Hechos 25:16

16 A los cuales respondí: no ser costumbre de los Romanos dar alguno á la muerte antes que el que es acusado tenga presentes sus acusadores, y haya lugar de defenderse de la acusación.

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 Y como estuvieron allí muchos días, Festo declaró la causa de Pablo al rey, diciendo: Un hombre ha sido dejado preso por Félix,

15 Sobre el cual, cuando fuí á Jerusalem, vinieron á mí los príncipes de los sacerdotes y los ancianos de los Judíos, pidiendo condenación contra él:

16 A los cuales respondí: no ser costumbre de los Romanos dar alguno á la muerte antes que el que es acusado tenga presentes sus acusadores, y haya lugar de defenderse de la acusación.

17 Así que, habiendo venido ellos juntos acá, sin ninguna dilación, al día siguiente, sentado en el tribunal, mandé traer al hombre;

18 Y estando presentes los acusadores, ningún cargo produjeron de los que yo sospechaba: