Teks -- Acts 25:12 (NET)

25:12 Then, after conferring with his council, Festus replied, “You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you will go!”

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

Robertson: Act 25:12 - When he had conferred with the council

When he had conferred with the council ( sunlalēsas meta tou sumbouliou ).

The word sumboulion in the N.T. usually means "counsel"as in Mat 12:14, but here alone as an assembly of counsellors or council. But the papyri (Milligan and Moulton’ s Vocabulary ) furnish a number of instances of this sense of the word as "council."Here it apparently means the chief officers and personal retinue of the procurator, his assessors (assessores consiliarii ). These local advisers were a necessity. Some discretion was allowed the governor about granting the appeal. If the prisoner were a well-known robber or pirate, it could be refused.

Robertson: Act 25:12 - Thou hast appealed unto Caesar

Thou hast appealed unto Caesar ( Kaisara epikeklēsai ).

The same technical word, but the perfect tense of the indicative.

Robertson: Act 25:12 - Unto Caesar thou shalt go

Unto Caesar thou shalt go ( epi Kaisara poreusēi ).

Perhaps the volitive future (Robertson, Grammar , p. 874). Bengel thinks that Festus sought to frighten Paul with these words. Knowling suggests that "they may have been uttered, if not with a sneer, yet with the implication ‘ thou little knowest what an appeal to Caesar means.’ "But embarrassment will come to Festus. He has refused to acquit this prisoner. Hence he must formulate charges against him to go before Caesar.

Vincent: Act 25:12 - The council

The council

A body of men chosen by the governor himself from the principal Romans of the province. These were called assessors, sometimes friends, sometimes captains. Though a Roman citizen had the right of appeal to the emperor, a certain discretion was allowed the governors of provinces as to admitting the appeal. It might be disallowed if the affair did not admit of delay, or if the appellant were a known robber or pirate. In doubtful cases the governor was bound to consult with his council, and his failure to do so exposed him to censure. Cicero, in his impeachment of Verres, the brutal governor of Sicily, says: " Will you deny that you dismissed your council, the men of rank with whom your predecessor and yourself had been wont to consult, and decided the case yourself?" (ii., 33). That Festus exercised this discretion in Paul's case is shown by his conferring with the council.

Wesley: Act 25:12 - The council

It was customary for a considerable number of persons of distinction to attend the Roman governors. These constituted a kind of council, with whom they frequently advised.

JFB: Act 25:12 - Festus

Little expecting such an appeal, but bound to respect it.

JFB: Act 25:12 - having conferred with the council

His assessors in judgment, as to the admissibility of the appeal.

JFB: Act 25:12 - said, Hast thou

For "thou hast."

JFB: Act 25:12 - to Cæsar shalt thou go

As if he would add perhaps "and see if thou fare better."

Clarke: Act 25:12 - Conferred with the council

Conferred with the council - From this circumstance, we may learn that the appeal of Paul to Caesar was conditional; else Festus could not have deliberated with his council whether it should be granted; for he had no power to refuse to admit such an appeal. We may, therefore, understand Paul thus: "I now stand before a tribunal where I ought to be judged; if thou refuse to hear and try this cause, rather than go to Jerusalem, I appeal to Caesar."Festus, therefore, consulted with the council, whether he should proceed to try the cause, or send Paul to Rome; and it appears that the majority were of opinion that he should be sent to Caesar

Clarke: Act 25:12 - Hast thou appealed unto Caesar, etc.

Hast thou appealed unto Caesar, etc. - Rather, Thou hast appealed unto Caesar, and to Caesar thou shalt go. The Jews were disappointed of their hope; and Festus got his hand creditably drawn out of a business with which he was likely to have been greatly embarrassed.

Calvin: Act 25:12 - Festus having talked with the council

12.Festus having talked with the council The governors did use to have certain of the chief citizens which did attend upon them, and sat with them in judgment, that they might decree nothing without the consent of the council. Furthermore, it doth seem that Festus pronounced this with indignation, when he said interrogatively, Hast thou appealed to Caesar? to wit, because it grieved him that he could not do the Jews such a pleasure as he desired; though I leave that indifferent, because it is neither of any great importance, and it leaneth only to a conjecture.

TSK: Act 25:12 - unto Caesar shalt

unto Caesar shalt : Act 25:21, Act 19:21, Act 23:11, Act 26:32, Act 27:1, Act 28:16; Psa 76:10; Isa 46:10,Isa 46:11; Lam 3:37; Dan 4:35; Rom 15:28, Rom 15:29; Phi 1:12-14, Phi 1:20

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

Poole: Act 25:12 - Conferred with the council // Hast thou appealed unto Caesar?

Conferred with the council either of the Jews, and those of the sanhedrim, that he might inform them of the law or custom of the Romans, and how that he could not but admit of St. Paul’ s appeal; or with his own council; it being usual with the Roman presidents to do nothing of moment without the advice of their council, or assistants.

Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? Or without an interrogation: Thou hast appealed unto Caesar; which Festus was glad of, that without danger on the one hand, or ill will on the other, he might get rid of that difficult business.

Gill: Act 25:12 - Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council // he answered, hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go

Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council,.... Not with the Jewish sanhedrim, or any part of it that came down on this occasion; but with Roman counsellors, which he had to assist him in judgment, when any difficult matters were before him; the Syriac and Ethiopic versions render it, "with his counsellors"; and the Arabic reads in the singular number, "with his counsellor"; with these he advised, whether it was proper to admit of Paul's appeal, or not; and having had their opinion,

he answered, hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go: the question is put, partly for the more certain knowledge of the thing, that there might be no mistake in it; and partly on account of the Jews, that they might see that though he was disposed to do them a favour, it was not in his power, because of this appeal; and it may be with some resentment in himself, since it carried in it a sort of reflection upon him, as if he was incapable of issuing this affair, or would not be just and faithful in it.