιτο πορευεσται εις Ιεροσολυμα — ei bouloito poreuesthai eis Ierosoluma). Optative in indirect question after ελεγον — elegon (asked or said) imperfect active, though the present indicative could have been retained with change of person: “Dost thou wish, etc.,” (ει βουληι — ei boulēi etc.). See Robertson, Grammar, pp. 1031, 1044. This is the question put to Paul in Acts 25:9 though τελεις — theleis is there used. [source]
Whether he would go to Jerusalem [ει βουλοιτο πορευεσται εις Ιεροσολυμα]
Optative in indirect question after ελεγον — elegon (asked or said) imperfect active, though the present indicative could have been retained with change of person: “Dost thou wish, etc.,” See Robertson, Grammar, pp. 1031, 1044. This is the question put to Paul in Acts 25:9 though τελεις — theleis is there used. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 25:20 mean?

Being perplexed now I - concerning this inquiry was asking if he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there to be judged these things
Ἀπορούμενος δὲ ἐγὼ τὴν περὶ τούτων ζήτησιν ἔλεγον εἰ βούλοιτο πορεύεσθαι εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα κἀκεῖ κρίνεσθαι τούτων

Ἀπορούμενος  Being  perplexed 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀπορέω  
Sense: to be without resources, to be in straits, to be left wanting, to be embarrassed, to be in doubt, not to know which way to turn.
δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
τὴν  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
περὶ  concerning 
Parse: Preposition
Root: περί 
Sense: about, concerning, on account of, because of, around, near.
τούτων  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Genitive Neuter Plural
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
ζήτησιν  inquiry 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ἐκζήτησις 
Sense: a seeking.
ἔλεγον  was  asking 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
βούλοιτο  he  was  willing 
Parse: Verb, Present Optative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: βούλομαι  
Sense: to will deliberately, have a purpose, be minded.
πορεύεσθαι  to  go 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Middle or Passive
Root: πορεύομαι  
Sense: to lead over, carry over, transfer.
Ἱεροσόλυμα  Jerusalem 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: Ἱεροσόλυμα  
Sense: denotes either the city itself or the inhabitants.
κἀκεῖ  and  there 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: κἀκεῖ  
Sense: and there.
κρίνεσθαι  to  be  judged 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Middle or Passive
Root: κρίνω  
Sense: to separate, put asunder, to pick out, select, choose.
τούτων  these  things 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Genitive Neuter Plural
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.

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