Bible Strands
Acts 26:31
On their way out, they said to one another, “This man has done nothing worthy of death or imprisonment.”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — After the trial concludes and the officials rise, Agrippa, Festus, Bernice, and the assembled council speak to one another while departing the chamber. They declare that Paul has committed no offense warranting capital punishment or incarceration.
The words — The participle ἀναχωρήσαντες (anachōrēsantes) literally means "having withdrawn," marking the immediate physical departure of the officials. The phrase οὐδὲν (ouden) translates to "nothing," directly qualifying the accused's conduct against Roman legal standards.
The thread — This assessment echoes the legal conclusions in Acts 23:29 and Acts 28:18, where Roman authorities similarly find no valid charge for execution or imprisonment. The scribes in Acts 23:9 also acknowledge finding no substantive fault in the accused during earlier proceedings.
Why it lands — The text records that even neutral Roman officials recognize the factual innocence of the accused based on the evidence presented. It requires the reader to acknowledge that procedural judgment and factual guilt operate independently of religious or political opposition.
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
And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.
Cross-references
- Acts 23:29 I found that the accusation involved questions about their own law, but there was no charge worthy of death or imprisonment.
- Acts 23:9 A great clamor arose, and some scribes from the party of the Pharisees got up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”
- Acts 28:18 They examined me and wanted to release me, because there was no basis for a death sentence against me.
- 2 Samuel 24:17 When David saw the angel striking down the people, he said to the LORD, “Surely I, the shepherd, have sinned and acted wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Please, let Your hand fall upon me and my father’s house.”
- Luke 23:4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”
- Luke 23:14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined Him here in your presence and found Him not guilty of your charges against Him.
- Acts 25:25 But I found he had done nothing worthy of death, and since he has now appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.
- 1 Peter 3:16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ.
- 1 Peter 4:14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.