Act 25:16 | RWP | e4.org | It is not the custom of the Romans ( οτ ουκ εστιν εθος Ρωμαιοις ). If a direct quotation, οτ is recitative as in Authorized Version. Canterbury Revision takes it as indirect discourse after απεκριθην (I answered), itself in a relative clause ( προς ους ) with the present tense ( εστιν , is) preserved as is usual. There is a touch of disdain (Furneaux) in the tone of Festus. He may refer to a demand of the Jews before they asked that Paul be brought to Jerusalem ( ). At any rate there is a tone of scorn towards the Jews. Before that the accused have ( πριν η ο κατηγορουμενος εχο ). This use of the optative in this temporal clause with πριν η instead of the subjunctive αν εχη is in conformity with literary Greek and occurs only in Luke's writings in the N.T. (Robertson, Grammar , p. 970). This sequence of modes is a mark of the literary style occasionally seen in Luke. It is interesting here to note the succession of dependent clauses in verses . The accusers face to face ( κατα προσωπον τους κατηγορους ). Same word κατηγορος as in , ; . This all sounds fair enough. And have had opportunity to make his defence concerning the matter laid against him ( τοπον τε απολογιας λαβο περ του εγκληματος ). Literally, "And should receive ( λαβο optative for same reason as εχο above, second aorist active of λαμβανω ) opportunity for defence (objective genitive) concerning the charge" ( εγκληματος in N.T. only here and which see).

‏ Acts 25:16

It is not the custom of the Romans ( οτ ουκ εστιν εθος Ρωμαιοις ). If a direct quotation, οτ is recitative as in Authorized Version. Canterbury Revision takes it as indirect discourse after απεκριθην (I answered), itself in a relative clause ( προς ους ) with the present tense ( εστιν, is) preserved as is usual. There is a touch of disdain (Furneaux) in the tone of Festus. He may refer to a demand of the Jews before they asked that Paul be brought to Jerusalem (25:3). At any rate there is a tone of scorn towards the Jews.

Before that the accused have ( πριν η ο κατηγορουμενος εχο ). This use of the optative in this temporal clause with πριν η instead of the subjunctive αν εχη is in conformity with literary Greek and occurs only in Luke's writings in the N.T. (Robertson, Grammar, p. 970). This sequence of modes is a mark of the literary style occasionally seen in Luke. It is interesting here to note the succession of dependent clauses in verses 14-16.

The accusers face to face ( κατα προσωπον τους κατηγορους ). Same word κατηγορος as in 23:30, 35; 25:18. This all sounds fair enough.

And have had opportunity to make his defence concerning the matter laid against him ( τοπον τε απολογιας λαβο περ του εγκληματος ). Literally, "And should receive ( λαβο optative for same reason as εχο above, second aorist active of λαμβανω ) opportunity for defence (objective genitive) concerning the charge" ( εγκληματος in N.T. only here and 23:19 which see).