Act 25:16 | Clarke | e4.org | Verse 16. It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die ] χαριζεσθαιτιναανθρωπον, To MAKE A PRESENT of any man; gratuitously to give up the life of any man, through favour or caprice. Here is a reference to the subject discussed on . Before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face , &c.] For this righteous procedure the Roman laws were celebrated over the civilized world. APPIAN, in his Hist. Roman ., says: ου πατριονσφισινακριτουςκαταδικαζεσθαι. It is not their custom to condemn men before they have been heard . And PHILO De Praesid. Rom ., says: τοτεγαρκοινουςεαυτουςπαρεχοντεςδικασταςεξ ισουκαιτωνκατηγορωνκαιαπολογουμενωνακουομενοιμηδενος ακιτουπροκαταγινωσκειναξιουντεςεβραβευονουτεπροςεχθραν ουτεπροςχαριναλλαπροςτηνφυσιντηςαληθειαςταδοξαντα ειναιδικαια. "For then, by giving sentence in common, and hearing impartially both plaintiff and defendant , not thinking it right to condemn any person unheard , they decided as appeared to them to be just; without either enmity or favour , but according to the merits of the case." See Bp. Pearce . England can boast such laws, not only in her statute books , but in constant operation in all her courts of justice. Even the king himself, were he so inclined, could not imprison nor punish a man without the regular procedure of the law; and twelve honest men , before whom the evidence has been adduced, the case argued, and the law laid down and explained, are ultimately to judge whether the man be guilty or not guilty. Here , in this favoured country, are no arbitrary imprisonments -no Bastiles -no lettres de cachet . Lex facit Regem : the law makes the king, says Bracton , and the king is the grand executor and guardian of the laws-laws, in the eyes of which the character, property , and life of every subject are sacred.

‏ Acts 25:16

Verse 16. It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die] χαριζεσθαιτιναανθρωπον, To MAKE A PRESENT of any man; gratuitously to give up the life of any man, through favour or caprice. Here is a reference to the subject discussed on Ac 25:11.

Before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, &c.] For this righteous procedure the Roman laws were celebrated over the civilized world. APPIAN, in his Hist. Roman., says: ου πατριονσφισινακριτουςκαταδικαζεσθαι. It is not their custom to condemn men before they have been heard. And PHILO De Praesid. Rom., says: τοτεγαρκοινουςεαυτουςπαρεχοντεςδικασταςεξ ισουκαιτωνκατηγορωνκαιαπολογουμενωνακουομενοιμηδενος ακιτουπροκαταγινωσκειναξιουντεςεβραβευονουτεπροςεχθραν ουτεπροςχαριναλλαπροςτηνφυσιντηςαληθειαςταδοξαντα ειναιδικαια. "For then, by giving sentence in common, and hearing impartially both plaintiff and defendant, not thinking it right to condemn any person unheard, they decided as appeared to them to be just; without either enmity or favour, but according to the merits of the case." See Bp. Pearce. England can boast such laws, not only in her statute books, but in constant operation in all her courts of justice. Even the king himself, were he so inclined, could not imprison nor punish a man without the regular procedure of the law; and twelve honest men, before whom the evidence has been adduced, the case argued, and the law laid down and explained, are ultimately to judge whether the man be guilty or not guilty. Here, in this favoured country, are no arbitrary imprisonments-no Bastiles-no lettres de cachet. Lex facit Regem: the law makes the king, says Bracton, and the king is the grand executor and guardian of the laws-laws, in the eyes of which the character, property, and life of every subject are sacred.