Study Desk

Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, "Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen^[b] to go to Caesarea^(ad) at nine tonight.^(ae)

Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix."^(af)

He wrote a letter as follows:

Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency,^(ag) Governor Felix: Greetings.^(ah)

This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him,^(ai) but I came with my troops and rescued him,^(aj) for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen.^(ak)

I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin.^(al)

I found that the accusation had to do with questions about their law,^(am) but there was no charge against him^(an) that deserved death or imprisonment.

When I was informed^(ao) of a plot^(ap) to be carried out against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also ordered his accusers^(aq) to present to you their case against him.

So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul with them during the night and brought him as far as Antipatris.

The next day they let the cavalry^(ar) go on with him, while they returned to the barracks.^(as)

When the cavalry^(at) arrived in Caesarea,^(au) they delivered the letter to the governor^(av) and handed Paul over to him.

The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,^(aw)

he said, "I will hear your case when your accusers^(ax) get here." Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard^(ay) in Herod's palace.

Paul's Trial Before Felix

Five days later the high priest Ananias^(a) went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges^(b) against Paul before the governor.^(c)

When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: "We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation.

Everywhere and in every way, most excellent^(d) Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude.

But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly.

"We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots^(e) among the Jews^(f) all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene^(g) sect^(h)

and even tried to desecrate the temple;⁽ⁱ⁾ so we seized him.

^[7][a]

By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him."

The other Jews joined in the accusation,^(j) asserting that these things were true.