Acts 23:23-35

Modern English Version

Paul Sent to Felix the Governor

²³ Then he summoned two centurions and said, “Prepare two hundred infantrymen, seventy mounted soldiers, and two hundred light infantrymen with spears to go to Caesarea at the third hour of the night. ²⁴ And provide mounts so Paul may ride and take him safely to Felix the governor.”

²⁵ He wrote a letter that went like this:

²⁶ Claudius Lysias,

To His Excellency Governor Felix:

Greetings.

²⁷ This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them. When I learned that he was a Roman citizen, I came with soldiers and rescued him. ²⁸ Being minded to learn what crime they alleged, I took him to their Sanhedrin. ²⁹ I found him being accused of controversial matters about their law, but charged with nothing worthy of death or imprisonment. ³⁰ When it was revealed to me that there was a plot against the man, at once I sent him to you and ordered the accusers to state before you their charges against him.

Farewell.

³¹ So the soldiers, according to their orders, took Paul by night to Antipatris. ³² The next day they let the cavalry depart with him and they returned to the barracks. ³³ When they arrived in Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also to him. ³⁴ Upon reading the letter, the governor asked what province he was from. When he learned that he was from Cilicia, ³⁵ he said, “I will hear you when your accusers also arrive.” And he ordered that he be guarded in Herod’s Praetorium.