King James Bible Dictionary

A reference of any case from an inferior to a superior court. Moses established in the wilderness a series of judicatories such that appeals could be made from a lower to a higher (Exodus 18:13-26.)

Under the Roman law the most remarkable case of appeal is that of Paul from the tribunal of Festus at Caesarea to that of the emperor at Rome (Acts 25:11, 12, 21, 25). Paul availed himself of the privilege of a Roman citizen in this matter.

Paul makes appeal to Caesar
Acts 25:10-11; Acts 25:21-27; Acts 26:32; Acts 28:19
Change of Venue; Court, Superior and Inferior

The principle, of appeal was recognized by the Mosaic law in the establishment of a central court under the presidency of the judge or ruler for the time being, before which all cased too difficult for the local court were to be tried. (17:8,9) According to the above regulation, the appeal lay in the time of the Judges to the judge, (Judges 4:5) and under the monarchy to the king. Jehoshaphat delegated his judicial authority to a court permanently established for the purpose. (2 Chronicles 19:8) These courts were re-established by Ezra. (Ezra 7:25) After the institution of the Sanhedrin the final appeal lay to them. St. Paul, as a Roman citizen, exercized a right of appeal from the jurisdiction of the local court at Jerusalem to the emperor. (Acts 25:11)

APPE'AL, verb intransitive [Latin apello; ad and pello, to drive or send; Gr. We do not see the sense of call in pello, but to drive or press out, is the radical sense of calling, naming. This word coincides in elements with Latin balo, Eng. bawl, and peal.]

1. To refer to a superior judge or court, for the decision of a cause depending, or the revision of a cause decided in a lower court.

I appeal to Cesar. Acts 21:1.

2. To refer to another for the decision of a question controverted, or the counteraction of testimony or facts; as, I appeal to all mankind for the truth of what is alleged.

APPE'AL, verb transitive To call or remove a cause from an inferior to a superior judge or court. This may be done after trial and judgment in the lower court; or by special statute or agreement, a party may appeal before trial, upon a fictitious issue and judgment. We say the cause was appealed before or after trial.

APPE'AL, verb transitive In crimianal law, to charge with a crime; to accuse; to institute a criminal prosecution, for some hainous offense; as, to appeal a person of felony. This process was anciently given to a private person to recover the weregild, or private pecuniary satisfaction for an injury he had received by the murder of a relation, or by some personal injury.

APPE'AL, noun

1. The removal of a cause or suit from an inferior to a superior tribunal, as from a common pleas court to a superior or supreme court. Also the right of appeal

2. An accusation; a process instituted by a private person against a man for some hainous crime by which he has been injured, as for murder, larceny, mayhem.

3. A summons to answer to a charge.

4. A call upon a person; a reference to another for proof or decision.

In an oath, a person makes an appeal to the Deity for the truth of his declaration.

5. Resort; recourse.

Every milder method is to be tried, before a nation makes an appeal to arms.

APPE'ALABLE,

1. That may be appealed; that may be removed to a higher tribunal for decision; as, the cause is appealable

2. That may be accused or called to answer by appeal; applied to persons; as, a criminal is appealable for manslaughter.

APPE'ALANT, noun One who appeals. [Not used.]

APPE'ALED, participle passive Removed to a higher court, as a cause; prosecuted for a crime by a private person, as a criminal.

APPE'ALER, noun One who appeals; an appellor.

APPE'ALING, participle present tense Removing a cause to a higher tribunal; prosecuting as a private person for an offense; referring to another for a decision.