Hechos 25:16

16 Les respondí que no es costumbre de los romanos entregar a ninguna persona sin antes concederle al acusado un careo con sus acusadores, y darle la oportunidad de defenderse de los cargos.

Hechos 25:16 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 25:16

To whom I answered
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.

Hechos 25:16 In-Context

14 Como se entretuvieron allí varios días, Festo le presentó al rey el caso de Pablo.—Hay aquí un hombre —le dijo— que Félix dejó preso.

15 Cuando fui a Jerusalén, los jefes de los sacerdotes y los ancianos de los judíos presentaron acusaciones contra él y exigieron que se le condenara.

16 Les respondí que no es costumbre de los romanos entregar a ninguna persona sin antes concederle al acusado un careo con sus acusadores, y darle la oportunidad de defenderse de los cargos.

17 Cuando acudieron a mí, no dilaté el caso, sino que convoqué al tribunal el día siguiente y mandé traer a este hombre.

18 Al levantarse para hablar, sus acusadores no alegaron en su contra ninguno de los delitos que yo había supuesto.