SEV Biblia, Chapter 25:16
a los cuales respondí; no ser costumbre de los Romanos dar alguno a la muerte antes que el que es acusado tenga presentes sus acusadores, y haya lugar de defenderse de la acusacin.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 25:16
Verse 16. It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die] carizesqai tina anqrwpon, To MAKE A PRESENT of any man; gratuitously to give up the life of any man, through favour or caprice. Here is a reference to the subject discussed on chap. xxv. 11. Before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, &c.] For this righteous procedure the Roman laws were celebrated over the civilized world. APPIAN, in his Hist. Roman., says: ou patrion sfisin akritouv katadikazesqai. It is not their custom to condemn men before they have been heard. And PHILO Deuteronomy Praesid. Rom., says: tote gar koinouv eautouv parecontev dikastav ex isou, kai twn kathgorwn kai apologoumenwn akouomenoi, mhdenov akitou prokataginwskein axiountev, ebrabeuon oute prov ecqran, oute prov carin, alla prov thn fusin thv alhqeiav, ta doxanta einai dikaia. "For then, by giving sentence in common, and hearing impartially both plaintiff and defendant, not thinking it right to condemn any person unheard, they decided as appeared to them to be just; without either enmity or favour, but according to the merits of the case." See Bp. Pearce.
England can boast such laws, not only in her statute books, but in constant operation in all her courts of justice. Even the king himself, were he so inclined, could not imprison nor punish a man without the regular procedure of the law; and twelve honest men, before whom the evidence has been adduced, the case argued, and the law laid down and explained, are ultimately to judge whether the man be guilty or not guilty. Here, in this favoured country, are no arbitrary imprisonments-no Bastiles-no lettres de cachet. Lex facit Regem: the law makes the king, says Bracton, and the king is the grand executor and guardian of the laws-laws, in the eyes of which the character, property, and life of every subject are sacred.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 16. To whom I answered , etc.] As follows: it is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die; or to give any man to destruction ; to pass sentence of death upon him, without hearing his cause, and purely at the request of another, and merely to gratify him: before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face ; so as to speak to his face, or before him, what they have to charge him with: and have licence to answer for himself, concerning the crime laid against him ; and this was also according to the law of the Jews, ( John 7:51) though Festus, from such an application to him by the chief priests and elders, might conclude that their manner was different, he being ignorant of their laws and customs; but their prejudice to the apostle carried them to act such an illegal part, or at least to desire it might be acted: it is one of the Jewish canons, that it is unlawful for a judge to hear one of the contending parties, before the other is come in.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 13-27 - Agrippa had the government of Galilee. How many unjust and hast judgments the Roman maxim, ver. #(16), condemn! This heathen, guide only by the light of nature, followed law and custom exactly, yet ho many Christians will not follow the rules of truth, justice, an charity, in judging their brethren! The questions about God's worship the way of salvation, and the truths of the gospel, may appear doubtfu and without interest, to worldly men and mere politicians. See ho slightly this Roman speaks of Christ, and of the great controvers between the Jews and the Christians. But the day is at hand when Festu and the whole world will see, that all the concerns of the Roman empir were but trifles and of no consequence, compared with this question of Christ's resurrection. Those who have had means of instruction, an have despised them, will be awfully convinced of their sin and folly Here was a noble assembly brought together to hear the truths of the gospel, though they only meant to gratify their curiosity by attendin to the defence of a prisoner. Many, even now, attend at the places of hearing the word of God with "great pomp," and too often with no bette motive than curiosity. And though ministers do not now stand a prisoners to make a defence for their lives, yet numbers affect to sin in judgment upon them, desirous to make them offenders for a word rather than to learn from them the truth and will of God, for the salvation of their souls But the pomp of this appearance was outshon by the real glory of the poor prisoner at the bar. What was the honou of their fine appearance, compared with that of Paul's wisdom, an grace, and holiness; his courage and constancy in suffering for Christ It is no small mercy to have God clear up our righteousness as the light, and our just dealing as the noon-day; to have nothing certai laid to our charge. And God makes even the enemies of his people to d them right __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
προς 4314 PREP ους 3739 R-APM απεκριθην 611 5662 V-ADI-1S οτι 3754 CONJ ουκ 3756 PRT-N εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S εθος 1485 N-NSN ρωμαιοις 4514 A-DPM χαριζεσθαι 5483 5738 V-PNN τινα 5100 X-ASM ανθρωπον 444 N-ASM εις 1519 PREP απωλειαν 684 N-ASF πριν 4250 ADV η 2228 PRT ο 3588 T-NSM κατηγορουμενος 2723 5746 V-PPP-NSM κατα 2596 PREP προσωπον 4383 N-ASN εχοι 2192 5722 V-PAO-3S τους 3588 T-APM κατηγορους 2725 N-APM τοπον 5117 N-ASM τε 5037 PRT απολογιας 627 N-GSF λαβοι 2983 5630 V-2AAO-3S περι 4012 PREP του 3588 T-GSN εγκληματος 1462 N-GSN
Vincent's NT Word Studies
16. Opportunity (topon). Lit., place. An unclassical use of the word.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
25:16 {It is not the custom of the Romans} (hoti ouk estin eqos rwmaiois). If a direct quotation, hoti is recitative as in Authorized Version. Canterbury Revision takes it as indirect discourse after apekriqen (I answered), itself in a relative clause (pros hous) with the present tense (estin, is) preserved as is usual. There is a touch of disdain (Furneaux) in the tone of Festus. He may refer to a demand of the Jews before they asked that Paul be brought to Jerusalem (#25:3). At any rate there is a tone of scorn towards the Jews. {Before that the accused have} (prin e ho kategoroumenos ecoi). this use of the optative in this temporal clause with prin e instead of the subjunctive an ecei is in conformity with literary Greek and occurs only in Luke's writings in the N.T. (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 970). this sequence of modes is a mark of the literary style occasionally seen in Luke. It is interesting here to note the succession of dependent clauses in verses #14-16. {The accusers face to face} (kata proswpon tous kategorous). Same word kategoros as in #23:30,35; 25:18. this all sounds fair enough. {And have had opportunity to make his defence concerning the matter laid against him} (topon te apologias laboi peri tou egklematos). Literally, "And should receive (laboi optative for same reason as ecoi above, second aorist active of lambanw) opportunity for defence (objective genitive) concerning the charge" (egklematos in N.T. only here and #23:19 which see).
