Acts 25:20

Being perplexed (aporoumeno). Present middle participle of the common verb aporew (a privative and poro way), to be in doubt which way to turn, already in Mark 6:20 which see and Luke 24:4 . The Textus Receptus has ei after here, but critical text has only the accusative which this verb allows ( Mark 6:20 ) as in Thucydides and Plato. How to inquire concerning these things (thn peri toutwn zhthsin). Literally, "as to the inquiry concerning these things." This is not the reason given by Luke in verse Mark 9 (wanting to curry favour with the Jews), but doubtless this motive also actuated Festus as both could be true. Whether he would go to Jerusalem (ei bouloito poreuesqai ei Ierosoluma). Optative in indirect question after elegon (asked or said) imperfect active, though the present indicative could have been retained with change of person: "Dost thou wish, etc.," (ei boulh, etc.). See Robertson, Grammar, pp. 1031, 1044. This is the question put to Paul in verse Mark 9 though qelei is there used.