What Does Acts 25:16 Mean in the King James?
To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.
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
Even the power to hand someone over to death waits for the accused to face the charge and receive a place to answer.
THE MEANING
When you are accused, the charge is not the whole hearing: you stand face to face with those accusing you and receive a place to answer. Before power hands you over to death, your account must be heard; accusation does not erase you from the room.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
Being accused is not the same as being proved guilty, and a person is not to be handed over to die without a hearing.
THE ROOT
χαρίζεσθαι
charizesthai
GROWS FROM
χάρις
charis
Favor; granting or giving freely.
The verb translated “deliver” belongs to the χάρις family of favor and granting. It gives the handover an additional shade: sending someone to destruction is a grant of power, and here that grant waits until the accused is present and has room to answer.
ALSO GROWS
charis: Favor.
χάρις
This is the root family behind the verb translated “deliver,” revealing its shade of granting.
charisma: A gift or favor granted.
χάρισμα
Like the verb in this verse, it names something conferred; here, the thing at stake is a person’s fate.
ἀπολογίας
apologias
GROWS FROM
λόγος
logos
Word, speech, or account.
The phrase says the accused receives a place for an ἀπολογία, a defense, a speech in reply. The right is concrete: there must be room for the accused’s own account to meet the charge.
ALSO GROWS
logos: Word, speech, or account.
λόγος
The defense is made of words: the accused is heard as a speaking person, not merely described by a charge.
apologeomai: Defend oneself or answer a charge.
ἀπολογέομαι
This related verb names the act the accused must be given space to make.
κατηγορούμενος
katēgoroumenos
GROWS FROM
κατηγορε-
katēgore-
Accuse; speak against.
“accused / accusers” in this verse is katēgoroumenos. Both “the accused” and “the accusers” come from the same Greek verb-family for accusation. The verse brings those roles face to face, so the charge must meet the person it names before it can lead to death.
ALSO GROWS
katēgoros: Accuser.
κατήγορος
The accusers are the people whose charge must be heard face to face.
katēgoria: Accusation or charge.
κατηγορία
The charge is a claim to be heard and answered, not itself a verdict.
THE PATTERN
A charge must be tested and heard before it can settle the fate of the person it names.
One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?THE THREAD
Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.“Defence” is the same Greek word-family, ἀπολογία (apologia), found in Acts 25:16. There, the accused must receive a place for that speech; here, the defense begins by being heard.
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