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Sunday, April 12th, 2026
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Read the Bible

Young's Literal Translation

Acts 25:21

but Paul having appealed to be kept to the hearing of Sebastus, I did command him to be kept till I might send him unto Caesar.'

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Appeal;   Augustus;   Paul;   Roman Empire;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Herod;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Ordination;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Appeal;   Herod Arippa Ii.;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Augustus;   Herod;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Nero;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Augustus;   Augustus (2);   Caesar ;   Guard;   Herod;   Name ;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Augustus ;   Caesar ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Augustus;   Festus;   Nero;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Augustus;   Caesar;   Emperor;   Festus;   Roman Law:;   Wisdom of Solomon, the;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
But when Paul appealed to be held for trial by the Emperor, I ordered him to be kept in custody until I could send him to Caesar.”
King James Version (1611)
But when Paul had appealed to bee reserued vnto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept, till I might send him to Cesar.
King James Version
But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar.
English Standard Version
But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of the emperor, I ordered him to be held until I could send him to Caesar."
New American Standard Bible
"But when Paul appealed to be held in custody for the Emperor's decision, I ordered that he be kept in custody until I send him to Caesar."
New Century Version
But he asked to be kept in Caesarea. He wants a decision from the emperor. So I ordered that he be held until I could send him to Caesar."
Amplified Bible
"But when Paul appealed to be held in custody for a decision by the Emperor [Nero], I ordered him to be kept in custody until I could send him to Caesar."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"But when Paul appealed to be held in custody for the Emperor's decision, I ordered him to be kept in custody until I send him to Caesar."
Legacy Standard Bible
But when Paul appealed to be held in custody for the Emperor's decision, I ordered him to be kept in custody until I send him to Caesar."
Berean Standard Bible
But when Paul appealed to be held over for the decision of the Emperor, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar."
Contemporary English Version
But Paul asked to be kept in jail until the Emperor could decide his case. So I ordered him to be kept here until I could send him to the Emperor.
Complete Jewish Bible
But since Sha'ul appealed to be kept in custody and have his case decided by His Imperial Majesty, I ordered him held until I could send him to the Emperor."
Darby Translation
But Paul having appealed to be kept for the cognisance of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I shall send him to Caesar.
Easy-to-Read Version
But Paul asked to be kept in Caesarea. He wants a decision from the emperor. So I ordered that he be held until I could send him to Caesar in Rome."
Geneva Bible (1587)
But because he appealed to be reserued to the examination of Augustus, I commaunded him to be kept, till I mght send him to Cesar.
George Lamsa Translation
But he appealed to be kept as a prisoner for a trial before C''sar. I accordingly commanded him to be kept in custody till I might send him to C''sar.
Good News Translation
But Paul appealed; he asked to be kept under guard and to let the Emperor decide his case. So I gave orders for him to be kept under guard until I could send him to the Emperor."
Lexham English Bible
But when Paul appealed that he be kept under guard for the decision of His Majesty the Emperor, I gave orders for him to be kept under guard until I could send him to Caesar."
Literal Translation
But Paul having appealed for himself to be kept to the examination of Augustus, I commanded him to be held until I might send him to Caesar.
American Standard Version
But when Paul had appealed to be kept for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be kept till I should send him to Caesar.
Bible in Basic English
But when Paul made a request that he might be judged by Caesar, I gave orders for him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar.
Hebrew Names Version
But when Sha'ul had appealed to be kept for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be kept until I could send him to Caesar."
International Standard Version
But Paul appealed his case and asked to be held in prison until the decision of his Majesty. So I ordered him to be held in custody until I could send him to the emperor."
Etheridge Translation
But he required to be kept unto the judgment of Caesar; and I commanded that he should be kept until I may send him to Caesar.
Murdock Translation
But he requested to be reserved for a trial before Caesar: and I ordered him to be kept, till I could send him to Caesar.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
But when Paul had appealed to be kept vnto the knowledge of Augustus, I commaunded hym to be kept, tyll I myght sende hym to Caesar.
English Revised Version
But when Paul had appealed to be kept for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be kept till I should send him to Caesar.
World English Bible
But when Paul had appealed to be kept for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be kept until I should send him to Caesar."
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But Paul appealing to be kept for the hearing of Augustus, I command him to be kept till I could send him to Cesar.
Weymouth's New Testament
But when Paul appealed to have his case kept for the Emperor's decision, I ordered him to be kept in prison until I could send him up to Caesar."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But for Poul appelide, that he schulde be kept to the knowing of the emperoure, Y comaundide him to be kept, til Y sende hym to the emperoure.
Update Bible Version
But when Paul had appealed to be kept for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be kept until I should send him to Caesar.
Webster's Bible Translation
But when Paul had appealed to be reserved to the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Cesar.
New English Translation
But when Paul appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of His Majesty the Emperor, I ordered him to be kept under guard until I could send him to Caesar."
New King James Version
But when Paul appealed to be reserved for the decision of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I could send him to Caesar."
New Living Translation
But Paul appealed to have his case decided by the emperor. So I ordered that he be held in custody until I could arrange to send him to Caesar."
New Life Bible
But Paul asked to go on trial in front of Caesar. I said that he should be kept in prison until he could be sent to Caesar."
New Revised Standard
But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of his Imperial Majesty, I ordered him to be held until I could send him to the emperor."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But, Paul, having appealed to be kept for the decision of the Emperor, I ordered him to be kept, until I could send him up unto Caesar.
Douay-Rheims Bible
But Paul, appealing to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept, till I might send him to Caesar.
Revised Standard Version
But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be held until I could send him to Caesar."
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Then when Paul had appealed to be kept vnto the knowledge of Cesar I commaunded him to be kept tyll I myght sende him to Cesar.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But wha Paul had appealed, that he might be kepte vnto the knowlege of the Emperoure, I comaunded him to be kepte, tyll I mighte sende him to the Emperoure.
Mace New Testament (1729)
but Paul having made his appeal, insisting to have his cause refer'd to the cognizance of the emperor, I order'd him into custody, till I could send him to Cesar.
Simplified Cowboy Version
But Paul was adamant and asked that he appear before Caesar. So, I locked Paul back up until I could arrange to have him transferred to Rome."

Contextual Overview

13 And certain days having passed, Agrippa the king, and Bernice, came down to Caesarea saluting Festus, 14 and as they were continuing there more days, Festus submitted to the king the things concerning Paul, saying, `There is a certain man, left by Felix, a prisoner, 15 about whom, in my being at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews laid information, asking a decision against him, 16 unto whom I answered, that it is not a custom of Romans to make a favour of any man to die, before that he who is accused may have the accusers face to face, and may receive place of defence in regard to the charge laid against [him]. 17 `They, therefore, having come together -- I, making no delay, on the succeeding [day] having sat upon the tribunal, did command the man to be brought, 18 concerning whom the accusers, having stood up, were bringing against [him] no accusation of the things I was thinking of, 19 but certain questions concerning their own religion they had against him, and concerning a certain Jesus who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive; 20 and I, doubting in regard to the question concerning this, said, If he would wish to go on to Jerusalem, and there to be judged concerning these things -- 21 but Paul having appealed to be kept to the hearing of Sebastus, I did command him to be kept till I might send him unto Caesar.' 22 And Agrippa said unto Festus, `I was wishing also myself to hear the man;' and he said, `To-morrow thou shalt hear him;'

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

had: Acts 25:10, Acts 26:32, 2 Timothy 4:16

hearing: or, judgment

Augustus: Acts 27:1, Luke 2:1

I commanded: Acts 25:12

Reciprocal: Acts 28:19 - I was

Cross-References

Genesis 11:30
And Sarai is barren -- she hath no child.
Genesis 16:2
and Sarai saith unto Abram, `Lo, I pray thee, Jehovah hath restrained me from bearing, go in, I pray thee, unto my handmaid; perhaps I am built up from her;' and Abram hearkeneth to the voice of Sarai.
Genesis 25:2
and she beareth to him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah.
Genesis 25:3
And Jokshan hath begotten Sheba and Dedan; and the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim;
Genesis 25:10
the field which Abraham bought from the sons of Heth -- there hath Abraham been buried, and Sarah his wife.
Genesis 25:12
And these [are] births of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, hath borne to Abraham;
Genesis 25:16
these are sons of Ishmael, and these their names, by their villages, and by their towers; twelve princes according to their peoples.
Genesis 25:19
And these [are] births of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham hath begotten Isaac;
1 Samuel 1:2
and he hath two wives, the name of the one [is] Hannah, and the name of the second Peninnah, and Peninnah hath children, and Hannah hath no children.
1 Samuel 1:11
and voweth a vow, and saith, `Jehovah of Hosts, if Thou dost certainly look on the affliction of Thy handmaid, and hast remembered me, and dost not forget Thy handmaid, and hast given to Thy handmaid seed of men -- then I have given him to Jehovah all days of his life, and a razor doth not go up upon his head.'

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But when Paul had appealed to be reserved,.... In custody at Caesarea:

unto the hearing of Augustus; to have his cause heard, tried, and judged of, by the Roman Emperor Nero, here called Augustus; for as it was usual for a Roman emperor to be called Caesar, from Julius Caesar, the first of them, so to be called Augustus, from Octavius Augustus, the second emperor: his original surname was Thurinus, but this being objected to him as a reproachful one, he afterwards took the name of Caesar, and then of Augustus; the one by the will of his great uncle, the other by the advice of Munatius Plancus; when some thought he ought to be called Romulus, as if he was the founder of the city, it prevailed that he should rather be called Augustus; not only this surname being new, but more grand, seeing religious places, and in which anything was consecrated by soothsaying, were called "Augusta, ab auctu, vel ab avium gestu, gustuve", according to Ennius t: in the Greek text the name is Sebastos, which signifies venerable and worshipful.

I commanded him to be kept; in Caesarea, by a centurion, and not sent to Jerusalem:

till I might send him to Caesar: till he could have an opportunity of sending him to Rome, to take his trial before the emperor.

t Suetonius in Vit. Octav. c. 7.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But when he had appealed - Acts 25:11.

To be reserved - To be kept; not to be tried at Jerusalem, but to be sent to Rome for trial.

Unto the hearing - Margin, “the judgment.” That Augustus might hear and decide the cause.

Of Augustus - The reigning emperor at this time was Nero. The name Augustus Σεβαστός Sebastos properly denotes “what is venerable, or worthy of honor and reverence.” It was first applied to Caesar Octavianus, who was the Roman emperor in the time when our Saviour was born, and who is usually nailed Augustus Caesar. But the title continued to be used of his successors in office, as denoting the veneration or reverence which was due to the rank of emperor.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 25:21. Unto the hearing of Augustus — Εις την του ΣεβαϚου διαγνωσιν; To the discrimination of the emperor. For, although σεβαστος is usually translated Augustus, and the Roman emperors generally assumed this epithet, which signifies no more than the venerable, the august, get here it seems to be used merely to express the emperor, without any reference to any of his attributes or titles.


 
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