Acts 25:10

Footnotes

1. 32 Grk “said.”
2. 33 Or “before the emperor’s” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).
3. 34 Although BDAG 175 βῆμα 3 gives the meaning “tribunal” for this verse, and a number of modern translations use similar terms (“court,” ; “tribunal,” ), since the bema was a standard feature in Greco-Roman cities of the time, there is no need for an alternative translation here. Here of course Paul’s reference to “Caesar’s judgment seat” is a form of metonymy; since Festus is Caesar’s representative, Festus’ judgment seat represents Caesar’s own. The judgment seat (βῆμα, bēma) was a raised platform mounted by steps and sometimes furnished with a seat, used by officials in addressing an assembly or making pronouncements, often on judicial matters. The judgment seat was a familiar item in Greco-Roman culture, often located in the agora, the public square or marketplace in the center of a city.
4. 35 That is, tried by an imperial representative and subject to Roman law.
5. 36 “I have done nothing wrong.” Here is yet another declaration of total innocence on Paul’s part.
6. 37 καλῶς 7 states, “comp. κάλλιον (for the superl., as Galen, Protr. 8 p. 24, 19J.=p. 10, 31 Kaibel; s. B-D-F §244, 2) ὡς καί σὺ κ. ἐπιγινώσκεις as also you know very well Ac 25:10.”