On their way out, they said to one another, “This man has done nothing worthy of death or imprisonment.”
Parallel translations
- WEB When they had withdrawn, they spoke to one another, saying, “This man does nothing worthy of death or of bonds.”
- KJV And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.
- NKJV and when they had gone aside, they talked among themselves, saying, “This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains.”
- NASB and when they had gone out, they began talking to one another, saying, “This man is not doing anything deserving death or imprisonment.”
- NLT As they went out, they talked it over and agreed, “This man hasn’t done anything to deserve death or imprisonment.”
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
In private the officials agree that Paul has done nothing deserving death or imprisonment.
Overview
Withdrawing to confer, the leaders acknowledge Paul's innocence, echoing the repeated declarations of his blamelessness throughout Acts. As with Christ before Pilate, the authorities find no real guilt in the accused. This vindication underscores that Paul suffers not for wrongdoing but for the gospel, and highlights the injustice of his prolonged imprisonment.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Acts 23:29I found that the accusation involved questions about their own law, but there was no charge worthy of death or imprisonment.
- Acts 23:9A great clamor arose, and some scribes from the party of the Pharisees got up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”
- Acts 28:18They examined me and wanted to release me, because there was no basis for a death sentence against me.
- Acts 25:25But I found he had done nothing worthy of death, and since he has now appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.
- 1 Pet 4:14–16If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
- 2 Sam 24:17When David saw the angel striking down the people, he said to the LORD, “Surely I, the shepherd, have sinned and acted wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Please, let Your hand fall upon me and my father’s house.”
- 1 Pet 3:16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ.
- Luke 23:4Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”
- Luke 23:14–15and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined Him here in your presence and found Him not guilty of your charges against Him.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 26:31 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.