The Meaning of Acts 24:8 Explained

Acts 24:8

KJV: Commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him.

YLT: having commanded his accusers to come to thee, from whom thou mayest be able, thyself having examined, to know concerning all these things of which we accuse him;'

Darby: having commanded his accusers to come to thee; of whom thou canst thyself, in examining him, know the certainty of all these things of which we accuse him.

ASV: commanding his accusers to come before thee. from whom thou wilt be able, by examining him thyself, to take knowledge of all these things whereof we accuse him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Commanding  his  accusers  to come  unto  thee:  by examining  of  whom  thyself  mayest  take knowledge  of  all  these things,  whereof  we  accuse  him. 

What does Acts 24:8 Mean?

Context Summary

Acts 24:1-16 - Truth Against Slander
Paul was always on the lookout for the one ray of light in murky skies. He found a reason for counting himself happy in this dark hour, Acts 24:10. He held himself with great dignity. He remembered that he was always God's ambassador, representing the court of heaven amid the perverse courts of human government. As for the charge of sedition, he challenged his adversaries to prove it. He pointed out that as the nation was already divided into Pharisees and Sadducees, they could hardly find fault with him for belonging to a third sect-that of the Nazarenes. After the way which they called a sect, Acts 24:14, r.v., he worshipped God, but he had never stirred up strife in temple or synagogue. He protested that it had been the aim of his life to keep a conscience void of offense toward God and man.
In Acts 23:1 he had made a similar statement. Well would it be for us if only we would devote a few minutes at the close of each day to discover whether our conscience accused us of failure in heart, thought, or behavior. The Holy Spirit pleads in the court of conscience. We would be kept from many a fall, if we would be more careful to watch against the little rifts. [source]

Chapter Summary: Acts 24

1  Paul being accused by Tertullus the orator,
10  answers for his life and doctrine
24  He preaches Christ to the governor and his wife
26  The governor hopes for a bribe, but in vain
27  Felix, succeeded by Festus, leaves Paul in prison

Greek Commentary for Acts 24:8

From whom [παρ ου]
Referring to Paul, but in the Textus Receptus referring to Lysias. [source]
By examining him thyself [αυτος ανακρινας]
Not by torture, since Paul was a Roman citizen, but by hearing what Paul has to say in defence of himself. Ανακρινω — Anakrinō is to examine thoroughly up and down as in Luke 23:14. [source]
From whom []
Paul. It would refer to Lysias if the omitted passage above were retained. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 24:8

Acts 24:7  []
This whole verse with some words at the end of Acts 24:6 and the beginning of Acts 24:8 in the Textus Receptus (“And would have judged according to our law. But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands, commanding his accusers to come unto thee”) is absent from Aleph A B H L P 61 (many other cursives) Sahidic Bohairic. It is beyond doubt a later addition to the incomplete report of the speech of Tertullus. As the Revised Version stands, Acts 24:8 connects with Acts 24:6 . The motive of the added words is clearly to prejudice Felix against Lysias and they contradict the record in Acts 21. Furneaux holds them to be genuine and omitted because contradictory to Acts 21. More likely they are a clumsy attempt to complete the speech of Tertullus. [source]
Acts 24:11 Seeing that thou canst take knowledge [δυναμενου σου επιγνωναι]
Genitive absolute again. The same word and form (επιγνωναι — epignōnai) used by Tertullus, if in Greek, in Acts 24:8 to Felix. Paul takes it up and repeats it. [source]
Acts 25:26 Unto my lord [τωι κυριωι]
Augustus (Octavius) and Tiberius refused the title of κυριος — kurios (lord) as too much like rex (king) and like master and slave, but the servility of the subjects gave it to the other emperors who accepted it (Nero among them). Antoninus Pius put it on his coins. Deissmann (Light from the Ancient East, p. 105) gives an ostracon dated Aug. 4, a.d. 63 with the words “in the year nine of Nero the lord” Deissmann (op. cit., pp. 349ff.) runs a most interesting parallel “between the cult of Christ and the cult of Caesar in the application of the term κυριος — kurios lord” in ostraca, papyri, inscriptions. Beyond a doubt Paul has all this fully in mind when he says in 1 Corinthians 12:3 that “no one is able to say Κυριος Ιησους — Kurios Iēsous except in the Holy Spirit” (cf. also Philemon 2:11). The Christians claimed this word for Christ and it became the test in the Roman persecutions as when Polycarp steadily refused to say “ Lord Caesar” and insisted on saying “Lord Jesus” when it meant his certain death. Before you (επ υμων — eph' humōn). The whole company. In no sense a new trial, but an examination in the presence of these prominent men to secure data and to furnish entertainment and pleasure to Agrippa (Acts 25:22). Especially before thee Out of courtesy. It was the main reason as Acts 25:22 shows. Agrippa was a Jew and Festus was glad of the chance to see what he thought of Paul‘s case. After examination had (της ανακρισεως γενομενης — tēs anakriseōs genomenēs). Genitive absolute, “the examination having taken place.” Ανακρισις — Anakrisis from ανακρινω — anakrinō (cf. Acts 12:19; Acts 24:8; Acts 28:18) is a legal term for preliminary examination. Only here in the N.T. Inscriptions and papyri give it as examination of slaves or other property. That I may have somewhat to write Ingressive aorist subjunctive σχω — schō (may get) with οπως — hopōs (final particle like ινα — hina). Τι γραπσω — Ti grapsō in indirect question after σχω — schō is either future indicative or aorist subjunctive (Robertson, Grammar, p. 1045). Festus makes it plain that this is not a “trial,” but an examination for his convenience to help him out of a predicament. [source]
Acts 25:26 After examination had [της ανακρισεως γενομενης]
Genitive absolute, “the examination having taken place.” Ανακρισις — Anakrisis from ανακρινω — anakrinō (cf. Acts 12:19; Acts 24:8; Acts 28:18) is a legal term for preliminary examination. Only here in the N.T. Inscriptions and papyri give it as examination of slaves or other property. [source]
Acts 28:18 When they had examined me [ανακριναντες με]
First aorist active participle of ανακρινω — anakrinō the same verb used already in Acts 24:8; Acts 25:6, Acts 25:26 of the judicial examinations by Felix and Festus. [source]
Acts 25:26 Especially before thee [μαλιστα επι σου]
Out of courtesy. It was the main reason as Acts 25:22 shows. Agrippa was a Jew and Festus was glad of the chance to see what he thought of Paul‘s case. After examination had (της ανακρισεως γενομενης — tēs anakriseōs genomenēs). Genitive absolute, “the examination having taken place.” Ανακρισις — Anakrisis from ανακρινω — anakrinō (cf. Acts 12:19; Acts 24:8; Acts 28:18) is a legal term for preliminary examination. Only here in the N.T. Inscriptions and papyri give it as examination of slaves or other property. That I may have somewhat to write Ingressive aorist subjunctive σχω — schō (may get) with οπως — hopōs (final particle like ινα — hina). Τι γραπσω — Ti grapsō in indirect question after σχω — schō is either future indicative or aorist subjunctive (Robertson, Grammar, p. 1045). Festus makes it plain that this is not a “trial,” but an examination for his convenience to help him out of a predicament. [source]
1 Corinthians 2:14 Discerned [ἀνακρίνεται]
Rev., judged. Used only by Luke and Paul, and by the latter in this epistle only. By Luke, mostly of judicial examination: Luke 23:14; Acts 4:9; Acts 12:19; Acts 24:8; Acts 28:18. Of examining the Scriptures, Acts 17:11, but with the sense of proving or coming to a judgment on. The fundamental idea of the word is examination, scrutiny, following up ( ἀνά ) a series of objects or particulars in order to distinguish ( κρίνω ). This is its almost universal meaning in classical Greek. At Athens it was used technically in two senses: to examine magistrates with a view to proving their qualifications; and to examine persons concerned in a suit, so as to prepare the matter for trial, as a grand jury. The meaning judged is, at best, inferential, and the Rev. inserts examined in the margin. Bishop Lightfoot says: “ Ανακρίνειν is neither to judge nor to discern; but to examine, investigate, inquire into, question, as it is rightly translated, 1 Corinthians 9:3; 1 Corinthians 10:25, 1 Corinthians 10:27. The apostle condemns all these impatient human praejudicia which anticipate the final judgment, reserving his case for the great tribunal, where at length all the evidence will be forthcoming and a satisfactory verdict can be given. Meanwhile the process of gathering evidence has begun; an ἀνάκρισις investigationis indeed being held, not, however, by these self-appointed magistrates, but by one who alone has the authority to institute the inquiry, and the ability to sift the facts” (“On a Fresh Revision of the New Testament”). See, further, on 1 Corinthians 4:3, 1 Corinthians 4:4. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 24:8 mean?

Commanding the accusers of him to come to you From him you will be able yourself having examined [him] concerning all these things to know of which we accuse him
{κελεύσας τοὺς κατηγόρους αὐτοῦ ἔρχεσθαι ἐπὶ σέ} παρ’ οὗ δυνήσῃ αὐτὸς ἀνακρίνας περὶ πάντων τούτων ἐπιγνῶναι ὧν ἡμεῖς κατηγοροῦμεν αὐτοῦ

{κελεύσας  Commanding 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: κελεύω  
Sense: to command, to order.
κατηγόρους  accusers 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: κατήγορος 
Sense: an accuser.
αὐτοῦ  of  him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτόπτης  
Sense: in that place, there, here.
ἔρχεσθαι  to  come 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Middle
Root: ἔρχομαι  
Sense: to come.
δυνήσῃ  you  will  be  able 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Middle, 2nd Person Singular
Root: δύναμαι  
Sense: to be able, have power whether by virtue of one’s own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through favourable circumstances, or by permission of law or custom.
αὐτὸς  yourself 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
ἀνακρίνας  having  examined  [him] 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀνακρίνω  
Sense: examine or judge.
περὶ  concerning 
Parse: Preposition
Root: περί 
Sense: about, concerning, on account of, because of, around, near.
τούτων  these  things 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Genitive Neuter Plural
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
ἐπιγνῶναι  to  know 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: ἐπιγινώσκω  
Sense: to become thoroughly acquainted with, to know thoroughly.
ὧν  of  which 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Genitive Neuter Plural
Root: ὅς 
Sense: who, which, what, that.
κατηγοροῦμεν  accuse 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Plural
Root: κατηγορέω  
Sense: to accuse.

What are the major concepts related to Acts 24:8?

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