Chapter 26—Sojourn at Rome According to Roman law, the trial of Paul could not take place until his accusers should be present in person to state their charges against him. They had not yet come from Palestine, nor was it known at Rome whether they had even started on the long journey. Therefore the trial might be postponed indefinitely. Little regard was shown for the rights of those supposed to have violated the law. It was often the case that an accused person was kept in prison a long time, by the delay of the prosecutors to prefer their charges; or his trial might be deferred by the caprice of those in power. A corrupt judge could hold a prisoner in custody for years, as did Felix in the case of Paul, to gratify popular prejudice, or in hope of securing a bribe. These judges were, however, amenable to a higher tribunal, and this would in some measure serve as a restraint upon them. But the emperor was subjected to no such restraint. His authority was virtually unlimited, and he often permitted caprice, malice, or even indolence, to hinder or prevent the administration of justice.{LP 280.1}

Efter romersk lov kunne Paulus dom ikke finde sted før hans anklagere var personligt til stede, og anføre deres anklager imod ham. De var endnu ikke kommet fra Palæstina, det var heller ikke kendt i Rom om de var begyndt på den lange rejse eller ej. Derfor måtte dommen udsættes på ubestemt tid. Der blev vist lidt hensyn til deres rettigheder, det formodedes at have overtrådt loven. Det var ofte sådan at den anklagede person blev holdt i fængsel i lang tid, for at anklagerne kunne fremføre deres anklager; ellers kunne hans sag udsættes efter myndighedspersonernes lune. En korrupt dommer kunne holde en fange hen i årevis, ligesom Feliks gjorde med Paulus sag, for at tilfredsstille populære fordomme, eller i håb om at få bestikkelse. Disse dommere var ikke desto mindre lydhøre for en højere retsindstans, og dette ville i et vist omfang være et bånd for dem. Men kejseren var ikke underlagt en højere instans. Hans myndighed var faktisk ubegrænset, og han lod ofte lunefuldhed, ondsind eller endog magelighed, forhindre retsudøvelsen.