²³ Then he summoned two centurions and ordered, “Get 200 soldiers ready to leave for Caesarea at nine o’clock tonight,^[a] along with 70 mounted soldiers and 200 soldiers with spears. ²⁴ Provide a mount for Paul to ride, and take him safely to Governor Felix.” ²⁵ He wrote a letter with this message:

²⁶ “From:^[b] Claudius Lysias

To: Governor Felix

Greetings, Your Excellency:

²⁷ This man had been seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them when I went with the guard and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman citizen. ²⁸ I wanted to know the exact charge they were making against him, so I had him brought before their Council.^{[c] 29} I found that, although he was charged with questions about their Law, there was no charge against him deserving death or imprisonment. ³⁰ Since a plot against the man has been reported to me, I’m sending him to you at once, and I’ve also ordered his accusers to present their charges against him before you.”

³¹ So the soldiers, in keeping with their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. ³² The next day, they let the horsemen ride with Paul^[d] while they returned to their barracks. ³³ When these men^[e] came to Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and handed Paul over to him. ³⁴ After reading the letter, the governor^[f] asked which province Paul^[g] was from. On learning that he was from Cilicia, ³⁵ he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers arrive.” Then he ordered Paul^[h] to be kept in custody in Herod’s palace.^[i]