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

But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.

Acts 25:25 · 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.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

The judgment finds no act worthy of death, while the appeal still sends him onward.

THE MEANING

The verse holds two things together: no deed worthy of death is found, and the appeal still carries the person into the next stage of the process. The finding of innocence and the decision to send him onward are distinct.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

Being sent onward does not mean a capital offense has been established; the verse explicitly says no such offense was found.

THE ROOT

ἔκρινα

ekrina

GROWS FROM

κρίνω

krinō

To separate, judge, or decide.

“determined” in this verse is ekrina. The decision carries the sense of judgment: the matter is weighed, then a course is chosen. Here the judgment about death and the decision to send him onward remain separate acts.

ALSO GROWS

krisis: judgment, decision

κρίσις

This branch makes visible the judgment carried within the decision to send him.

kritēs: judge

κριτής

The judge is the one who weighs a matter and makes a decision, as Festus does here.

ἐπικαλεσαμένου

epikalesamenou

GROWS FROM

καλέω

kaleō

To call or summon; with ⁨ἐπί⁩ (epi), to call upon or invoke.

“appealed” in this verse is epikalesamenou. The appeal is expressed as calling upon someone: the act invokes Caesar as the authority who will hear the matter. That call sets the next movement in motion even though the local finding is that nothing warrants death.

ALSO GROWS

klēsis: a calling, invitation

κλῆσις

This branch shows how the call-family can name an act of calling; here the appeal calls upon a higher authority.

klētos: called, summoned

κλητός

The word shares the call-root, making the appeal’s sense of summoning a response easier to see.

THE PATTERN

Judgment distinguishes accusation from a charge that actually warrants condemnation.

He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.

Proverbs 17:15 · KJVThe verse distinguishes the just from the wicked, showing that judgment depends on rightly discerning the person before it.

Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.

Luke 23:4 · KJVThe finding of no fault stands plainly beside the accusation brought against Jesus.

Whom 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 23:29 · KJVThe verse separates being accused from having a charge that warrants death or imprisonment.

THE THREAD

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 same Greek call-word, ⁨ἐπικαλέω⁩ (epikaleō), means to call upon and appears in both verses. Here the answer to that appeal is stated directly: the call to Caesar determines where the case goes next.

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