What Does Acts 25:12 Mean in the King James?

Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Cæsar? unto Cæsar shalt thou go.

Acts 25:12 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

The Greek word for “appealed” means “called upon”: Caesar is both the one Paul calls upon and the destination Festus names.

THE MEANING

An appeal places a matter before the authority it names. Here, the call and its consequence meet: the authority invoked becomes the destination.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The verse undoes the belief that an appeal is only a protest that cannot redirect where a case goes.

THE ROOT

ἐπικαλέσῃ

epikalēsē

GROWS FROM

καλέω

kaleō

To call or summon; with ⁨ἐπί⁩ (epi, “upon”), the verb means to call upon someone.

“Appealed” carries the image of calling upon a named authority. Festus echoes that call with “unto Cæsar,” making the one invoked the place Paul must go.

ALSO GROWS

klētos: called, invited

κλητός

This branch describes someone called or summoned; here, the appeal is directed toward the authority being called upon.

parakaleō: comfort, urge

παρακαλέω

The same calling root appears in words for urging or comforting; in this verse, the call takes the form of a formal appeal.

THE PATTERN

A call directed to an authority is joined to a consequence that follows from addressing that authority.

Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Cæsar? unto Cæsar shalt thou go.

Acts 25:12 · KJVCaesar is named as the one appealed to, and the ruling sends Paul to Caesar.

And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

Psalm 50:15 · KJVThe call is addressed to the LORD, and the verse names the deliverance that follows.

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Romans 10:13 · KJVCalling upon the Lord’s name is joined to the outcome promised to whoever calls.

THE THREAD

For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Cæsar.

Acts 25:11 · KJV

Paul’s appeal appears here first as his own declaration. The next verse echoes that call and makes its direction explicit: he is sent to the authority he appealed to.

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