The Meaning of Acts 26:32 Explained

Acts 26:32

KJV: Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.

YLT: and Agrippa said to Festus, 'This man might have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.'

Darby: And Agrippa said to Festus, This man might have been let go if he had not appealed to Caesar.

ASV: And Agrippa said unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then  said  Agrippa  unto Festus,  This  man  might  have been set at liberty,  if  he had  not  appealed unto  Caesar. 

What does Acts 26:32 Mean?

Context Summary

Acts 26:22-32 - Convincing His Inquisitors
Paul was in his element. He was delivering to kings and governors the testimony which it was the constant object of his life to give, when suddenly he was stopped by Festus, who, on hearing of the resurrection of the dead, accused Paul of madness. Paul addressed him with perfect respect, and then turned to King Agrippa for justification. But Agrippa did not choose to be entrapped in the discussion of these deep religious truths. With the contempt of a man of the world he smiled at the enthusiastic earnestness of this man who fancied that a wearer of purple would embrace faith in a crucified Messiah. It was as if he said, "In a little while you'll be making me-a Christian!"
Paul immediately caught up his words. With evident sincerity he broke in with, I would to God that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost and altogether such as I am (here he must have raised his fettered hands) except these bonds. He was no common criminal, as his judges were fain to admit, and the proceedings of that day probably, under God, saved Paul's life, for Nero could hardly condemn to death a man who had been pronounced innocent by such hearers as these. [source]

Chapter Summary: Acts 26

1  Paul, in the presence of Agrippa, declares his life from his childhood;
12  and how miraculously he was converted, and called to his apostleship
24  Festus charges him with being insane, whereunto he answers modestly
28  Agrippa is almost persuaded to be a Christian
31  The whole company pronounces him innocent

Greek Commentary for Acts 26:32

This man might have been set at liberty [Απολελυσται εδυνατο ο αντρωπος ουτος]
Conclusion of the second class condition (determined as unfulfilled) without αν — an as in Acts 24:19 because of εδυνατο — edunato (verb of possibility, Robertson, Grammar, p. 1014). Note perfect passive infinitive απολελυσται — apolelusthai from απολυω — apoluō He certainly “could have been set free.” Why was it not done? [source]
If he had not appealed unto Caesar [ει μη επεκεκλητο Καισαρα]
Condition of the second class with the past perfect middle indicative (op. cit., p. 1015) of επικαλεω — epikaleō (cf. Acts 25:11.). But Paul only appealed to Caesar after Festus had tried to shift him back to Jerusalem and had refused to set him free in Caesarea. Festus comes out with no honour in the case. Since Agrippa was a favourite at court perhaps Festus would be willing to write favourably to Caesar. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 26:32 mean?

Agrippa then to Festus was saying Have been released could the man this if not he had appealed to Caesar
Ἀγρίππας δὲ τῷ Φήστῳ ἔφη Ἀπολελύσθαι ἐδύνατο ἄνθρωπος οὗτος εἰ μὴ ἐπεκέκλητο Καίσαρα

Ἀγρίππας  Agrippa 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἀγρίππας  
Sense: Name of a ruling family in Israel at the time of Christ.
Φήστῳ  Festus 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: Φῆστος  
Sense: the successor of Felix as procurator of Judea.
ἔφη  was  saying 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: φημί  
Sense: to make known one’s thoughts, to declare.
Ἀπολελύσθαι  Have  been  released 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Infinitive Middle or Passive
Root: ἀπολύω  
Sense: to set free.
ἐδύνατο  could 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd 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.
ἄνθρωπος  man 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἄνθρωπος  
Sense: a human being, whether male or female.
οὗτος  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
ἐπεκέκλητο  he  had  appealed 
Parse: Verb, Pluperfect Indicative Middle, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἐπικαλέω  
Sense: to put a name upon, to surname.
Καίσαρα  to  Caesar 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: Καῖσαρ  
Sense: the surname of Julius Caesar, which adopted by Octavius Augustus and his successors afterwards became a title, and was appropriated by the Roman emperors as part of their title.

What are the major concepts related to Acts 26:32?

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