Explained Paul’s situation to the king is translated by most as “lay Paul’s case before the king.” The particular emphasis (whether of Paul’s “situation” or his “case”) is determined by what Festus tells the king in the following verses. In rendering Paul’s situation, one may say “how it was with Paul” or “how Paul had made his appeal to the Emperor,” since this is really the crucial issue in Paul’s case.

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 .