Acts 25:8

Verse

Then Paul made his defense: “I have committed no offense against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.”

American Standard Version (1901)

while Paul said in his defence, Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Cæsar, have I sinned at all.

Bible in Basic English

Then Paul, in his answer to them, said, I have done no wrong against the law of the Jews, or against the Temple, or against Caesar.

Douay-Rheims 1899

Paul making answer for himself: Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I offended in any thing.

Free Bible Version

Paul defended himself, telling them, “I have not sinned at all against the Jewish law, the Temple, or Caesar.”

Geneva Bible 1599

Forasmuch as he answered, that he had neither offended any thing against the lawe of the Iewes, neither against ye temple, nor against Caesar.

King James (Authorized) Version

While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Cæsar, have I offended any thing at all.

Plain English Version

Then Paul talked to everyone there and said that he was not guilty. He said, “I haven’t done anything wrong. I didn’t break the Jewish law, and I didn’t break the rules about God’s ceremony house, and I didn’t break the Roman laws.”

Translation for Translators

Then Paul spoke to defend himself. He said to Festus, “I have done nothing wrong against the laws of us (exc) Jews, and I have not disobeyed the rules concerning our Temple. I have also done nothing wrong against your government [MTY].”

Unlocked Literal Bible

Paul defended himself and said, “I have done nothing wrong against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.”

Noah Webster Bible

While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Cesar have I committed any offense.

World English Bible

while he said in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I sinned at all.”

Young's Literal Translation

he making defence — 'Neither in regard to the law of the Jews, nor in regard to the temple, nor in regard to Caesar — did I commit any sin.'

Context

Paul’s Trial before Festus

⁷When Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges that they could not prove.⁸Then Paul made his defense: “I have committed no offense against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.”

Summary

In Acts 25:8, we see the Roman governor, Porcius Festus, questioning the Apostle Paul about the charges brought against him by the Jewish leaders. This verse highlights the political and legal challenges faced by early Christians as they spread the Gospel. It also demonstrates Paul's unwavering commitment to preaching the message of Jesus Christ despite opposition and persecution. The interaction between Festus and Paul serves as a reminder of the courage and faith required to stand firm in the face of adversity for the sake of the Gospel.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

While he answered for himself - In this instance St. Luke gives only a general account, both of the accusations and of St. Paul's defense. But, from the words in this verse, the charges appear to have been threefold: 1. That he had broken the law. 2. That he had defiled the temple. 3. That he dealt in treasonable practices: to all of which he no doubt answered particularly; though we have nothing farther here than this, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all.

John Gill Bible Commentary

While he answered for himself,.... As he was allowed by the Roman laws to do, he pleaded his own cause, and showed the falsehood of the charges exhibited against him; by observing, that as the crimes alleged against him were reducible to three heads, neither of them were just and true: neither against the law of the Jews; the law of Moses, whether moral, ceremonial, or judicial; not the moral law, that he was a strict observer of, both before and since his conversion; nor the ceremonial law, for though it was abolished, and he knew it was, yet for peace sake, and in condescension to the weakness of some, and in order to gain others, he submitted to it, and was performing a branch of it, when he was seized in the temple; nor the judicial law, which concerned the Jews as Jews, and their civil affairs: neither against the temple; at Jerusalem, the profanation of which he was charged with, by bringing a Gentile into it; which was a falsehood, at least a mistake: nor yet against Caesar, have I offended at all; for he was charged with sedition, Act 24:5. Caesar was a common name to the Roman emperors, as Pharaoh was to the kings of Egypt; and which they took from Julius Caesar the first of them, who was succeeded by Augustus Caesar, under whom Christ was born; and he by Tiberius, under whom he suffered; the fourth was Caius Caligula; the fifth was Claudius, mentioned in Act 11:28 and the present Caesar, to whom Paul now appealed, was Nero; and though succeeding emperors bore this name, it was also given to the second in the empire, or the presumptive heir to it: authors are divided about the original of Caesar, the surname of Julius; some say he had it from the colour of his eyes, which were "Caesii", grey; others from "Caesaries", his fine head of hair; others from his killing of an elephant, which, in the language of the Moors, is called "Caesar": the more common opinion is, that he took his name from his mother's womb, being "Caeso", cut up at his birth, to make way for his passage into the world; in which manner also our King Edward the Sixth came into the world.