Acts 25:6

And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Benson Commentary

Acts 25:6-8. And when he had tarried there more than ten days — A short time for a new governor to stay at such a city as Jerusalem; he went down to Cesarea — As he had said, several of the Jews attending him, as being determined to lose no time, but to prosecute the affair in the most strenuous manner they possibly could; and the next day sitting in the judgment-seat — As the governor used to do, when any cause of consequence was brought before him; commanded Paul to be brought — And make his appearance. And the Jews, standing round about — An expression which intimates that there were many of them; laid many and grievous complaints against Paul — Doubtless like those which Tertullus had formerly advanced before Felix; which they could not prove — By proper witnesses. When many accusations against any one are heaped, frequently not one of them is true. While he answered, Neither against the law of the Jews, &c. — I openly deny their charge in every branch of it, and challenge them to make it out by proper evidence in any instance, or in any degree. To a general charge a general answer was sufficient.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

25:1-12 See how restless malice is. Persecutors deem it a peculiar favour to have their malice gratified. Preaching Christ, the end of the law, was no offence against the law. In suffering times the prudence of the Lord's people is tried, as well as their patience; they need wisdom. It becomes those who are innocent, to insist upon their innocence. Paul was willing to abide by the rules of the law, and to let that take its course. If he deserved death, he would accept the punishment. But if none of the things whereof they accused him were true, no man could deliver him unto them, with justice. Paul is neither released nor condemned. It is an instance of the slow steps which Providence takes; by which we are often made ashamed, both of our hopes and of our fears, and are kept waiting on God.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

More than ten days - See the margin. The Syriac reads it, "eight or ten." The Vulgate, "not more than eight or ten." The Coptic, "eight or ten." Griesbach supposes this to be the true reading, and has admitted it into the text.

Sitting in the judgment seat - On the tribunal; or holding a court for the trial of Paul.

Commanded Paul to be brought - To be brought up for trial. He had been secured, but was placed in the care of a soldier, who was commanded to let him have all the freedom that was consistent with his security.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

5. Let them … which among you are able, go down—"your leading men."

Matthew Poole's Commentary

More than ten days; the margin gives an account of a diverse reading, unto which might be added another, viz. eight or ten days; which reading many follow, and is according unto the usual expression of such a short space of time, which need not to be exactly set down. Thus though God hath provided so, as there is little or no variety in setting down those truths or doctrines in Scripture which concern faith and manners, or our believing and holy living; yet in circumstances which (though they pertain to complete the history or genealogies in Scripture) are not necessary to be so exactly known, God left them not so, designed to exercise us in this state, wherein we know but in part, \ 1 Corinthians 13:9. Fundamental truths are not of such a depth but a lamb may wade or walk in them; but there are less material things of such a profundity, that an elephant may swim in them, and men of the highest understanding and deepest reach must cry out, w Bayov.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And when he had tarried among them more than ten days,.... The Alexandrian copy, and three of Beza's copies, and some others, and the Vulgate Latin version read, "no more than eight or ten days"; and the Syriac and Ethiopic versions leave out the phrase "no more", and read "when he had stayed there", as the former; that is, at Jerusalem; or "when he had remained among them", as the latter; the Jews, chief priests, and others, "eight or ten days"; the historian, not being certain to a day, expresses himself in this manner:

he went down to Caesarea; from whence he came, and where Paul was:

and the next day sitting in the judgment seat; the day after he was come to Caesarea, he sat upon the bench in the court of judicature, to try causes, and particularly the apostle's, which he was very desirous of knowing, for which reason he so soon took the bench: and

commanded Paul to be brought; from the place where he was kept a prisoner, to the judgment hall where Festus was.

Geneva Study Bible

{2} And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought.

(2) We may justly avoid an injury, but not with an injury.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Meyer's NT Commentary

Acts 25:6-7. Διατρίψας … δέκα] includes the whole brief stay of Festus at that time among the Jews at Jerusalem (ἐν αὐτοῖς), not merely the time that had elapsed since the rejection of that proposal.

περιέστησαν] stood round Paul, as is evident from the preceding παραγ. δὲ αὐτοῦ. Comp. Acts 25:18. Grotius and Kuinoel incorrectly hold that it is to be referred to τὸ βῆμα.

πολλὰ καὶ κ.τ.λ.] as in John 20:30.

αἰτιώματα (see the critical remarks), instead of αἰτιάματα, accusations, is not elsewhere preserved. Yet Eust. p. 1422, 21, has αἰτίωσις instead of αἰτίασις.

καταφέροντες (see the critical remarks), they brought against him. Genesis 37:2; Deuteronomy 22:14.

Expositor's Greek Testament

Acts 25:6. ἡμέρας πλ., see critical note, “not more than eight or ten days,” R.V., i.e., the whole period of Festus’ stay ἐν αὐτοῖς. Blass sees in the words an indication of the vigour of action characterising Festus. The expression may, however, be used from the standpoint of Paul and his friends at Cæsarea, who did not know how much of his absence Festus had spent in Jerusalem, or how much on the journey (so Weiss and Wendt).—τῇ ἐπαύριον: ten times in Acts, but nowhere in Luke’s Gospel, cf., however, ἐπὶ τὴν αὔριον, Luke 10:35 and Acts 4:5 only (Hawkins). This evidently implies that the accusers had come down with Festus, and it may again indicate his promptness, cf. Acts 25:17. There does not seem any indication that this immediate action shows that he had been prejudiced against Paul in Jerusalem (Chrys.).—ἐπὶ τοῦ βήματος, Acts 12:21, Acts 18:12, and Acts 25:10 below: seven times in Acts in this sense (Matthew 27:19, John 19:13), but nowhere in Luke’s Gospel; twice by St. Paul, Romans 14:10, 2 Corinthians 5:10.—καθ. ἐπὶ τοῦ β.: a necessary formality, otherwise no legal effect would be given to the decision, cf. Schürer, Jewish People, div. i., vol. ii., p. 15, E.T., for this and other instances.—ἀχθῆναι, cf. προσάγεσθαι, Polyc., Mart., ix., 1 and 2.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

6. more than ten days] The oldest texts read “not more than eight or ten days.” This seems the more likely reading. It is more probable that the writer would use words to mark the shortness of the stay, than a form which would seem to describe ten days as a long residence at Jerusalem. Festus was evidently full of business and anxious to get it done.

and the next day] Rev. Ver. “on the morrow.” The Jewish authorities must have accepted the governor’s invitation, and have gone down along with him, so that the hearing could begin at once.

Bengel's Gnomen

Acts 25:6. Οὐ πλείους ὀκτὼ ἢ δέκα) not more than eight or ten, is the reading of the Latin Vulg. And this reading is supported by old Greek MSS., along with the Coptic (Memphitic) Version. An excellent reading.[142] So Οὐ ΠΛΕΊΟΥς ἩΜΈΡΑΙ ΔΕΚΑΔΎΟ, Κ.Τ.Λ., ch. Acts 24:11, Acts 4:22, Acts 23:13. Others omit Οὐ, or also ὈΚΤΏ, or Οὐ ΠΛΕΊΟΥς. Eight or ten days are a sufficiently short time (Acts 25:4) for the stay of the new governor in the city of Jerusalem. Within that time he could not conveniently have discussed Paul’s case.

[142] Which is rated more highly in the margin of Ed. 2 and the Germ. Vers. than in the larger Ed.—E. B.

ABC Vulg. Memph. read οὐ πλείους ὀκτώ, except that B has πλείονας. Rec. Text omits οὐ and ὀκτώ. Ee omit οὐ, but retain ὀκτώ. Lucifer retains both. Chrysostom in his commentary omits πλείους ἢ, but in the text retaius the words.—E. and T.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 6. - Not more than eight or ten days for more than ten days, A.V. and T.R.; on the morrow for the next day, A.V.; he sat... and commanded for sitting... commanded, A.V. On the morrow (see ver. 17). To he brought (ἀχθῆναι). The technical word for bringing a prisoner before the judge (Acts 6:12; Acts 18:12; Luke 21:12; Luke 23:1, etc.). Acts 25:6

Vincent's Word Studies

Judgment-seat

See on Acts 7:5.