Study Desk

He summoned two of his centurions and said, "Get 200 soldiers ready with 70 cavalry and 200 spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight.^[d](p)

Also provide mounts so they can put Paul on them and bring him safely to Felix the governor."

He wrote a letter of this kind:

Claudius Lysias, To the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings.^(q)

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.^(r)

Wanting to know the charge they were accusing him of, I brought him down before their Sanhedrin.

I found out that the accusations were about disputed matters in their law,^(s) and that there was no charge that merited death or chains.^(t)

When I was informed that there was a plot against the man,^[e](u) I sent him to you right away. I also ordered his accusers^(v) to state their case against him in your presence.^[f]

Therefore, the soldiers took Paul during the night and brought him to Antipatris as they were ordered.

The next day, they returned to the barracks, allowing the cavalry to go on with him.

When these men entered Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.^(w)

After he^[g] read it, he asked what province he was from. So when he learned he was from Cilicia,^(x)

he said, "I will give you a hearing whenever your accusers get here too." And he ordered that he be kept under guard in Herod's palace.^(y)

After five days Ananias the high priest came down with some elders and a lawyer^[a] named Tertullus. These men presented their case against Paul to the governor.^(a)

When he was called in, Tertullus began to accuse him and said: "Since we enjoy great peace because of you, and reforms are taking place for the benefit of this nation by your foresight,

we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellent^(b) Felix, with utmost gratitude.

However, so that I will not burden you any further, I beg you in your graciousness to give us a brief hearing.

For we have found this man to be a plague,^(c) an agitator^(d) among all the Jews throughout the Roman world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes!

He even tried to desecrate the temple, so we apprehended him [and wanted to judge him according to our law.

But Lysias the commander came and took him from our hands with great force,

commanding his accusers to come to you.]^[b] By examining him yourself you will be able to discern all these things we are accusing him of."

The Jews also joined in the attack, alleging that these things were so.