Bible Strands
Acts 26:32
And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Agrippa speaks to Festus immediately after their private consultation following Paul’s defense.
The words — The Greek construction ἐδύνατο ἀπολελῦσθαι (edynato apolelysthai) literally translates to “was able to have been released.”
The thread — This assessment mirrors the joint conclusion in Acts 26:31 and aligns with Festus’s earlier finding in Acts 25:25 and Paul’s summary in Acts 28:18.
Why it lands — The text states that administrative release was possible but was blocked by a legal appeal. A reader must observe that procedural choice, not factual innocence, dictated the final outcome.
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
Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Cesar.
Cross-references
- Acts 28:18 They examined me and wanted to release me, because there was no basis for a death sentence against me.
- Acts 25:11 If, however, I am guilty of anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is no truth to their accusations against me, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”
- 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.