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Paul Is Brought to Caesarea

23 And when he called to him two of the centurions, he said, “Make ready two hundred soldiers, [a]seventy horsemen, and two hundred [b]spearmen to proceed to (A)Caesarea by the [c]third hour of the night, 24 and provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to (B)Felix the governor.” 25 And he wrote a letter having this form:

26 “Claudius Lysias, to the (C)most excellent governor Felix, (D)greetings.

27 “When this man was arrested by the Jews and was about to be slain by them, (E)I came up to them with the troops and rescued him, (F)having learned that he was a Roman.

28 And (G)wanting to ascertain the charge for which they were accusing him, I (H)brought him down to their (I)Sanhedrin;

29 and I found him to be accused over (J)questions about their Law, but [d]under (K)no accusation deserving death or [e]imprisonment.

30 “And 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 speak against him before you.”

31 So the soldiers, according to their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 But the next day, leaving (O)the horsemen to go on with him, they returned to (P)the barracks. 33 When these had come to (Q)Caesarea and delivered the letter to (R)the governor, they also presented Paul to him. 34 And when he had read it, he asked from what (S)province he was, and when he learned that (T)he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, “I will give you a hearing after your (U)accusers arrive also,” giving orders for him to be (V)kept in Herod’s [f]Praetorium.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 23:23 Lit and
  2. Acts 23:23 Or slingers, bowmen
  3. Acts 23:23 9 p.m.
  4. Acts 23:29 Lit having
  5. Acts 23:29 Lit bonds
  6. Acts 23:35 Governor’s official residence

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