SEV Biblia, Chapter 25:12
Entonces Festo, habiendo hablado con el consejo, respondi: ¿A Csar has apelado? A Csar irs.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 25:12
Verse 12. Conferred with the council] From this circumstance, we may learn that the appeal of Paul to Caesar was conditional; else Festus could not have deliberated with his council whether it should be granted; for he had no power to refuse to admit such an appeal. We may, therefore, understand Paul thus: "I now stand before a tribunal where I ought to be judged; if thou refuse to hear and try this cause, rather than go to Jerusalem, I appeal to Caesar." Festus, therefore, consulted with the council, whether he should proceed to try the cause, or send Paul to Rome; and it appears that the majority were of opinion that he should be sent to Caesar. Hast thou appealed unto Caesar, &c.] Rather, Thou hast appealed unto Caesar, and to Caesar thou shalt go. The Jews were disappointed of their hope; and Festus got his hand creditably drawn out of a business with which he was likely to have been greatly embarrassed.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 12. Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council , etc.] Not with the Jewish sanhedrim, or any part of it that came down on this occasion; but with Roman counsellors, which he had to assist him in judgment, when any difficult matters were before him; the Syriac and Ethiopic versions render it, with his counsellors; and the Arabic reads in the singular number, with his counsellor; with these he advised, whether it was proper to admit of Pauls appeal, or not; and having had their opinion, he answered, hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go : the question is put, partly for the more certain knowledge of the thing, that there might be no mistake in it; and partly on account of the Jews, that they might see that though he was disposed to do them a favour, it was not in his power, because of this appeal; and it may be with some resentment in himself, since it carried in it a sort of reflection upon him, as if he was incapable of issuing this affair, or would not be just and faithful in it.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-12 - See how restless malice is. Persecutors deem it a peculiar favour to have their malice gratified. Preaching Christ, the end of the law, wa no offence against the law. In suffering times the prudence of the Lord's people is tried, as well as their patience; they need wisdom. I becomes those who are innocent, to insist upon their innocence. Pau was willing to abide by the rules of the law, and to let that take it course. If he deserved death, he would accept the punishment. But if none of the things whereof they accused him were true, no man coul deliver him unto them, with justice. Paul is neither released no condemned. It is an instance of the slow steps which Providence takes by which we are often made ashamed, both of our hopes and of our fears and are kept waiting on God.
Greek Textus Receptus
τοτε 5119 ADV ο 3588 T-NSM φηστος 5347 N-NSM συλλαλησας 4814 5660 V-AAP-NSM μετα 3326 PREP του 3588 T-GSN συμβουλιου 4824 N-GSN απεκριθη 611 5662 V-ADI-3S καισαρα 2541 N-ASM επικεκλησαι 1941 5764 V-RMI-2S επι 1909 PREP καισαρα 2541 N-ASM πορευση 4198 5695 V-FDI-2S
Vincent's NT Word Studies
12. The council. A body of men chosen by the governor himself from the principal Romans of the province. These were called assessors, sometime friends, sometimes captains. Though a Roman citizen had the right of appeal to the emperor, a certain discretion was allowed the governors of provinces as to admitting the appeal. It might be disallowed if the affair did not admit of delay, or if the appellant were a known robber or pirate. In doubtful cases the governor was bound to consult with his council, and his failure to do so exposed him to censure. Cicero, in his impeachment of Verres, the brutal governor of Sicily, says; "Will you deny that you dismissed your council, the men of rank with whom your predecessor and yourself had been wont to consult, and decided the case yourself?" (ii., 33). That Festus exercised this discretion in Paul's case is shown by his conferring with the council.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
25:12 {When he had conferred with the council} (sunlalesas meta tou sumbouliou). The word sumboulion in the N.T. usually means "counsel" as in #Mt 12:14, but here alone as an assembly of counsellors or council. But the papyri (Milligan and Moulton's _Vocabulary_) furnish a number of instances of this sense of the word as "council." Here it apparently means the chief officers and personal retinue of the procurator, his assessors (assessores consiliarii). These local advisers were a necessity. Some discretion was allowed the governor about granting the appeal. If the prisoner were a well-known robber or pirate, it could be refused. {Thou hast appealed unto Caesar} (kaisara epikeklesai). The same technical word, but the perfect tense of the indicative. {Unto Caesar thou shalt go} (epi kaisara poreusei). Perhaps the volitive future (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 874). Bengel thinks that Festus sought to frighten Paul with these words. Knowling suggests that "they may have been uttered, if not with a sneer, yet with the implication 'thou little knowest what an appeal to Caesar means.'" But embarrassment will come to Festus. He has refused to acquit this prisoner. Hence he must formulate charges against him to go before Caesar.
