ACT 23:23-35

Paul Sent to Felix

23Calling two of the centurions, he said: "Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy cavalry, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at the third hour of the night, [23:24] and provide mounts for Paul to ride, so that they may bring him safely to Felix the governor." [23:25] He wrote a letter with this content: [23:26] "Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings. [23:27] This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he is a Roman citizen. [23:28] Wanting to know the charge on account of which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their council. [23:29] I found him to be accused concerning questions of their law, but charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment. [23:30] When it was disclosed to me that there was a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, also ordering his accusers to state before you what they have against him." [23:31] So the soldiers, according to their orders, took Paul and brought him during the night to Antipatris. [23:32] The next day they let the cavalry go on with him, while they themselves returned to the barracks. [23:33] These men entered Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor and also presented Paul before him. [23:34] When the governor had read it and asked what province he was from, and learned that he was from Cilicia, [23:35] he said: "I will hear fully what you have to say when your accusers also arrive." And he ordered him to be kept under guard in Herod's praetorium.

In the world it was spoken into

In the Roman imperial system, governors like Felix held significant judicial and military authority, often stationed in key provincial cities like Caesarea. The dispatch of 470 soldiers—200 infantry, 70 cavalry, and 200 spearmen—to escort Paul underscores the perceived threat of Jewish unrest and the Roman commitment to maintaining order. The use of (mounts) highlights logistical planning, as Roman troops relied on beasts of burden for rapid movement. Claudius Lysias’s letter to Felix, addressed with the formal title (most excellent), reflects the Roman bureaucratic practice of written correspondence to ensure accountability. Lysias’s claim to have rescued Paul upon learning of his Roman citizenship aligns with Roman legal protections for citizens, who were exempt from summary execution. The promise of a thorough hearing suggests adherence to Roman judicial procedure, where governors like Felix were expected to adjudicate disputes impartially, balancing local tensions with imperial interests.

›See the receipts

How other translations render this

ACT 23:23

KJV: And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;
BSB: Then he called two of his centurions and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea in the third hour of the night.
Koinōnos: Calling two of the centurions, he said: "Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy cavalry, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at the third hour of the night,

ACT 23:24

KJV: And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.
BSB: Provide mounts for Paul to take him safely to Governor Felix.”
Koinōnos: and provide mounts for Paul to ride, so that they may bring him safely to Felix the governor.

ACT 23:25

KJV: And he wrote a letter after this manner:
BSB: And he wrote the following letter:
Koinōnos: He wrote a letter with this content:

ACT 23:26

KJV: Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.
BSB: Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings.
Koinōnos: Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings.

ACT 23:27

KJV: This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.
BSB: This man was seized by the Jews, and they were about to kill him when I came with my troops to rescue him. For I had learned that he is a Roman citizen,
Koinōnos: This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he is a Roman citizen.

ACT 23:28

KJV: And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:
BSB: and since I wanted to understand their charges against him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin.
Koinōnos: Wanting to know the charge on account of which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their council.

ACT 23:29

KJV: Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.
BSB: I found that the accusation involved questions about their own law, but there was no charge worthy of death or imprisonment.
Koinōnos: I found him to be accused concerning questions of their law, but charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment.

ACT 23:30

KJV: And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell.
BSB: When I was informed that there was a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also instructed his accusers to present their case against him before you.
Koinōnos: When it was disclosed to me that there was a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, also ordering his accusers to state before you what they have against him.

ACT 23:31

KJV: Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.
BSB: So the soldiers followed their orders and brought Paul by night to Antipatris.
Koinōnos: So the soldiers, according to their orders, took Paul and brought him during the night to Antipatris.

ACT 23:32

KJV: On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:
BSB: The next day they returned to the barracks and let the horsemen go on with him.
Koinōnos: The next day they let the cavalry go on with him, while they themselves returned to the barracks.

ACT 23:33

KJV: Who, when they came to Caesarea and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.
BSB: When the horsemen arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and presented Paul to him.
Koinōnos: These men entered Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor and also presented Paul before him.

ACT 23:34

KJV: And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia;
BSB: The governor read the letter and asked what province Paul was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,
Koinōnos: When the governor had read it and asked what province he was from, and learned that he was from Cilicia,

ACT 23:35

KJV: I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s judgment hall.
BSB: he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers arrive.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herodʼs Praetorium.
Koinōnos: he said: "I will hear fully what you have to say when your accusers also arrive." And he ordered him to be kept under guard in Herod's praetorium.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Where the historical framing draws from

Josephus, WarsWars 2.8.1
Josephus, AntiquitiesAntiquities 18.8.5
Josephus, AntiquitiesAntiquities 20.6.3

›Josephus, Wars Wars 2.8.1

“And now Archelaus's part of Judea was reduced into a province, and Coponius, one of the equestrian order among the Romans, was sent as a procurator, having the power of [life and] death put into his hands by Caesar.”

Cited to ground: governors like Felix held significant judicial and military authority

›Josephus, Antiquities Antiquities 18.8.5

“He then called the Jews together to Tiberias, who came many ten thousands in number; he also placed that army he now had with him opposite to them”

Cited to ground: The dispatch of 470 soldiers—200 infantry, 70 cavalry, and 200 spearmen—to escort Paul underscores the perceived threat of Jewish unrest and the Roman commitment to maintaining order.

›Josephus, Antiquities Antiquities 20.6.3

“Now Cumanus, and the principal of the Samaritans, who were sent to Rome, had a day appointed them by the emperor whereon they were to have pleaded their cause”

Cited to ground: The promise of a thorough hearing suggests adherence to Roman judicial procedure, where governors like Felix were expected to adjudicate disputes impartially, balancing local tensions with imperial interests.

Translator's notes

ACT 23:23

spearmen:The word translated 'spearmen' here more broadly referred to soldiers who carried a weapon in their right hand, which could include javelins or even slings, not exclusively spears.

ACT 23:24

Mounts:The term translated 'mounts' generally referred to any beast of burden or domestic animal, not specifically horses or animals for riding, but rather animals used for transport or livestock.

ACT 23:26

most excellent:The address 'most excellent' was a formal title of respect used for high-ranking Roman officials, indicating their esteemed position and authority, rather than a personal assessment of character.

ACT 23:35

I will hear fully:The phrase 'I will hear fully' carries the legal sense of giving a complete and thorough hearing to a case, implying a formal judicial process rather than just listening attentively.