Teks -- Acts 28:19 (NET)

28:19 But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar– not that I had some charge to bring against my own people.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: Act 28:19 - When the Jews spake against it

When the Jews spake against it ( antilegontōn tōn Ioudaiōn ).

Genitive absolute again, antilegontōn (antilegō ) common verb for speaking against as in Act 13:45. Clementer dicit (Bengel). "The word is a mild one to describe the bitter enmity of the Jews"(Knowling).

Robertson: Act 28:19 - I was constrained

I was constrained ( ēnagkasthēn ).

"I was compelled,"first aorist passive indicative of anagkazō , the very word used of Paul’ s efforts to get the Christians to blaspheme (Act 26:11) which see. Paul was compelled to appeal to Caesar (See note on Act 25:11, and note on Act 25:12for this phrase), unless Paul was willing to be the victim of Jewish hate when he had done no wrong.

Robertson: Act 28:19 - Not that I had aught to accuse my nation of

Not that I had aught to accuse my nation of ( ouch hōs tou ethnous mou echōn ti katēgorein ).

This use of hōs with a participle (echōn ) is common in Greek for the alleged reason. The genitive case with the infinitive katēgorein is regular. Paul says ethnos instead of laos as in Act 24:17; Act 26:4.

Wesley: Act 28:19 - When the Jews opposed it

He speaks tenderly of them, not mentioning their repeated attempts to murder him.

Wesley: Act 28:19 - Not that I had any thing to accuse my nation of

Not that I had any design to accuse others, but merely to defend myself.

JFB: Act 28:17-20 - Paul called the chief of the Jews together

Though banished from the capital by Claudius, the Jews enjoyed the full benefit of the toleration which distinguished the first period of Nero's reign, and were at this time in considerable numbers, wealth, and influence settled at Rome. We have seen that long before this a flourishing Christian Church existed at Rome, to which Paul wrote his Epistle (see on Act 20:3), and the first members of which were probably Jewish converts and proselytes. (See Introduction to Romans.)

JFB: Act 28:17-20 - yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans

The Roman authorities, Felix and Festus.

JFB: Act 28:19 - I was constrained to appeal . . . not that I had aught to accuse my nation of

"I am here not as their accuser, but as my own defender, and this not of choice but necessity." His object in alluding thus gently to the treatment he had received from the Jews was plainly to avoid whatever might irritate his visitors at the first; especially as he was not aware whether any or what information against him had reached their community.

Calvin: Act 28:19 - I was enforced to appeal

19.I was enforced to appeal This appeal was full of hatred and envy for this cause, because the authority and liberty of the Jewish nation did seem to be sore opprest, who could have been content to have lived with their own laws. Secondly, because his defense was joined with infamy and loss of all the people. Therefore he answereth this objection also, because he was enforced with the stubbornness of his enemies to fly to this fortress [asylum]. For he is excused by necessity, because he had no other way to escape death. And after that he had excused that which was done already, he promiseth that he will so handle his matter hereafter, − ⁶⁷⁸ that he will not labor against the Jews. −

TSK: Act 28:19 - I was // not

I was : Act 25:10-12, Act 25:21, Act 25:25, Act 26:32

not : Rom 12:19-21; 1Pe 2:22, 1Pe 2:23

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Act 28:19 - The Jews spake against it // Not that I had aught to accuse my nation of

The Jews spake against it the Jews used all their oratory and interest against Paul, both before Felix and Festus. And had it been in Festus’ s power, (which after Paul’ s appeal it was not), he would have sacrificed Paul to the malice of the Jews; and by that means got their favour, whom he had so incensed against them.

Not that I had aught to accuse my nation of Paul did not so much want matter, as mind, to accuse the Jews; and he declares, that whatsoever he had suffered, his intentions were not to calumniate them, but to vindicate himself.

Gill: Act 28:19 - But when the Jews spake against it // I was constrained to appeal to Caesar // not that I had ought to accuse my nation of

But when the Jews spake against it,.... His being cleared and dismissed, and desired he might be sent back to Jerusalem, to be tried and judged there, to which Festus seemed inclined:

I was constrained to appeal to Caesar; to prevent the design of the Jews upon him, which was to way lay him and kill him, or by what ways they could, right or wrong, take away his life; and to provide for his own safety:

not that I had ought to accuse my nation of; meaning, that he had no ill design in this appeal against his country, to expose them, and bring them under reproach and censure, but to vindicate himself, defend his own innocence, and preserve his character and life; suggesting, that what he did was not of choice, but by constraint, and with reluctance; being no friend to Heathen tribunals, nor any enemy to the Jewish nation.