They only had some contentions with him regarding their own religion and a certain Jesus who had died, but whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
Parallel translations
- WEB but had certain questions against him about their own religion, and about one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
- KJV But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
- NKJV but had some questions against him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who had died, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
- NASB but they simply had some points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a dead man, Jesus, whom Paul asserted to be alive.
- NLT Instead, it was something about their religion and a dead man named Jesus, who Paul insists is alive.
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
Festus says the dispute was about their religion and about a dead man named Jesus whom Paul claimed to be alive. He unwittingly states the central gospel claim.
Overview
From a pagan governor's lips comes the very issue at stake: the resurrection of Jesus, whom Paul declares alive. Festus treats it as an obscure religious quarrel, yet it is the truth on which all of Christianity rests. The remark underscores that the resurrection of Christ is the dividing line, dismissed by the world but proclaimed by Paul as the foundation of saving faith.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Acts 23:29I found that the accusation involved questions about their own law, but there was no charge worthy of death or imprisonment.
- Acts 18:15But since it is a dispute about words and names and your own law, settle it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of such things.”
- 1 Cor 15:3–4For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
- Acts 17:31For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”
- Acts 26:22–23But I have had God’s help to this day, and I stand here to testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen:
- 1 Cor 15:14–20And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is worthless, and so is your faith.
- Acts 2:32God has raised this Jesus to life, to which we are all witnesses.
- Acts 17:22–23Then Paul stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I see that in every way you are very religious.
- Acts 25:7When Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges that they could not prove.
- Acts 18:19When they reached Ephesus, Paul parted ways with Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue there and reasoned with the Jews.
- Acts 1:22beginning from John’s baptism until the day Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”
- Rev 1:18the Living One. I was dead, and behold, now I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of Death and of Hades.
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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 25:19 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
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