Licence
An Archaic Term for Permission
The word 'licence' (or 'license') in the King James Version of the Bible is an archaic English term meaning official permission or authorization to do something. Modern translations replace it with clearer terms like 'permission,' 'leave,' or 'opportunity.' The word appears primarily in Acts, where it relates to the formal permission granted to Paul to speak in legal and public settings.
Paul's Address in Jerusalem
In Acts 21:40, after Paul was arrested by Roman soldiers in Jerusalem during a riot at the temple, he asked the commander for permission to address the crowd. The KJV reads, 'And when he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people.' The Greek word behind 'licence' here is epitrepo, meaning 'to permit' or 'to allow.' Paul used this opportunity to deliver a powerful defense of his faith, recounting his conversion on the road to Damascus and his calling as an apostle to the Gentiles (Acts 22:1-21).
The Right of Defense Before Festus
In Acts 25:16, the Roman governor Festus explained to King Agrippa that Roman law required giving an accused person the opportunity to face his accusers and make a defense. The KJV renders this as having 'licence to answer for himself.' Modern translations read more clearly: 'It is not the custom of the Romans to hand over any man before the accused has met his accusers face to face and has been given an opportunity to make his defense.' This legal principle was fundamental to Roman jurisprudence and ultimately worked in Paul's favor throughout his trials.
Roman Legal Protections
The concept of 'licence' in Acts reflects the real legal protections available to Roman citizens. As a citizen, Paul had the right to a fair hearing, the right to face his accusers, and the right to appeal to Caesar (Acts 25:11). These rights repeatedly preserved Paul's life and gave him platforms to proclaim the gospel before audiences he might never have reached otherwise — including governors, kings, and eventually the imperial court in Rome.
God's Providence Through Legal Systems
The 'licences' Paul received to speak were not merely legal formalities. They became divinely appointed opportunities for gospel witness. Paul's defense before the Jerusalem crowd, before Felix, before Festus, and before Agrippa all served the larger purpose of spreading the message about Jesus Christ. What human authorities granted as legal permission, God used as strategic openings for his word to reach the highest levels of Roman society.
A Word That Reveals Culture
The KJV's use of 'licence' provides a window into both Roman legal culture and Elizabethan English vocabulary. The formal permission-granting process described in Acts reflects the structured, law-conscious Roman system that, despite its imperfections, provided genuine protections for the accused. Understanding this cultural context deepens appreciation for how God used the structures of the Roman world to advance his purposes through Paul's ministry.
Biblical Context
Licence appears in the KJV in Acts 21:40 (Paul's permission to address the Jerusalem crowd) and Acts 25:16 (Festus explaining Roman legal procedure to Agrippa). The broader context includes Paul's arrest in Jerusalem (Acts 21:27-36), his series of trials before Felix, Festus, and Agrippa (Acts 23-26), and his appeal to Caesar (Acts 25:11) that led to his journey to Rome.
Theological Significance
The 'licence' granted to Paul illustrates God's sovereignty over human legal systems. What appeared to be routine legal procedure became the mechanism for gospel proclamation before powerful audiences. Paul's trials, enabled by the Roman right of defense, fulfilled Jesus' prophecy that his followers would testify before governors and kings (Matthew 10:18). The principle of fair hearing also reflects God's own character as a just judge who gives every person opportunity to be heard.
Historical Background
Roman law provided several protections for accused persons, particularly citizens. The right to a hearing (accusatio), the right to face accusers, and the right of appeal (provocatio) were fundamental to Roman jurisprudence. These rights are well documented in Roman legal texts and historical sources including Cicero and the Digest of Justinian. Paul's Roman citizenship, acquired by birth (Acts 22:28), gave him access to these protections, which he strategically invoked multiple times during his ministry.