“When they met here,
I lost no time.
On the next day,
I took my seat
On the tribunal.
I ordered Paul
To be brought in.”
συνελθόντων οὖν ἐνθάδε ἀναβολὴν μηδεμίαν ποιησάμενος τῇ ἑξῆς καθίσας ἐπὶ τοῦ βήματος ἐκέλευσα ἀχθῆναι τὸν ἄνδρα·
The author of Acts indicated that Festus told them that when they met here (συνελθόντων οὖν ἐνθάδε), he lost no time or without any delay (ἀναβολὴν μηδεμίαν ποιησάμενος). On the next day (τῇ ἑξῆς) he took his seat (καθίσας) on the tribunal (ἐπὶ τοῦ βήματος). He ordered (ἐκέλευσα) the man Paul (τὸν ἄνδρα) to be brought in (ἀχθῆναι). Acts was the only Greek biblical writing that used this word ἀναβολὴν, that means delay, postponement, or putting off. Once again, Governor Porcius Festus told King Agrippa II and Bernice that he wanted to quickly get rid of this matter. The day after he arrived in Caesarea, he held a hearing about Paul, who was summoned to the tribunal for the trial. The author of Acts continued to summarize what Festus had done. Do you put things off?
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 