Acts 25:16

WEB

¹⁶I answered them that it is not the custom of the Romans to give up any man to destruction before the accused has met the accusers face to face and has had opportunity to make his defense concerning the matter laid against him.

KJV

¹⁶To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.

BSB

¹⁶I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand a man over before he has had an opportunity to face his accusers and defend himself against their charges.

FBV

¹⁶I replied that it is not according to Roman law to convict anyone without having them face their accusers and giving them the opportunity to defend themselves against the charges.

Related Resources

Stephen’s Old Testament Defense of Christ, Part 1 (Acts 7:1–17) - Grace to You

Extra References

John 7:51

⁵¹“Does our law judge a man unless it first hears from him personally and knows what he does?”

Deuteronomy 19:17-18

¹⁷then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges who shall be in those days; ¹⁸and the judges shall make diligent inquisition; and behold, if the witness is a false witness, and has testified falsely against his brother,

Acts 23:30

³⁰When I was told that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him to you immediately, charging his accusers also to bring their accusations against him before you. Farewell.”

Proverbs 18:17

¹⁷He who pleads his cause first seems right— until another comes and questions him.

Acts 25:4-5

⁴However Festus answered that Paul should be kept in custody at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to depart shortly. ⁵“Let them therefore”, he said, “that are in power among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong in the man, let them accuse him.”