Paul Sent to Felix the Governor

23 Then he called two of the centurions and said, “Get ready two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night.[a] 24 Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to (A)Felix (B)the governor.” 25 And he wrote a letter to this effect:

26 “Claudius Lysias, to (C)his Excellency the governor Felix, (D)greetings. 27 (E)This man was seized by the Jews and (F)was about to be killed by them (G)when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, (H)having learned that he was a Roman citizen. 28 And (I)desiring to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their council. 29 I found that he was being accused (J)about questions of their law, but (K)charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment. 30 (L)And when it was disclosed to me (M)that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, (N)ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him.”

31 So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 And on the next day they returned to (O)the barracks, letting the horsemen go on with him. 33 When they had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him. 34 On reading the letter, he asked what (P)province he was from. And when he learned (Q)that he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, “I will give you a hearing (R)when your accusers arrive.” And he commanded him to be guarded in Herod's (S)praetorium.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 23:23 That is, 9 p.m.

To Caesarea by Night

23 He summoned two of his centurions and said, “Get two hundred soldiers ready with seventy cavalry and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight.[a](A) 24 Also provide mounts to ride so that Paul may be brought safely to Felix the governor.”

25 He wrote the following letter:[b]

26 Claudius Lysias,

To the most excellent governor Felix:

Greetings.(B)

27 When this man had been seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, I arrived with my troops and rescued him because I learned that he is a Roman citizen.(C) 28 Wanting to know the charge they were accusing him of, I brought him down before their Sanhedrin. 29 I found out that the accusations were concerning questions of their law,(D) and that there was no charge that merited death or imprisonment.(E) 30 When I was informed that there was a plot against the man,[c](F) I sent him to you right away. I also ordered his accusers(G) to state their case against him in your presence.[d]

31 So the soldiers took Paul during the night and brought him to Antipatris as they were ordered. 32 The next day, they returned to the barracks, allowing the cavalry to go on with him. 33 When these men entered Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.(H) 34 After he[e] read it, he asked what province he was from. When he learned he was from Cilicia,(I) 35 he said, “I will give you a hearing whenever your accusers also get here.” He ordered that he be kept under guard in Herod’s palace.[f](J)

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Footnotes

  1. 23:23 Lit at the third hour tonight
  2. 23:25 Or He wrote a letter to this effect:
  3. 23:30 Other mss add by the Jews
  4. 23:30 Other mss add Farewell
  5. 23:34 Other mss read the governor
  6. 23:35 Or headquarters