NN

To Cheryl #41,
“exousiadzoe” is from the noun “exousia” which contains the ideas of governance, rule, the power of choice, jurisdiction, right of claim, etc. It is from “exesti” which means “to be lawful” (and which in turn comes from a combination of the preposition “ek” = “out” and the “to be” verb “eimi”). But it is the idea of sovereign claim which is primarily in view. I am a citizen of the US and therein reside, as such France has no sovereignty over me directly. As a citizen it is my sovereign right to claim trial by a jury of my peers (at least theoretically). Typically authority is the best rendering for this word; however, “claim” is also contained within the scope of this word. Indeed any Roman citizen had the “authority” to demand a Roman trial – this did not make them any less subject to the overarching authority of Rome.
And relating to the trial of Paul, this word is not used. Indeed he barely mentions his appeal to Caesar before Festus insists on shipping him off. But the fact of Pauls “authority” to do this is clearly manifest under Roman jurisprudence.