I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment hall.

I will hear {G1251} thee {G4675}, said he {G5346}, when {G3752} thine {G4675} accusers {G2725} are {G3854} also {G2532} come {G3854}. And {G5037} he commanded {G2753} him {G846} to be kept {G5442} in {G1722} Herod's {G2264} judgment hall {G4232}.

he said, “I will give you a full hearing after your accusers have also arrived,” and ordered him to be kept under guard in Herod’s headquarters.

he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers arrive.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s Praetorium.

I will hear thee fully, said he, when thine accusers also are come: and he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s palace.

Context

This verse concludes the account of the Apostle Paul's dramatic transfer from Jerusalem to Caesarea. After being arrested in the temple and facing plots against his life by zealous Jews (Acts 23:12-15), Paul was sent under heavy guard by the Roman tribune Claudius Lysias to Governor Felix in Caesarea (Acts 23:31-33). Upon Paul's arrival, Felix inquired about his province of origin to determine jurisdiction. Learning Paul was from Cilicia, Felix declared he would hear the case fully once Paul's accusers, who were still in Jerusalem, arrived in Caesarea. This decision meant Paul would be held in the regional Roman administrative center, specifically in the former palace of Herod the Great, which served as the governor's residence and court, often referred to as the Praetorium or judgment hall.

Key Themes

  • Roman Due Process: Governor Felix's statement, "I will hear thee...when thine accusers are also come," demonstrates a commitment to Roman legal procedure, requiring both parties to be present for a fair hearing. This aspect of Roman law frequently protected Paul from immediate mob justice.
  • Paul's Continued Imprisonment: The command to keep Paul in Herod's judgment hall signifies the beginning of a prolonged period of detention for the apostle, which would last for two years under Felix (Acts 24:27) before he appealed to Caesar.
  • Divine Providence: Despite his imprisonment, Paul is safe from the immediate threats of his enemies in Jerusalem. This seemingly restrictive situation is part of God's larger plan to bring Paul to Rome and bear witness there (Acts 23:11).

Linguistic Insights

The term "Herod's judgment hall" (Greek: praitorion) refers to the official residence of a Roman governor, which often included a courtroom. This same term is used in the Gospels to describe the place where Jesus was brought before Pontius Pilate. In Caesarea, this was the magnificent palace built by Herod the Great, later repurposed as the Roman governor's seat. Its mention here emphasizes the official, governmental setting of Paul's impending trial, shifting the scene from Jewish religious courts to Roman imperial jurisdiction.

Practical Application

This verse reminds us that even when facing delays or unjust confinement, God's purposes can still advance. Paul's detention in Caesarea was not a setback for the gospel but an opportunity to witness to Roman officials and eventually reach Rome. For believers today, it highlights the importance of patience and trust in divine timing, even when circumstances seem to hold us back. It also underscores the principle of due process, advocating for fair hearings and the right to face one's accusers, a principle that echoes throughout biblical justice.

Further Study

  • For the full account of Paul's defense before Felix, see Acts 24.
  • To understand the transition of power and Paul's subsequent hearings, explore Acts 25 and Acts 26.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.
  • Acts 23:30

    And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what [they had] against him. Farewell.
  • Acts 25:16

    To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.
  • Matthew 27:27

    Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band [of soldiers].
  • John 18:28

    ¶ Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.
  • Acts 24:19

    Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against me.
  • Matthew 2:3

    When Herod the king had heard [these things], he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
  • Acts 24:1

    ¶ And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and [with] a certain orator [named] Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul.

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