Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.
Parallel translations
- WEB who, when they had examined me, desired to set me free, because there was no cause of death in me.
- BSB They examined me and wanted to release me, because there was no basis for a death sentence against me.
- NKJV who, when they had examined me, wanted to let me go, because there was no cause for putting me to death.
- NASB And when they had examined me, they were willing to release me because there were no grounds for putting me to death.
- NLT The Romans tried me and wanted to release me, because they found no cause for the death sentence.
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 notes that the Romans examined him and wished to release him, finding no capital offense. His innocence underscores the injustice of his bonds.
Overview
Paul recounts that the Roman authorities, after investigation, found no grounds for a death sentence and intended to free him. Luke repeatedly stresses Paul's legal innocence, much as he does for Jesus before Pilate. The Christian movement is shown to be no threat to Rome; opposition arises from religious hostility, not real crime.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Acts 26:31–32And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.
- Acts 23:29Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.
- Acts 22:24–25The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him.
- Acts 22:30On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.
- Acts 24:10Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself:
- Acts 25:7–8And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.
- Acts 24:22And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter.
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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 28:18 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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