But some Jews from the province of Asia were there—and they ought to be here to bring charges if they have anything against me!
Parallel translations
- WEB They ought to have been here before you, and to make accusation, if they had anything against me.
- KJV Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against me.
- BSB who ought to appear before you and bring charges, if they have anything against me.
- NKJV They ought to have been here before you to object if they had anything against me.
- NASB who ought to have been present before you and to have been bringing charges, if they should have anything against me.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul points out that the Asian Jews who first accused him ought to be present to make their case. Their absence undermines the prosecution.
Overview
Roman law required accusers to appear in person, and the original instigators have not come, a serious flaw in the case. Paul presses this legal gap to show the charges cannot be sustained. His careful appeal to due process reflects both his innocence and the way God uses the structures of justice to protect his witness.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
- Acts 23:30When 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.”
- Acts 25:16To whom I answered 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.
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 24:19 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.