Acts 25 · Verse 12

Acts 25:12

Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Cesar? unto Cesar shalt thou go.
Acts 25:12, King James Version

Acts 25:12 in other translations

BSBThen Festus conferred with his council and replied, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”
WEBThen Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you shall go.”
ASVThen Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Thou hast appealed unto Cæsar: unto Cæsar shalt thou go.
YLTthen Festus, having communed with the council, answered, ‘To Caesar thou hast appealed; to Caesar thou shalt go.'
DARBYThen Festus, having conferred with the council, answered, Thou hast appealed to Caesar. To Caesar shalt thou go.
BBEThen Festus, having had a discussion with the Jews, made answer, You have said, Let my cause come before Caesar; to Caesar you will go.
WebsterThen Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed to Cesar? to Cesar thou shalt go.

What does Acts 25:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
12. Festus--little expecting such an appeal, but bound to respect it. having conferred with the council--his assessors in judgment, as to the admissibility of the appeal. said, Hast thou--for "thou hast." to Cæsar shalt thou go--as if he would add perhaps "and see if thou fare better."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 12. When he had conferred with the council. With his associate judges, or with those who were his counsellors in the administratien of justice. They were made up ofthe chief persons, probably military as well as civil, who were about him, and who were his assistants in the administration of the affairs of the province.

Unto Caesar shalt thou go. He was willing in this way to rid himself of this trial, and of the vexation attending it. He did not dare to deliver him to the Jews in violation of the Roman laws; and he was not willing to do justice to Paul, and thus make himself unpopular with the Jews. He was, therefore, probably rejoiced at the opportunity of thus freeing himself from all the trouble in the case, in a manner against which none could object.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 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. 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 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…

Read the full comment on Acts 25:1-12 →

Acts 25:12 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΤότεToteThenG5119
ὁho<the>G3588
ΦῆστοςPhēstosFestusG5347
συλλαλήσαςsullalēsashaving conferredG4814
μετὰmetawithG3326
τοῦtoutheG3588
συμβουλίουsumbouliouCouncilG4824
ἀπεκρίθη·apekrithēanswered;G611
ΚαίσαραKaisaraTo CaesarG2541
ἐπικέκλησαι,epikeklēsaiYou have appealed,G1941
ἐπὶepitoG1909
ΚαίσαραKaisaraCaesarG2541
πορεύσῃ.¶poreusēyou will go!G4198

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 25:12

  • Acts 19:21

    After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.

  • Philippians 1:12-14

    But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

  • Philippians 1:20

    According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

  • Daniel 4:35

    And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

  • Acts 26:32-27:1

    Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Cesar. And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus’ band.

  • Acts 28:16

    And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.

  • Isaiah 46:10-11

    Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.

  • Lamentations 3:37

    Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?

  • Acts 23:11

    And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

  • Psalms 76:10

    Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.

  • Acts 25:21

    But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Cesar.

  • Romans 15:28-29

    When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain. And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
unto Cesar shalt.
21; 19:21; 23:11; 26:32; 27:1; 28:16; Ps 76:10; Isa 46:10,11; La 3:37
Da 4:35; Ro 15:28,29; Php 1:12-14,20

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 25:11

    For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Cesar.

  • Acts 25:12

    Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Cesar? unto Cesar shalt thou go.

  • Acts 25:13

    And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Cesarea to salute Festus.

Read all of Acts 25

Acts 25:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces Festo, habiendo hablado con el consejo, respondió: ¿A César has apelado? á César irás.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Alors Festus, ayant conféré avec le conseil, répondit: Tu en as appelé à César, tu iras à César.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Dann besprach sich Festus mit dem Rat und antwortete: Auf den Kaiser hast du dich berufen, zum Kaiser sollst du gehen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Tunc Festus cum concilio locutus, respondit: Cæsarem appellasti? ad Cæsarem ibis.