While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all.
While he answered {G626} for himself {G846}, Neither {G3754}{G3777} against {G1519} the law {G3551} of the Jews {G2453}, neither {G3777} against {G1519} the temple {G2411}, nor yet {G3777} against {G1519} Caesar {G2541}, have I offended {G264} any thing at all {G5100}.
In reply, Sha’ul said, “I have committed no offense — not against the Torah to which the Jews hold, not against the Temple, and not against the Emperor.”
Then Paul made his defense: “I have committed no offense against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.”
while Paul said in his defence, Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Cæsar, have I sinned at all.
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Acts 24:12
And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city: -
Acts 28:17
¶ And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men [and] brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. -
2 Corinthians 1:12
¶ For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward. -
Acts 28:21
And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee. -
Acts 6:13
And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: -
Acts 6:14
For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us. -
Jeremiah 37:18
Moreover Jeremiah said unto king Zedekiah, What have I offended against thee, or against thy servants, or against this people, that ye have put me in prison?
Acts 25:8 KJV presents the Apostle Paul's concise and definitive defense during his trial before Porcius Festus, the Roman governor, in Caesarea. This verse encapsulates Paul's consistent claim of innocence against the serious charges brought against him by the Jewish leaders.
Context
This verse occurs during Paul's prolonged imprisonment and trials in Caesarea, following his arrest in Jerusalem. The Jewish leaders had brought a series of accusations against him, primarily concerning his alleged profanation of the Temple, stirring up sedition among Jews throughout the Roman world, and being a leader of the sect of the Nazarenes (Acts 24:5-6). Festus, having recently arrived as governor, was eager to gain favor with the Jews and had brought Paul to trial. Paul, in his defense, systematically refutes these claims, asserting that his actions had violated no established authority or sacred tradition.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The KJV phrase "have I offended any thing at all" translates the Greek oudén ti hémarton (οὐδέν τι ἥμαρτον) or oudén ti adikéō (οὐδέν τι ἀδικέω) depending on the manuscript tradition, both conveying the sense of "I have done nothing wrong" or "I have committed no offense." The word hamartanō means "to miss the mark, to sin, to err," while adikéō means "to act unjustly, to do wrong, to injure." Paul's declaration is strong and absolute, asserting a complete absence of wrongdoing in all three specified areas: Jewish law, the Temple, and Roman authority.
Practical Application
Acts 25:8 offers several enduring lessons for believers today: