Acts 25:18

KJV

Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed:

KJV (with Strong's)

Against {G4012} whom {G3739} when the accusers {G2725} stood up {G2476}, they brought {G2018} none {G3762} accusation {G156} of such things as {G3739} I {G1473} supposed {G5282}:

Complete Jewish Bible

“When the accusers stood up, instead of charging him with some serious crime as I had expected,

Berean Standard Bible

But when his accusers rose to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected.

American Standard Version

Concerning whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no charge of such evil things as I supposed;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Acts 25:18 captures the initial reaction of Porcius Festus, the new Roman governor, during the trial of the Apostle Paul in Caesarea. Having anticipated serious criminal charges, Festus expresses his surprise that the Jewish accusers from Jerusalem presented no accusations of the kind he had expected, revealing the fundamentally different nature of their grievances against Paul.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within Paul's extended imprisonment and trials, a significant portion of the book of Acts. Following two years under Governor Felix, Paul's case is inherited by Festus, who immediately faces pressure from Jewish leaders in Jerusalem. They request Paul be transferred to Jerusalem, intending to ambush and kill him en route ([Acts 25:3](/acts/25-3 "Acts 25:3 - Jewish Plot Against Paul")). Festus, however, insists on hearing the case in Caesarea, demonstrating a degree of Roman legal rectitude. The preceding verses detail Festus's arrival in Caesarea, the Jewish leaders' immediate appeal, and Festus's decision to hold the hearing. Verse 18 then marks Festus's personal assessment of the accusations presented by Paul's opponents, setting the stage for Paul's defense and subsequent appeal to Caesar. This moment highlights the ongoing Roman perplexity regarding the nature of the Jewish leaders' charges against Paul, which consistently fell outside typical Roman criminal jurisdiction.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Paul's trial before Festus took place in Caesarea Maritima, the Roman provincial capital of Judea. Roman governors like Festus held significant judicial authority, including the power to hear cases, pass judgments, and even impose capital punishment. Jewish leaders, particularly the Sanhedrin, had limited autonomy under Roman rule, primarily concerning internal religious matters, but they lacked the authority to execute capital sentences without Roman approval. The cultural clash evident here is between the Roman legal system, focused on maintaining public order and Roman law, and Jewish religious law (Torah) and tradition. The Jewish leaders viewed Paul's teachings, particularly concerning Jesus as the Messiah and the inclusion of Gentiles, as blasphemous and a threat to their established religious order, potentially even seditious in their eyes. Festus's expectation of "such things as I supposed" likely refers to charges of sedition, rebellion, or other civil disturbances that would directly concern Roman authority, rather than theological disputes.
* **Key Themes:** Acts 25:18 contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Acts and Paul's narrative. Firstly, it reinforces the theme of **Baseless Accusations and Paul's Innocence**. Throughout his trials, Roman officials repeatedly find no fault in Paul that warrants death or imprisonment according to Roman law (e.g., [Acts 18:14](/acts/18-14 "Acts 18:14 - Gallio's Dismissal"), [Acts 23:29](/acts/23-29 "Acts 23:29 - Lysias's Assessment"), [Acts 26:31-32](/acts/26-31-32 "Acts 26:31-32 - Agrippa's Verdict")). Secondly, it highlights the **Misunderstanding of the Gospel by Secular Authority**. Roman officials consistently struggled to grasp the theological nature of the conflict, perceiving it as an internal Jewish dispute rather than a matter of state security. This underscores the spiritual nature of the opposition Paul faced, rooted in religious jealousy and rejection of Christ. Finally, the verse subtly points to God's **Sovereign Protection and Purpose** for Paul. Despite intense opposition, God orchestrates events, even through pagan authorities, to ensure Paul's safety and his eventual journey to Rome to bear witness to Christ before Caesar ([Acts 23:11](/acts/23-11 "Acts 23:11 - The Lord's Promise to Paul")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **accusers (Greek, _katḗgoros'_):** This term (G2725) refers to a complainant at law, specifically those who stood "against one in the assembly." In this context, it designates the Jewish leaders and their representatives who formally presented their case against Paul before Governor Festus. Their role was to articulate the charges, but as Festus observed, these charges did not align with what a Roman governor would typically expect concerning criminal offenses.
* **accusation (Greek, _aitía'_):** Derived from a word meaning "to ask for" (G156), _aitía_ denotes a cause, reason, crime, or fault. Here, it specifically refers to the charges or complaints brought against Paul. Festus's surprise indicates that the "accusation" was not of a nature that constituted a serious crime under Roman law, but rather pertained to internal Jewish disputes, particularly concerning their law and religious beliefs.
* **supposed (Greek, _hyponoéō'_):** This verb (G5282) means "to think under (privately)," implying to surmise or conjecture. Festus's use of this word reveals his prior expectation or assumption about the nature of the charges. He had anticipated accusations of a political or criminal nature (e.g., rebellion, sedition against Rome), which would typically warrant a governor's direct intervention and severe punishment. His statement underscores the discrepancy between his initial conjecture and the actual, primarily theological, complaints.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Against whom when the accusers stood up":** This clause sets the scene for the formal legal proceedings. The phrase "stood up" (from _hístēmi_) implies a formal presentation of charges in a court setting. The "accusers" are the Jewish leaders who had traveled from Jerusalem to Caesarea to press their case against Paul, eager to see him condemned. This highlights the organized and persistent nature of their opposition.
* **"they brought none accusation":** This is the core of Festus's observation. The verb "brought" (from _epiphérō_) means to bear upon or adduce, indicating the act of formally presenting charges. The crucial word "none" (from _oudeís_) signifies a complete absence of the expected type of charge. Festus found no evidence of sedition, rebellion, or other capital offenses that would fall under Roman jurisdiction.
* **"of such things as I supposed":** This concluding phrase reveals Festus's internal thought process and his surprise. His "supposition" was likely based on the vehemence of the Jewish leaders' initial request and their eagerness to have Paul condemned. Roman governors were primarily concerned with maintaining peace and order within their provinces. Therefore, Festus would have anticipated charges related to civil unrest, challenges to Roman authority, or serious crimes that threatened public safety. The absence of such charges indicates that the accusations were entirely different, focusing instead on internal Jewish religious controversies.

#### Literary Devices
Acts 25:18 employs **Understatement** and **Irony**. Festus's statement, "they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed," is an **understatement** of the profound disconnect between Roman legal concerns and the Jewish leaders' theological grievances. While seemingly a simple observation, it subtly conveys the Roman governor's bewilderment at the nature of the charges. The **irony** lies in the fact that Paul, a devout Jew who meticulously observed the Law, was continually accused by his own people of violating it, while Roman officials, who had no stake in Jewish religious law, repeatedly found him innocent of any Roman crime. This highlights the spiritual blindness of Paul's accusers and the divine protection that often manifested through the unwitting actions of secular authorities.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Acts 25:18 powerfully illustrates the consistent pattern in Paul's trials: Roman authorities, despite their paganism, repeatedly affirmed Paul's innocence of any crime against the state. This theological truth underscores God's providential hand in protecting His messenger and ensuring the spread of the gospel. The true "accusation" against Paul was not criminal but theological – his proclamation of Jesus as the Messiah, the resurrection of the dead, and the inclusion of Gentiles into God's covenant people. This fundamental disagreement, rooted in spiritual opposition to the truth of Christ, could not be adjudicated by Roman law. It reveals that the ultimate conflict is spiritual, not merely legal or political, and that God uses even secular systems to advance His purposes and protect His servants.

* [Acts 18:14-16](/acts/18-14-16 "Acts 18:14-16 - Gallio's Dismissal of Jewish Accusations")
* [Acts 23:29](/acts/23-29 "Acts 23:29 - Claudius Lysias's Assessment of Paul's Case")
* [Acts 26:30-32](/acts/26-30-32 "Acts 26:30-32 - Agrippa and Festus Find Paul Innocent")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Acts 25:18 serves as a profound reminder for believers that opposition to the gospel often stems from misunderstanding or outright rejection of spiritual truth, rather than from any genuine wrongdoing on the part of God's people. Like Paul, we may find ourselves accused of things that, from a worldly perspective, hold no weight or are entirely misconstrued. This verse encourages us to remain steadfast in our faith and witness, even when our motives are questioned or our message is distorted. It reminds us that our true defense ultimately rests with God, who can use unexpected avenues—even secular authorities—to vindicate His servants and advance His kingdom. When facing false accusations or opposition, we are called to respond with integrity, relying on the Lord's wisdom and trusting in His sovereign plan, knowing that the truth of Christ will ultimately prevail, regardless of worldly judgments.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Festus's surprise in this verse resonate with experiences where your faith or actions as a believer have been misunderstood by those outside the church?**
* **What comfort can be drawn from the consistent Roman finding of Paul's innocence, even when facing intense religious opposition?**
* **In what ways might we, like Paul's accusers, sometimes prioritize our own interpretations or traditions over the clear truth of the gospel, leading to misplaced accusations or conflicts?**
* **How does this passage encourage us to trust in God's providence, even when facing legal or social challenges for our faith?**

### FAQ

**What did Festus "suppose" the accusations against Paul would be?**

Answer: Festus, as a Roman governor, would have primarily been concerned with maintaining peace and order within his province. Therefore, he "supposed" the Jewish leaders would bring accusations related to sedition, rebellion, inciting riots, or other capital crimes that directly threatened Roman authority or public safety. His surprise indicates that the actual charges were not of this nature but rather pertained to internal Jewish religious disputes, particularly concerning their law and the identity of Jesus. This is consistent with earlier Roman assessments of Paul's case, such as that by Governor Gallio in [Acts 18:14-15](/acts/18-14-15 "Acts 18:14-15 - Gallio's Dismissal").

**What were the actual accusations brought against Paul by the Jewish leaders?**

Answer: While Acts 25:18 states that the accusers brought "none accusation of such things as I supposed," the subsequent verses and earlier accounts in Acts clarify the true nature of their charges. Their accusations revolved around Paul's alleged violations of Jewish law, profaning the Temple, and being a leader of the "sect of the Nazarenes," which they considered heresy ([Acts 24:5-6](/acts/24-5-6 "Acts 24:5-6 - Tertullus's Accusations")). Essentially, they saw Paul as a religious renegade who was corrupting Judaism and causing division, particularly through his proclamation of Jesus as the Messiah and his teaching that Gentiles could be saved without fully converting to Judaism. These were theological disputes, not criminal offenses under Roman law.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Acts 25:18, though seemingly a minor detail in a legal proceeding, resonates deeply with the Christ-centered narrative of salvation history. Paul's experience of being falsely accused and repeatedly found innocent by secular authorities directly mirrors the trials of Jesus Christ Himself. Pilate, the Roman governor, famously declared, "I find no fault in Him" ([John 19:4](/john/19-4 "John 19:4 - Pilate's Declaration of Jesus' Innocence")), yet succumbed to the pressure of the religious establishment to condemn an innocent man. Paul, as an apostle of Christ, participates in this pattern of innocent suffering for the sake of the gospel. His trials underscore that the true conflict is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces that oppose the Kingdom of God ([Ephesians 6:12](/ephesians/6-12 "Ephesians 6:12 - Spiritual Warfare")). Just as Jesus' innocent suffering led to the ultimate triumph of the cross and resurrection, Paul's unjust imprisonment and trials served as a platform for him to bear witness to Christ, even before kings and governors ([Acts 9:15](/acts/9-15 "Acts 9:15 - Ananias's Vision Regarding Paul")). Festus's surprise at the nature of the charges against Paul highlights the world's inability to grasp the spiritual reality of God's redemptive plan, a plan centered on the crucified and risen Christ, who was himself unjustly condemned yet triumphed over sin and death.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.