Atos 25

Theophylact of Ohrid

Atos 25:8

Here is a clear and open declaration: I, says Paul, kept myself pure in all things, sinned neither against God, "nor against the law of the Jews," nor against man, nor against the temple, that is, I never dishonored the Jewish temples built of stones, although I know and preach that God does not dwell in temples made with hands; likewise I never offended the conscience of the Jews by reviling their high priest, although I no longer heed the Jewish high priests either. — Commentary on Acts

Atos 25:10

"I stand before Caesar's judgment seat" means: I wish to go to Rome to Caesar and there receive judgment. I demand this, he says, from you. — Commentary on Acts

Atos 25:13

Agrippa was either a viceroy of the king in the eastern provinces and therefore called a king, or perhaps he was himself a king in the east, while Nero ruled in the west and had his residence in Rome. "Caesar" in Latin means "emperor," since all Roman emperors, as long as they were emperors, were called Caesars; however, these titles were not their proper names. I have noted this so that no one, on the basis of the identity of this common title with a proper name, would think that our Lord was born and Paul died under one and the same emperor. The Lord was born, as chronology shows, under Caesar Augustus, and died thirty-three years later under Tiberius Augustus. Paul, however, died under Nero, thirty-four years after the death of the Lord. And Herod too was a viceroy of the king, which is why he himself was also called a king. — Commentary on Acts

Atos 25:16

It is clear that Pilate, having handed Jesus over to the Jews, did this with a villainous purpose, since he despised both the judgment of God and Roman law in order to please the murderers by delivering innocent blood to death, although for such an unlawful act he was subject to accountability before the Roman emperor, who had sent him as governor to the territory of Jerusalem. — Commentary on Acts

Atos 25:18

"Having surrounded him, the accusers did not present a single one of their charges." The slanderers brought accusations against him, but did not prove them, because their slander and audacity seemed suspicious, and the examination of the case confirmed nothing. — Commentary on Acts

Atos 25:19

Naturally he says "about a certain Jesus," since he was a man with authority and paid no attention to the Lord. — Commentary on Acts

Atos 25:20

"Being at a loss regarding the resolution of this question." The examination of such a case left the judge perplexed, since the matter was beyond his understanding. — Commentary on Acts

Atos 25:21

"On the review of Augustus." He calls the emperor Augustus, as well as Caesar; he also calls him lord (sovereign). — Commentary on Acts

Atos 25:25

Finally, the judge himself testifies about Paul that he was innocent; however, he did not free Paul. The Lord arranged that Paul mentioned Caesar (and those who appealed to Caesar had to be sent to Rome), so that the prediction of Paul himself would be fulfilled, namely: "I must also see Rome" (Acts 19:21). Observe how Paul, having left everything — both parents and teachers — comes to Rome free from all suspicion. — Commentary on Acts