Paul is convinced that Festus must certainly know of his innocence, and you yourself is an emphatic expression in Greek. Thus Paul seemingly suspects that Festus’ question is only a device for gaining favor with the Jews.

It is not at all easy to introduce meaningfully an expression such as I am standing before the Emperor’s own judgment court. In fact, this first clause may very well be combined with the second clause, and the entire sentence translated as “I insist that my case should be judged in the Emperor’s own court” or “I insist that the Emperor should judge my case.”

I have done no wrong to the Jews may be rendered as “I have not caused the Jews any harm” or “I have not hurt the Jews.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .