Acts 25:5

Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with [me], and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him.

Let them therefore {G3767}, said {G5346} he, which among {G1722} you {G5213} are able {G1415}, go down with {G4782} me, and accuse {G2723} this {G846} man {G435}, if {G1536} there be {G2076} any wickedness {G1536} in {G1722} him {G5129}.

“So,” he said, “let competent men among you come down with me and press charges against the man, if he has done something wrong.”

So if this man has done anything wrong, let some of your leaders come down with me and accuse him there.”

Let them therefore, saith he, that are of power among you go down with me, and if there is anything amiss in the man, let them accuse him.

Acts 25:5 presents a pivotal moment in the Apostle Paul's legal proceedings, showcasing the Roman governor Festus's approach to justice and the persistent opposition Paul faced from Jewish leaders. This verse highlights Festus's directive to Paul's accusers, challenging them to follow proper legal channels.

Context

Following the departure of Governor Felix, Porcius Festus arrived as the new procurator of Judea. After three days in Caesarea, he traveled to Jerusalem. Immediately, the Jewish chief priests and leading men presented their charges against Paul, requesting that Paul be brought to Jerusalem for trial, intending to ambush and kill him on the way (Acts 25:3). Festus, aware of the plot or simply adhering to Roman legal protocol, rejected their demand to transfer Paul. Instead, in this verse, he invites them to Caesarea.

Key Themes

  • Roman Justice and Procedure: Festus insists on due process. He demands that the accusers present their case formally in Caesarea, the seat of Roman administration, rather than granting their politically motivated request for a transfer to Jerusalem. This commitment to proper legal procedure stands in contrast to the Jewish leaders' attempts to circumvent justice.
  • Persistence of Opposition: The verse underscores the unrelenting animosity of the Jewish leadership towards Paul. Their immediate appeal to the new governor demonstrates their determination to see him condemned, even after his previous trials under Felix (Acts 24:1).
  • Integrity in Accusation: Festus's challenge, "if there be any wickedness in him," implies that accusations should be substantiated with evidence and presented openly. It calls for integrity in the legal process, demanding that accusers prove their claims rather than relying on hearsay or political influence.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word translated "wickedness" is adikēma (ἀδίκημα), which refers to an unrighteous act, a wrong, or a crime. Festus's use of this term emphasizes that the accusations must be about demonstrable wrongdoing, not merely religious or political differences. This highlights the Roman legal system's focus on actionable offenses.

Related Scriptures

This event sets the stage for Paul's subsequent trials before Festus and King Agrippa (Acts 25:23). Paul's appeal to Caesar, which comes later in this chapter (Acts 25:11), is a direct consequence of these ongoing legal maneuvers and the Jewish leaders' failure to prove any legitimate crime against him.

Practical Application

Acts 25:5 reminds us of the importance of due process and fairness in legal matters. It also illustrates how malicious intent can persist despite changes in authority. For believers, it's a call to stand firm in truth, even when facing unfounded accusations, trusting that God can use even legal challenges to advance His purposes, as He did with Paul's imprisonment for the spread of the gospel.

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 25:18

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

  • Acts 25:19

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

  • Acts 25:25

    But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.

  • 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.

  • John 18:29

    Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?

  • John 18:30

    They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee.

  • Acts 24:8

    Commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him.

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