Acts 23:23-35--Paul Sent to Felix the Governor

Acts 23:23-35
English Standard Version

Paul Sent to Felix the Governor
23 Then he called two of the centurions and said, “Get ready two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night. 24 Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to Felix the governor.” 25 And he wrote a letter to this effect:

26 “Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency the governor Felix, greetings. 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 was a Roman citizen. 28 And desiring to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their council. 29 I found that he was being accused about questions of their law, but charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment. 30 And when it was disclosed to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him.”

​31 So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 And on the next day they returned to the barracks, letting the horsemen go on with him. 33 When they had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him. 34 On reading the letter, he asked what province he was from. And when he learned that he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, “I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive.” And he commanded him to be guarded in Herod's praetorium.

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Last time, we saw a threat to assassinate Paul by more than forty Jews who had taken an oath to not eat or drink anything until they killed Paul and they tried to trick the tribune to send Paul to Jerusalem for additional questioning so they could kill him along the way.  Paul's nephew brought word of the plot to the tribune and the tribune told Paul's nephew to keep their conversation a secret, and we'll see today what action the tribune is going to take to keep Paul, a natural-born Roman citizen, safe from the murderous intent of the Jews in Jerusalem.

​Claudius Lysias, that is the tribune, orders that two centurions, two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen (likely all the soldiers that were under the authority of these two centurions) were to escort Paul as they transported him by night (starting at 9pm) to Caesarea, to provide Paul with a horse so that he could move quickly and be protected from his attackers that were waiting along the road ready to kill him, and they were to provide safe passage all the way to Felix the Governor and carry an official letter from the tribune to the governor explaining the situation and asking for his intervention and help.

The tribune writes the letter in such a way to paint himself as the hero of the story, saying that the Jews were about to kill Paul and he marched in with his troops to rescue him in the Temple that day, that he made the Council (that is the Sanhedrin) provide an indictment for why they were trying to kill Paul, and he found out that it was for reasons related to their religious Law and not a matter of civil, that is Roman, law--especially nothing that the Romans would consider worthy of death.  Claudius Lysias then recounts how a plot to assassinate Paul was made known to him, but he does not reveal the source, and explains that is why it was necessary for all these soldiers to accompany him and for Paul to be sent to Felix so that he can have a fair trial with his rights as a Roman citizen protected, and the change of venue would force Paul's accusers, the Sanhedrin, to have to travel to Caesarea to testify in court with governor Felix presiding.

​The picture attached shows a map of how the foot soldiers and spearmen want as far as Antipatris before they needed to return to the rest.  The next day they returned to the barracks and the mounted troops continued with Paul all the way to Caesarea.  Upon arrival, Felix asked what province Paul was from, and what it was discovered that Paul was indeed a naturally-born Roman citizen from the province of Cilicia, Felix decided to give him a hearing as soon as his accusers arrived.  He was then ordered to be guarded in Herod's praetorium, that is the governor's mansion or palace, under heavy guard to protect him, and Paul was likely protected by highly trained and skilled soldiers that were trained to protect the life of the governor and other dignitaries that came visit the governor (like our Secret Service and Diplomatic Security Services officers in the United States).  I think it is fair to say that the threat against Paul was deemed to be credible and it was made clear to the Jews that if they wanted to get to Paul they were going to have to come through the full power of Rome and risk all-out war with the Roman empire as they would have to attack the governor's palace and take on the regular and diplomatic security forces stationed there to protect him.  The tactics of the Jews would now have to change from assassination to prepare for trial--a real trail, and not a shame trial where they had already decided he was guilty and worthy of death before hearing any evidence.

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