Acts 28:18

Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(18) Who, when they had examined me . . .—It is possible that we have here only the summary of a fuller narrative, and that he gave an outline of the proceedings that had taken place between his first seizure and his appeal to the emperor. What he states, however, was fully warranted by the facts. No Roman magistrate had ever condemned him. Agrippa and Festus had decided that he might have been released (Acts 26:32). He had been constrained to appeal to Cæsar in self-defence, to avoid the danger of being handed over to a prejudiced tribunal or to plots of assassination (Acts 25:8-10). But, as it was, he came not, as other appellants so often came, with counter-accusations. On all such matters his lips were sealed, and his motive now was to remove any unfavourable impressions which reports from Judæa might have left on the minds of his hearers.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

28:17-22 It was for the honour of Paul that those who examined his case, acquitted him. In his appeal he sought not to accuse his nation, but only to clear himself. True Christianity settles what is of common concern to all mankind, and is not built upon narrow opinions and private interests. It aims at no worldly benefit or advantage, but all its gains are spiritual and eternal. It is, and always has been, the lot of Christ's holy religion, to be every where spoken against. Look through every town and village where Christ is exalted as the only Saviour of mankind, and where the people are called to follow him in newness of life, and we see those who give themselves up to Christ, still called a sect, a party, and reproached. And this is the treatment they are sure to receive, so long as there shall continue an ungodly man upon earth.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

When they had examined me ... - Acts 24:10-27; Acts 25; Acts 26:31-32.

No cause of death - No crime worthy of death.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

17-20. Paul called the chief of the Jews together—Though banished from the capital by Claudius, the Jews enjoyed the full benefit of the toleration which distinguished the first period of Nero's reign, and were at this time in considerable numbers, wealth, and influence settled at Rome. We have seen that long before this a flourishing Christian Church existed at Rome, to which Paul wrote his Epistle (see on [2142]Ac 20:3), and the first members of which were probably Jewish converts and proselytes. (See [2143]Introduction to Romans.)

yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans—the Roman authorities, Felix and Festus.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Examined me; as Festus did in the presence of king Agrippa, Acts 25:26, who, they were both unbelievers, yet justified Paul, acknowledging that he had not committed any thing worthy of bonds, much less of death. Thus our Saviour was declared innocent by Pilate, Luke 23:4,14.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Who when they had examined me,.... About the things laid to his charge, had heard what his accusers had to object to him, and the defence he made for himself:

would have let me go; released him from his bonds, and set him at liberty to go where he pleased:

because there was no cause of death in me; no crime proved upon him, which was worthy of death; and this was the sense of Lysias the chief captain, and of Felix and Festus the Roman governors, and of King Agrippa.

Geneva Study Bible

Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Meyer's NT Commentary

Acts 28:18-19. This observation of the apostle, disclosing his presence at Rome thus brought about as a position of necessity, completes (comp. Acts 25:25) the narrative of Acts 25:9. After his vindication (Acts 25:8) we are to conceive, namely, that Festus expresses his willingness to release him; this the Jews oppose (Acts 28:19), and now Festus proposes that Paul should allow himself to be judged in Jerusalem (Acts 25:9), whereupon the latter appeals to Caesar (Acts 25:11).

οὐχ ὡς τοῦ ἔθνους … κατηγορεῖν] thus purely on the defensive, and not in unpatriotic hostility.

ἔχων and the present infinitive (see the critical remarks) refer to what Paul has to do now in Rome.

Expositor's Greek Testament

Acts 28:18. ἀνακ., cf. Acts 24:8, Acts 25:6; Acts 25:26, referring here to the judicial inquiries of Felix and Festus.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

18. would have let me go] [R. V. “desired to set me at liberty”] Alluding most probably to Agrippa’s remark (Acts 26:32) and the statement of Festus (Acts 25:25). It seems probable that Felix would have found means to set Paul free had the requisite bribe been offered to him (Acts 24:26). All were convinced of his innocence.

Bengel's Gnomen

Acts 28:18. Ἐδούλοντο ἀπολῦσαι, were wishing to let me go) ch. Acts 24:23, etc.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 18. - Desired to set me at liberty for would have let me go, A.V. Had examined me (ἀνακρίναντές με); see Acts 4:9; Acts 12:19; Acts 24:8; Acts 25:26. Desired to set me at liberty (see Acts 25:18, 19, 25; Acts 26:31, 32). Acts 28:18