Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.
The verse belongs to Paul's coming to Italy and Rome as a prisoner, after landing at Puteoli where by the centurion's permission he remained seven days with the Christians, then traveling one hundred and forty miles to Rome where he was met and welcomed by Roman Christians who had eagerly expected his visit since receiving his epistle to the Romans and who loved him more because he came to them suffering in chains. It is part of his first statement to the leading Jews in Rome three days after his arrival, made to present the facts about himself and his work before his enemies could embitter them against him. After Paul was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem, the Roman authorities who examined him found him innocent of any offense deserving death and were ready and willing to release him. His continued custody came not from any finding of a capital crime but because the Jews opposed his release and he was constrained to appeal to Caesar, and with this he affirmed that he had done nothing against his people or the customs of the fathers, that he had no charge to bring against his nation, and that he was bound for the hope of Israel. In making this defense he spoke in a simple and direct manner with caution and kindness, saying nothing of the abuse he had suffered or the plots to assassinate him, not to win personal attention or sympathy but to defend the truth and maintain the honor of the gospel.
The accusations against him were not sustained, and Nero declared him guiltless, so his bonds were removed and he was set free. That release allowed him to leave Rome soon afterward and to be spared the persecution that followed. Even though the examiners were willing to release him, he remained in chains and faced a criminal's death under Nero.
The verse belongs to Paul's coming to Italy and Rome as a prisoner, after landing at Puteoli where by the centurion's permission he remained seven days with the Christians, then traveling one hundred and forty miles to Rome where he was met and welcomed by Roman Christians who had eagerly expected his visit since receiving his epistle to the Romans and who loved him more because he came to them suffering in chains. It is part of his first statement to the leading Jews in Rome three days after his arrival, made to present the facts about himself and his work before his enemies could embitter them against him. After Paul was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem, the Roman authorities who examined him found him innocent of any offense deserving death and were ready and willing to release him. His continued custody came not from any finding of a capital crime but because the Jews opposed his release and he was constrained to appeal to Caesar, and with this he affirmed that he had done nothing against his people or the customs of the fathers, that he had no charge to bring against his nation, and that he was bound for the hope of Israel. In making this defense he spoke in a simple and direct manner with caution and kindness, saying nothing of the abuse he had suffered or the plots to assassinate him, not to win personal attention or sympathy but to defend the truth and maintain the honor of the gospel.
The accusations against him were not sustained, and Nero declared him guiltless, so his bonds were removed and he was set free. That release allowed him to leave Rome soon afterward and to be spared the persecution that followed. Even though the examiners were willing to release him, he remained in chains and faced a criminal's death under Nero.