ACTS 25:21 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
“But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Cesar.”
'But when Paul made his appeal to be held over for the decision of the Emperor, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar.' - Festus reports Paul's appeal and his compliance: once invoked, the appeal binds the magistrate. The order to 'hold' (tērein, tērein-'to keep, guard') Paul until the Emperor decides is both protective and binding. The appeal short-circuits local politics and locates the final decision in Rome's supreme authority. Luke marks this as the fulfillment of Jesus's promise (23:11): Paul will testify in Rome.
Church Fathers on Acts 25:21
And not knowing, for my part, what to make of the enquiry concerning these things Acts 25:20— of course, it went beyond a judge's hearing, the examining into these matters. If you are at a loss, why do you drag him to Jerusalem? But the other would not deign this: no, To Cæsar (says he); as in fact it was touching Cæsar that they accused him. Do you hear the appeal? Hear the plotting of the Jews? Hear their factious spirit? All these things provoked him to a desire (of…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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