Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
Provide beasts (ktenh parasthsai). Change from direct to indirect discourse just the opposite of that in verse Acts 23:22.
Beasts (kthnh). For riding as here or for baggage. See on Luke 10:34. Asses or horses, but not war-horses. Since Paul was chained to a soldier, another animal would be required for baggage. It was also seventy miles and a change of horses might be needed. The extreme precaution of Lysias is explained in some Latin MSS. as due to fear of a night attack with the result that he might be accused to Felix of bribery. Luke also probably accompanied Paul.
To bring safe (ina diaswswsin). Final clause with ina and the first aorist active subjunctive of diaswzw, old verb, to save through (dia) to a finish. Eight times in the N.T. (Matthew 14:36; Luke 7:3; Acts 23:24; Acts 27:43-44; Acts 28:1, Acts 28:4; I Peter 3:20).
Unto Felix the governor (prov Fhlika ton hgemona). Felix was a brother of Pallas, the notorious favourite of Claudius. Both had been slaves and were now freedmen. Felix was made procurator of Judea by Claudius AD 52. He held the position till Festus succeeded him after complaints by the Jews to Nero. He married Drusilla the daughter of Herod Agrippa I with the hope of winning the favour of the Jews. He was one of the most depraved men of his time. Tacitus says of him that "with all cruelty and lust he exercised the power of a king with the spirit of a slave." The term "governor" (hgemwn) means "leader" from hgeomai, to lead, and was applied to leaders of all sorts (emperors, kings, procurators). In the N.T. it is used of Pilate (Matthew 27:2), of Felix, (Acts 23:24, Acts 23:26, Acts 23:33; Acts 24:1), of Festus (Acts 26:30).
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Acts 23:24:
Luke 10:34
Luke 19:35
Acts 23:24
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