Acts 25 · Verse 21

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.
Acts 25:21, King James Version

Acts 25:21 in other translations

BSBBut when Paul appealed to be held over for the decision of the Emperor, I ordered that he be held until I could send him to Caesar.”
WEBBut when Paul had appealed to be kept for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be kept until I could send him to Caesar.”
ASVBut when Paul had appealed to be kept for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be kept till I should send him to Cæsar.
YLTbut Paul having appealed to be kept to the hearing of Sebastus, I did command him to be kept till I might send him unto Caesar.'
DARBYBut Paul having appealed to be kept for the cognisance of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I shall send him to Caesar.
BBEBut when Paul made a request that he might be judged by Caesar, I gave orders for him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar.
WebsterBut when Paul had appealed to be reserved to the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Cesar.

What does Acts 25:21 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 25:16-21

16-21. to deliver any man to die--On the word "deliver up," see on Ac 25:11.

Read the full comment on Acts 25:16-21 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 21. But when Paul had appealed. Acts 25:11.

To be reserved. To be kept; not to be tried at Jerusalem, but to be sent to Rome for trial.

Unto the hearing. Margin, "the judgment." That Augustus might hear and decide the cause.

Of Augustus. The reigning emperor a� this time was Nero. The name Augustus--σεβαστου--properly denotes that which is venerable, or worthy of honour and reverence. It was first applied to Caesar Octavianus, who was the Roman emperor in the time when our Saviour was born, and who is usually called Augustus Caesar. But the title continued to be used of his successors in office, as denoting the veneration or reverence which was due to the rank of emperor.

(2) "the hearing of Augustus" "judgment"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 21 Unto the hearing of Augustus - Εις την του ΣεβαϚου διαγνωσιν; To the discrimination of the emperor. For, although σεβαϚος is usually translated Augustus, and the Roman emperors generally assumed this epithet, which signifies no more than the venerable, the august, get here it seems to be used merely to express the emperor, without any reference to any of his attributes or titles.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 25:13-27

Agrippa had the government of Galilee. How many unjust and hasty judgments the Roman maxim, ver. #(16), condemn! This heathen, guided only by the light of nature, followed law and custom exactly, yet how many Christians will not follow the rules of truth, justice, and charity, in judging their brethren! The questions about God's worship, the way of salvation, and the truths of the gospel, may appear doubtful and…

Read the full comment on Acts 25:13-27 →

Acts 25:21 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.

τοῦtou<the>G3588
δὲdeButG1161
ΠαύλουPaulouPaulG3972
ἐπικαλεσαμένουepikalesamenouhaving appealed forG1941
τηρηθῆναιtērēthēnaito be keptG5083
αὐτὸνautonhimselfG846
εἰςeisforG1519
τὴνtēntheG3588
τοῦtou<the>G3588
ΣεβαστοῦSebastouEmperor'sG4575
διάγνωσινdiagnōsindecisionG1233
ἐκέλευσαekeleusaI commandedG2753
τηρεῖσθαιtēreisthaito be keptG5083
αὐτὸνautonhimG846
ἕωςhe'ōsuntilG2193
οὗhouthatG3739
ἀναπέμψωanapempsōI may returnG375
αὐτὸνautonhimG846
πρὸςprostoG4314
Καίσαρα.KaisaraCaesar.G2541

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

Cross references for Acts 25:21

  • 2 Timothy 4:16

    At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.

  • 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 25:10-11

    Then said Paul, I stand at Cesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest. 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.

  • Luke 2:1

    And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
had.
10; 26:32; 2Ti 4:16
hearing. or, judgment. Augustus.
27:1; Lu 2:1
I commanded.
12

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

Context

  • Acts 25:20

    And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters.

  • 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.

  • Acts 25:22

    Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.

Read all of Acts 25

Acts 25:21 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mas apelando Pablo á ser guardado al conocimiento de Augusto, mandé que le guardasen hasta que le enviara á César.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais Paul, en ayant appelé, demandant à être réservé au jugement d’Auguste, je donnai ordre qu’il soit gardé jusqu’à ce que je l’envoie à César.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Als aber Paulus Berufung einlegte und forderte, daß er auf das Erkenntnis des Augustus behalten würde, befahl ich, ihn zu verwahren, bis ich ihn zum Kaiser senden werde.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Paulo autem appellante ut servaretur ad Augusti cognitionem, jussi servari eum, donec mittam eum ad Cæsarem.