Acts 25 · Verse 9

Acts 25:9

But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?

Acts 25:9, King James Version

Acts 25:9 in other translations

BSB	But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to stand trial before me on these charges?”
WEB	But Festus, desiring to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and be judged by me there concerning these things?”
ASV	But Festus, desiring to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?
YLT	And Festus willing to lay on the Jews a favour, answering Paul, said, ‘Art thou willing, to Jerusalem having gone up, there concerning these things to be judged before me?'
DARBY	But Festus, desirous of obliging the Jews, to acquire their favour, answering Paul, said, Art thou willing to go up to Jerusalem, there to be judged before me concerning these things?
BBE	But Festus, desiring to get the approval of the Jews, said to Paul, Will you go up to Jerusalem, and be judged before me there in connection with these things?
Webster	But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go to Jerusalem, and there be judged concerning these things before me?

What does Acts 25:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 25:9-10

9-10. Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure--to ingratiate himself with them. said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and ... be judged ... before me--or, "under my protection." If this was meant in earnest, it was temporizing and vacillating. But, possibly, anticipating Paul's refusal, he wished merely to avoid the odium of refusing to remove the trial to Jerusalem.

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

Barnes' Notes

Verse 9. But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure. Desirous of securing their favour, as he had just entered on his administration. Comp. Acts 24:27. In this he evinced rather a desire, of popularity than an inclination to do justice, Had he been disposed to do right at once, he would have immediately discharged Paul. Festus perceived that the case was one that did not come fairly within the jurisdiction of a Roman magistrate; that it pertained solely to the customs and questions among the Jews, (Acts 25:18-20;) and he therefore proposed that the case should be tried before him at Jerusalem. It is remarkable, however, that he had such a sense of justice, and law, as not to suffer the case to go out of his own hands. He proposed still to hear the cause, but asked Paul whether he was willing that it should be tried at Jerusalem? As the question which he asked Paul was one on which he was at liberty to take his own course, and as Paul had no reason to expect that his going to Jerusalem would facilitate the cause of justice, it is not remarkable that he declined the offer, as perhaps Festus supposed he would.

(++) "pleasure" "desiring to gratify the Jews" (&&) "judged of" "concerning"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 9 Willing to do the Jews a pleasure - This was merely to please them, and conciliate their esteem; for he knew that, as Paul was a Roman citizen, he could not oblige him to take a new trial at Jerusalem.

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 25:9 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.

ὉHo<the>G3588

ΦῆστοςPhēstosFestusG5347

δὲdehoweverG1161

θέλωνthelōnwishingG2309

τοῖςtoisfrom theG3588

ἸουδαίοιςIoudaioisJewsG2453

χάρινcharina favorG5485

καταθέσθαι,katathesthaito lay,G2698

ἀποκριθεὶςapokritheisansweringG611

τῷtō<the>G3588

ΠαύλῳPaulōPaulG3972

εἶπεν·eipensaid;G2036

θέλειςtheleisAre you willingG2309

εἰςeistoG1519

ἹεροσόλυμαHi'erosolumaJerusalemG2414

ἀναβὰςanabashaving gone upG305

ἐκεῖekeithereG1563

περὶpericoncerningG4012

τούτωνtoutōnthese thingsG3778

κριθῆναιkrithēnaito be judgedG2919

ἐπ᾽ep᾽beforeG1909

ἐμοῦ;emoume?G1473

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

Cross references for Acts 25:9

Acts 24:27
But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix’ room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.
Acts 12:3
And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
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.
Mark 15:15
And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.
Acts 25:3
And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

willing.
3,20; 12:3; 24:27; Mr 15:15

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

Context

Acts 25:8
While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Cesar, have I offended any thing at all.
Acts 25:9
But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?
Acts 25:10
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.

Read all of Acts 25

Acts 25:9 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Mas Festo, queriendo congraciarse con los Judíos, respondiendo á Pablo, dijo: ¿Quieres subir á Jerusalem, y allá ser juzgado de estas cosas delante de mí?
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Mais Festus, voulant gagner la faveur des Juifs, répondit à Paul et dit: Veux-tu monter à Jérusalem pour y être jugé quant à ces choses, devant moi?
German Elberfelder 1871	Festus aber, der sich bei den Juden in Gunst setzen wollte, antwortete dem Paulus und sagte: Willst du nach Jerusalem hinaufgehen und dort dieserhalb vor mir gerichtet werden?
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Festus autem volens gratiam præstare Judæis, respondens Paulo, dixit: Vis Jerosolymam ascendere, et ibi de his judicari apud me?