Re the Events Recorded in Acts 25:1-5: When did they transpire? In 44 CE, or in 45 CE?

Statement of belief: “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17 KJV)

Updated 5928± 10 06 2024 [2007-12-16]

Re the Events Recorded in Acts 25:1-5:

When Did They Transpire?

In 44 CE, or in 45 CE?

The Greek Word “διετιας¹³³³” Redefined

Abstract:

Based on Acts 25:1, 4, 6, and upon an insight re the exact timing of events before and after, it is possible to conclude that Festus arrived in Jerusalem at the Day of At-One-Ment, Tishri 10, 44 CE [Wednesday October 21, 44 CE.]

Additionally, it is possible to arrive at a more accurate definition of the Greek Word “διετια” as used twice only in the New Testament (Acts 24:27 and Acts 28:30.) Referring, as usual, to Strong’s numbers, my suggestion for a new and more accurate definition of the word “διετια” is: “From 1223, 2089, and 2094; through (διά) the remaining (“yet” or “still”) part of the civil “year” (έτος.)”

Armed with the above insights we may now conclude, based upon Acts 24:27, that Festus replaced Felix at the beginning of the civil year starting Tishri 1, 44 CE.

PS. The end point of the biblical year is Tishri 22, however just as the 7^th day of every week is the end of the week, so also I believe that the entire 7^th month along with all the God ordained feast days therein are also considered the end of the year. Cf. this link!

Acts 25:1 TLT+ “Now³⁷⁶⁷ when Festus⁵³⁴⁷ was come into¹⁹¹⁰ the³⁵⁸⁸ province,¹⁸⁸⁵ at the end of³³²⁶ Day²²⁵⁰ Three⁵¹⁴⁰ [of the week] he ascended³⁰⁵ from⁵⁷⁵ Caesarea²⁵⁴² to¹⁵¹⁹ Jerusalem.²⁴¹⁴

Acts 25:1 KJV+ Now³⁷⁶⁷ when Festus⁵³⁴⁷ was come into¹⁹¹⁰ the³⁵⁸⁸ province,¹⁸⁸⁵ after³³²⁶ three⁵¹⁴⁰ days²²⁵⁰ he ascended³⁰⁵ from⁵⁷⁵ Caesarea²⁵⁴² to¹⁵¹⁹ Jerusalem.²⁴¹⁴

Act 25:2 KJV+ Then¹¹⁶¹ the³⁵⁸⁸ high priest⁷⁴⁹ and²⁵³² the³⁵⁸⁸ chief⁴⁴¹³ of the³⁵⁸⁸ Jews²⁴⁵³ informed¹⁷¹⁸ him⁸⁴⁶ against²⁵⁹⁶ Paul,³⁹⁷² and²⁵³² besought³⁸⁷⁰ him,⁸⁴⁶

Act 25:3 KJV+ And desired¹⁵⁴ favor⁵⁴⁸⁵ against²⁵⁹⁶ him,⁸⁴⁶ that³⁷⁰⁴ he would send for³³⁴³ him⁸⁴⁶ to¹⁵¹⁹ Jerusalem,²⁴¹⁹ laying wait^{4160, 1747} in²⁵⁹⁶ the³⁵⁸⁸ way³⁵⁹⁸ to kill³³⁷ him.⁸⁴⁶

Act 25:4 KJV+ But³⁷⁶⁷⁽³³⁰³⁾ Festus⁵³⁴⁷ answered,⁶¹¹ that Paul³⁹⁷² should be kept⁵⁰⁸³ at¹⁷²² Caesarea,²⁵⁴² and¹¹⁶¹ that he himself¹⁴³⁸ would³¹⁹⁵ depart¹⁶⁰⁷ shortly^{1722, 5034} thither.

Background and considerations:

1. 44 or 45?

Based upon prior studies I have concluded that the events recorded in Acts 25:1-10 transpired in either 44 CE or 45 CE. But which of those two years is it?

2. The KJV rendition of Acts 24:27 “after two years” means something else…

It may appear, based upon Acts 24:27 (KJV,) and also as based upon Strong’s definition of the Greek word “διετιας¹³³³,” that there was at least one year, possibly more than two years, between the Pentecost of the events recorded in Acts 20:16 through Acts 23:33 on the one hand, and the arrival of Festus (Acts 24:27,) on the other. However, the exact meaning of the Greek word “διετιας¹³³³,” is subject to further analysis and based upon the study detail being presented below, and upon a thorough analysis of the word “διετιας¹³³³” and related words as used in the New Testament, I conclude that the Greek word “διετιας¹³³³” does indeed have a different meaning than thus far assumed.

3. Festus visit to Jerusalem was very brief

The record brought to us by Acts 25:4 makes it clear that after arriving in Jerusalem “Festus… would depart shortly…” back to Caesarea.

4. “after three days” means “at the end of the Third Day of the week”

I have shown elsewhere in these studies that unless otherwise required by the context and the grammar, a rare event indeed, words translated “three days” in KJV are more accurately translated “Day Three [of the week,]” as based upon Textus Receptus and upon the events as they actually transpired. Accordingly…

The words “after three days” as rendered in Acts 25:1 (KJV) are more accurately translated “at [or after] the end of Day Three [of the week,]” [i.e. Tuesday night after sunset.]

5. The “ten” referenced in Acts 25:6 references one of three possible days

But I already found that the 10^th Day referenced in Acts 25:6 most likely references either Tuesday or Wednesday, October 20 or 21, 44 CE, or else Sunday October 10, 45 CE.

6. Combining items 3, 4, and 5 above I can exclude two item out of three possible

I find that Tuesday October 20, 44 CE and Sunday October 10, 45 CE may be excluded since the brief visit by Festus at the one day feast in Jerusalem, the Day of Atonement, would not have been brief relative to this one day event had Festus stayed in Jerusalem for almost one whole week (Tuesday night October 13 through Tuesday October 20, 44 CE) or even for five days (Tuesday night October Sunday October 10, 45 CE.)

7. Accordingly I am left with the conclusion that…

Festus arrived in Jerusalem on the Fourth Day of the week, Tishri 10, 44 CE [Wednesday October 21, 44 CE.]

8. But the above conclusion may be used for giving the Greek word “διετια” a more accurate definition

Considering that the Greek word “διετιας:”

1. Is found only twice in Textus Receptus;

2. that Acts 24:27 is the first one of those two passages; and

3. given that the events recorded in Acts 20:16 through Acts 23:33 occurred in Sivan, the Third Month, 44 CE, less than four months prior to the beginning of the new civil year beginning Tishri 1, 44 CE; while considering also

4. the prior analysis of the Greek word “διετιας”

I find that the Greek word “διετιας” as the word is rendered in Acts 25:6, must be redefined to agree with all the known facts as above concluded upon what I believe is solid evidence:

1. Re the first part of the word: δι-

As with all the other Greek words in the New Testament beginning with ‘διετ-‘ I believe it is safe to conclude that the first letters of “διετιας,” a grammatical form of “διετια,” are based, not as previously presumed upon “δίς” (Strong’s G1364,) but upon “διά” (Strong’s G1223:)

G1223

διά

dia

dee-ah'

A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through (in very wide applications, local, causal or occasional). In composition it retains the same general import: - after, always, among, at, to avoid, because of (that), briefly, by, for (cause) . . . fore, from, in, by occasion of, of, by reason of, for sake, that, thereby, therefore, X though, through (-out), to, wherefore, with (-in). In composition it retains the same general import.

G1364

δίς

dis

dece

Adverb from G1417; twice: - again, twice.

2. Re the second part of the word: -ετια

Considering especially that:

1. Between the Pentecost in [the Julian year] 44 CE and the Day of At-One-Ment in [the Julian year] 44 CE there is, not any kind of twelve month year (only four months,) but, beginning with Tishri 1, the completion of one civil year and the beginning of the next civil year; and

2. considering also the qualifying words used together with “διετιας,” “πληρωθεισης⁴¹³⁷” (Acts 24:27,) and “ολην³⁶⁵” (Acts 28:30,)

I find that the latter portion of “διετια” must be derived from “έτος” (Strong’s G2094,) as correctly suggested by Strong’s G1332 and G1333, and not, at least not primarily, to e.g. “έτι” meaning ”yet” or ”still” (Strong’s G2089.)

G2089

έτι

eti

et'-ee

Perhaps akin to G2094; “yet”, still (of time or degree): - after that, also, ever, (any) further, (t-) henceforth (more), hereafter, (any) longer, (any) more (-one), now, still, yet.

G2094

έτος

etos

et'-os

Apparently a primary word; a year: - year.

3. I suggest that a more accurate definition of the word “διετια” is:

From 1223, 2089, and 2094; through (διά) the remaining (“yet” or “still”) part of the civil “year” (έτος.)

Armed with the above insights I conclude, based upon Acts 24:27, that Festus replaced Felix at the beginning of the civil year starting Tishri 1, 44 CE.

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