Acts 25:11

11 If then I am doing wrong and have done anything deserving death, I am not trying to avoid dying. But if there is nothing [true] of [the things] which these [people] are accusing me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!"

Acts 25:11 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 25:11

For if I be an offender
Against the law of Moses, or the temple at Jerusalem, or Caesar the Roman emperor:

or have committed anything worthy of death;
by the laws of the Romans, as sedition, murder

I refuse not to die;
signifying that he did not decline going to Jerusalem, either through any consciousness of guilt, or fear of death; for if anything could be proved against him, that was of a capital nature, he did not desire to escape death; he was ready to die for it; this was no subterfuge, or shift, to evade or defer justice:

but if there be none of these things;
to be found, or proved, and made to appear:

whereof these accuse me;
pointing to the Jews, that came down to be his accusers, and had laid many and grievous charges against him:

no man may deliver me unto them;
not justly, or according to the Roman laws; suggesting that Festus himself could not do it legally;

I appeal unto Caesar;
to this the apostle was induced, partly by the conduct of the governor, who seemed inclined to favour the Jews; and partly by the knowledge he might have of their intention to lie in wait for him, should he go up to Jerusalem; and chiefly by the vision he had had, which assured him that he must bear witness of Christ at Rome, ( Acts 23:11 ) .

Acts 25:11 In-Context

9 But Festus, [because he] wanted to do a favor for the Jews, answered [and] said to Paul, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to be tried before me there concerning these [things]?"

10 But Paul said, "I am standing before the judgment seat of Caesar, where it is necessary [for] me to be judged. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also know very well.

11 If then I am doing wrong and have done anything deserving death, I am not trying to avoid dying. But if there is nothing [true] of [the things] which these [people] are accusing me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!"

12 Then Festus, [after] discussing [this] with [his] council, replied, "You have appealed to Caesar--to Caesar you will go!"

13 Now [after] some days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to welcome Festus.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "I am in the wrong"
• [b]. *Here the present tense has been translated as conative ("trying to avoid")