Acts 25:11

11 For if I have harmed, either done any thing worthy death, I forsake not to die; but if nothing of those is, that they accuse me, no man may give me to them. I appeal to the emperor. [+For if I have harmed, or done any thing worthy death, I forsake not to die; soothly if nothing of these is, that they accuse me, no man may give me 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 would do grace to the Jews, and answered to Paul, and said [Forsooth Festus willing to give grace to the Jews, answering to Paul, said], Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be deemed of these things before me?

10 And Paul said, At the doom place of the emperor I stand [At the doom place of Caesar I stand], where it behooveth me to be deemed. I have not harmed the Jews, as thou knowest well.

11 For if I have harmed, either done any thing worthy death, I forsake not to die; but if nothing of those is, that they accuse me, no man may give me to them. I appeal to the emperor. [+For if I have harmed, or done any thing worthy death, I forsake not to die; soothly if nothing of these is, that they accuse me, no man may give me to them. I appeal to Caesar.]

12 Then Festus spake with the council, and answered, To the emperor thou hast appealed, to the emperor thou shalt go [To Caesar thou hast appealed, to Caesar thou shalt go].

13 And when some days were passed, Agrippa king, and Bernice came down to Caesarea, to welcome Festus [to greet well Festus].