Bible Strands
Acts 25:21
But 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.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Festus speaks to Agrippa and Bernice immediately after Paul invokes his Roman right to appeal to the emperor. This occurs during a hearing in Caesarea where Festus has just admitted he lacks clarity on how to investigate the charges.
The words — ἐπικαλεσαμένου (epikalesamenou) literally means "having appealed," and τηρηθῆναι (tērēthēnai) translates to "to be kept" or "held." These Greek participles describe Paul's formal legal request and Festus's subsequent directive to detain him pending transport.
The thread — The appeal to Caesar directly fulfills Paul's prior statement that he must stand before Caesar's judgment seat (Acts 25:10). It also parallels the imperial census decree that set the stage for Jesus's birth (Luke 2:1) and points forward to the abandonment Paul will experience at his first Roman defense (2 Timothy 4:16).
Why it lands — The text records that administrative procedure, not personal strategy, dictated Paul's transfer to Rome. It requires a reader to accept that secular authority functions as the mechanism for historical and legal outcomes, regardless of the individual's circumstances.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- 2 Timothy 4:16 At my first defense, no one stood with me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be charged against them.
- Luke 2:1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire.
- Acts 25:10 Paul replied, “I am standing before the judgment seat of Caesar, where I ought to be tried. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well.
- Acts 26:32 And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”