What Does Acts 28:18 Mean in the King James?
Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.
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 examination finds no cause for death, making release the fitting outcome.
THE MEANING
This verse gives you a measure for accusation: examination can find no cause that warrants death. Continued restraint does not create the cause that is missing. Release stands as the fitting result of a finding that there is no basis for death.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
Being held does not prove that you deserve death; the finding here is that no cause of death is present.
THE ROOT
ἀπολῦσαι
apolysai
GROWS FROM
λύω
lyō
to loosen, untie, release
“let me go” in this verse is apolysai. The Greek word for release grows from the root for loosening. The sentence links release to the finding that no cause of death is present: it pictures restraint coming undone when the examination finds no basis for death.
ALSO GROWS
apolyō: release, dismiss
ἀπολύω
This is the verb in its dictionary form; Acts uses its infinitive form for the release that follows the examination.
lysis: loosening, release
λύσις
This related noun makes the image of something held fast becoming loose explicit.
ἀνακρίναντές
anakrinantes
GROWS FROM
κρίνω
krinō
to distinguish, judge, decide
“examined” in this verse is anakrinantes. Examination, judgment, and the judge all grow from the same Greek root of discernment. Scrutiny does not automatically mean condemnation: here it reaches a finding that does not warrant death.
ALSO GROWS
anakrinō: examine, investigate
ἀνακρίνω
This is the verb used here: the release follows a close examination.
krisis: judgment, decision
κρίσις
The same root names the judgment reached after weighing a matter.
kritēs: judge
κριτής
The root also names the one who makes a judgment, showing how examination and decision belong to one word family.
THE PATTERN
When a charge is examined and no cause for death is found, condemnation lacks its stated basis.
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.Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.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.THE THREAD
And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Cæsar’s friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Cæsar.John uses the same verb, ἀπολύω (apolyō), for release as Acts 28:18. Read together, the verses show the hinge: examination supports release, yet pressure can still hold it back.
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