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King James Bible - Acts 25:9

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SEV Biblia, Chapter 25:9

Mas Festo, queriendo congraciarse con los judíos, respondiendo a Pablo, dijo: ¿Quieres subir a Jerusal�n, y all� ser juzgado de estas cosas delante de mí?

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Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 25:9

Verse 9. Willing to do the Jews a pleasure] This was merely to please them, and conciliate their esteem; for he knew that, as Paul was a Roman citizen, he could not oblige him to take a new trial at Jerusalem.

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John Gill's Bible Commentary

Ver. 9. But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure , etc.] As did his predecessor Felix, ( Acts 24:27) he being just entered upon his new government, and having met with some caresses and civilities from the Jews at Jerusalem, by whom he had been much pressed and urged about the affair of the apostle: answered Paul, and said, wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me ? meaning by the Jewish sanhedrim, he Festus being present: this was what the Jews had requested of him when he was at Jerusalem, that he would send for Paul thither, and there let him be judged, and which request he had denied; but having been solicited and importuned by the Jews, perhaps as, they came down together, he was inclined to gratify them, and to admit of it that he should be tried at Jerusalem, before the sanhedrim, he being present; and yet he was unwilling to do this without the prisoner�s consent, he being a freeman of a Roman city; fearing he should be charged with delivering up a Roman into the hands of the Jews, which might be resented by the emperor and the Roman senate, should it come to their knowledge.

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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.

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Greek Textus Receptus

ο 3588 T-NSM φηστος 5347 N-NSM δε 1161 CONJ τοις 3588 T-DPM ιουδαιοις 2453 A-DPM θελων 2309 5723 V-PAP-NSM χαριν 5485 N-ASF καταθεσθαι 2698 5641 V-2AMN αποκριθεις 611 5679 V-AOP-NSM τω 3588 T-DSM παυλω 3972 N-DSM ειπεν 2036 5627 V-2AAI-3S θελεις 2309 5719 V-PAI-2S εις 1519 PREP ιεροσολυμα 2414 N-ASF αναβας 305 5631 V-2AAP-NSM εκει 1563 ADV περι 4012 PREP τουτων 5130 D-GPN κρινεσθαι 2919 5745 V-PPN επ 1909 PREP εμου 1700 P-1GS

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Vincent's NT Word Studies

9. Do a pleasure. See on ch. xxiv. 27. Rev., better, to gain favor.

Before me (ep emou). Not with him as judge, but by the Sanhedrim in his presence.

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Robertson's NT Word Studies

25:9 {Desiring to gain favor with the Jews} (qelwn tois ioudaiois carin kataqesqai). Precisely the expression used of Felix by Luke in #24:27 which see. Festus, like Felix, falls a victim to fear of the Jews. {Before me} (ep' emou). Same use of epi with the genitive as in #23:30; 24:19,21. Festus, seeing that it was unjust to condemn Paul and yet disadvantageous to absolve him (Blass), now makes the very proposal to Paul that the rulers had made to him in Jerusalem (verse #3). He added the words "ep' emou" (before me) as if to insure Paul of justice. If Festus was unwilling to give Paul justice in Caesarea where his regular court held forth, what assurance was there that Festus would give it to him at Jerusalem in the atmosphere of intense hostility to Paul? Only two years ago the mob, the Sanhedrin, the forty conspirators had tried to take his life in Jerusalem. Festus had no more courage to do right than Felix, however plausible his language might sound. Festus also, while wanting Paul to think that he would in Jerusalem "be judged of these things before me," in reality probably intended to turn Paul over to the Sanhedrin in order to please the Jews, probably with Festus present also to see that Paul received justice (me presente). Festus possibly was surprised to find that the charges were chiefly against Jewish law, though one was against Caesar. It was not a mere change of venue that Paul sensed, but the utter unwillingness of Festus to do his duty by him and his willingness to connive at Jewish vengeance on Paul. Paul had faced the mob and the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem, two years of trickery at the hands of Felix in Caesarea, and now he is confronted by the bland chicanery of Festus. It is too much, the last straw.