Lexical Summary anabole: Delay, postponement Original Word: ἀναβολή Strong's Exhaustive Concordance delay. From anaballomai; a putting off -- delay. see GREEK anaballomai Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 311: ἀναβολήἀναβολή, (ῆς, ἡ (ἀναβάλλω, which see), often in Greek writings, a putting off, delay: ποιεῖσθαι ἀναβολήν to interpose (literally, make) delay, Acts 25:17 (as in Thucydides 2, 42; Dionysius Halicarnassus 11, 33; Plutarch, Camill c. 35). Topical Lexicon Background and Context in Acts 25:17 The lone New Testament occurrence of ἀναβολή (anabolē) appears in Acts 25:17, nestled within Luke’s detailed record of Paul’s final legal journey. Procurator Festus recounts to King Agrippa his handling of the Jewish leaders’ accusations: “So when they came here with me, I did not delay. The next day I sat on the judgment seat and ordered the man to be brought in” (Acts 25:17). The term signals Festus’ refusal to grant a judicial postponement. His prompt action forms a sharp contrast to the earlier hesitations of Felix (Acts 24:22–27), highlighting a key aspect of Roman jurisprudence—justice was expected to be both impartial and timely. Roman Judicial Procedure and the Early Church First-century Roman governors possessed wide latitude over provincial trials. Stalling tactics—whether by accusers seeking political leverage or by magistrates hoping for a bribe—were common. Festus’ statement, “I did not delay,” underscores his intent to distance himself from such corruption and to follow Roman protocol, which required a prompt hearing once accusers and defendant were assembled. For the fledgling church, this transparency allowed Paul to bear witness before ever larger audiences (Acts 26:1–29), fulfilling Christ’s promise that His servants would “stand before governors and kings” (Matthew 10:18). Theology of Divine Delay Scripture presents delay both negatively—as human procrastination—and positively—as purposeful divine timing. Moses’ plea, “O Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people? Why did You ever send me?” (Exodus 5:22) illustrates perplexity during postponement, yet God used the interval to display greater glory. Likewise Habakkuk heard, “Though it lingers, wait for it; it will surely come and will not delay” (Habakkuk 2:3). In Acts 25, the absence of delay leads directly to Paul’s appeal to Caesar, positioning him to preach in Rome (Acts 28:30-31). The episode therefore shows that God may work through both haste and postponement, steering events toward His sovereign purposes. Ministry Implications 1. Church leaders should mirror Festus’ commitment to prompt and fair hearing of disputes (cf. 1 Timothy 5:21). Warnings Against Spiritual Procrastination While Festus shunned delay, Scripture repeatedly portrays postponement as spiritually perilous. Felix’s fatal words, “Go away for now; when I find time I will summon you” (Acts 24:25), illustrate a heart resistant to conviction. Similar warnings echo in Proverbs 27:1, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.” The single negative instance of anabolē thus invites reflection on every believer’s readiness to obey without hesitation. Encouragement in Seasons of Waiting Conversely, when delay is outside one’s control, passages such as Psalm 27:14—“Wait patiently for the Lord; be strong and courageous, and wait patiently for the Lord”—offer solace. Paul himself exemplified steadfastness during two years of Roman custody (Acts 24:27), writing letters that continue to strengthen the church. Related Biblical Themes • Justice without partiality: Deuteronomy 16:19; James 2:1-4 Summary Ἀναβολή marks a decisive moment when Festus refused to postpone Paul’s hearing, propelling the apostle toward Rome and amplifying his testimony. The word’s solitary appearance nevertheless illumines broader biblical teaching: godly leaders act without undue delay, believers guard against procrastination, and God remains sovereign whether events are hurried or deferred. Forms and Transliterations αναβολή αναβολην αναβολήν ἀναβολὴν αναβολής αναβράσαι αναβράσσοντος anabolen anabolēn anabolḕnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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