Acts 23:23-35
Amplified Bible
Paul Moved to Caesarea Maritima
23 Then summoning two of the centurions, he said, “Have two hundred soldiers ready by the third hour of the night (9:00 p.m.) to go as far as [a]Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred [b]spearmen; 24 also provide mounts for Paul to ride, and bring him safely to [c]Felix the governor.” 25 And [after instructing the centurions] he wrote a letter to this effect:
26
“Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix, greetings.
27
This man was seized [as a prisoner] by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, when I came upon him with the troops and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman citizen. 28 And wanting to know the exact charge which they were making against him, I brought him down to their Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court); 29 and I discovered that he was accused in regard to questions and issues in their Law, but [he was] under no accusation that would call for the penalty of death or [even] for imprisonment.
30
When I was told that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you immediately, also directing his accusers to bring their charges against him before you.”
31 So the soldiers, in compliance with their orders, took Paul and brought him to Antipatris during the night. 32 And the next day, leaving the horsemen to go on with him, they returned to the barracks. 33 When these [horsemen] reached Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor, and also presented Paul to him. 34 After reading the letter, he asked which province Paul was from, and when he learned that he was from Cilicia [an imperial province], 35 he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers have arrived,” giving orders that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s Praetorium (the governor’s official residence).
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- Acts 23:23 Caesarea Maritima (Caesarea-on-the-Sea) was a coastal city built by Herod the Great. It was an important city, both politically and militarily, and its harbor was the largest on the eastern Mediterranean coast. It was the capital of Judea, and the official residence of the prefects and procurators (governors) appointed by Rome. Both Pontius Pilate (prefect, a.d. 26-36) and Marcus Antonius Felix (procurator, a.d. 52-60) would have been based here during their respective terms of office.
- Acts 23:23 Or slingers or bowmen.
- Acts 23:24 Marcus Antonius Felix was appointed by Emperor Claudius and served as procurator (governor) of Judea from a.d. 52-60.
Acts 23:23-35
New American Standard Bible
Paul Moved to Caesarea
23 And he called to him two of the centurions and said, “Get two hundred soldiers ready by [a]the third hour of the night to proceed to (A)Caesarea, [b]with seventy horsemen and two hundred [c]spearmen.” 24 They were also to provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to (B)Felix the governor. 25 And he wrote a letter [d]with the following content:
26 “Claudius Lysias, to the (C)most excellent governor Felix: (D)Greetings.
27 When this man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, (E)I came up to them with the troops and rescued him, (F)after learning that he was a Roman. 28 And (G)wanting to ascertain the basis for the charges they were bringing against him, I (H)brought him down to their [e](I)Council; 29 and I found that he was being accused regarding (J)questions in their Law, but [f]was (K)not charged with anything deserving death or [g]imprisonment.
30 When I was (L)informed that there would be (M)a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, also instructing (N)his accusers to [h]bring charges against him before you.”
31 So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 But on the next day they let (O)the horsemen go on with him, and they returned to (P)the barracks. 33 When these horsemen had come to (Q)Caesarea and delivered the letter to (R)the governor, they also presented Paul to him. 34 Now when he had read it, he also asked from what (S)province Paul was, and when he learned that (T)he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, “I will give you a hearing when your (U)accusers arrive as well,” giving orders for [i]Paul to be (V)kept in Herod’s [j]Praetorium.
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- Acts 23:23 I.e., 9 p.m.
- Acts 23:23 Lit and
- Acts 23:23 Or slingers; or bowmen
- Acts 23:25 Or to this effect
- Acts 23:28 Or Sanhedrin
- Acts 23:29 Lit had no charge of
- Acts 23:29 Lit bonds
- Acts 23:30 Lit speak against him
- Acts 23:35 Lit him
- Acts 23:35 I.e., governor’s official residence
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