Acts 23:23

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21 But do not yield to them, for more than forty of them lie in wait for him, men who have bound themselves by an oath that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him; and now they are ready, waiting for the promise from you.”

22 So the commander let the young man depart, and commanded him, “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.”

Sent to Felix

23 And he called for two centurions, saying, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to ^aCaesarea at the third hour of the night;

24 and provide mounts to set Paul on, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.”

25 He wrote a letter in the following manner:

26 Claudius Lysias,
To the most excellent governor Felix:
Greetings.

27 ^aThis man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them. Coming with the troops I rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.

28 ^aAnd when I wanted to know the reason they accused him, I brought him before their council.

29 I found out that he was accused ^aconcerning questions of their law, ^bbut had nothing charged against him deserving of death or chains.

30 And ^awhen it was told me that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him immediately to you, and ^balso commanded his accusers to state before you the charges against him.
Farewell.

31 Then the soldiers, as they were commanded, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.

32 The next day they left the horsemen to go on with him, and returned to the barracks.

33 When they came to ^aCaesarea and had delivered the ^bletter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.

34 And when the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. And when he understood that he was from ^aCilicia,

35 he said, ^a“I will hear you when your accusers also have come.” And he commanded him to be kept in ^bHerod’s Praetorium.

Commentaries:

Adam Clarke

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Acts 23:23

Two hundred soldiers - , Infantry or foot soldiers.

Horsemen threescore and ten - There was always a certain number of horse, or cavalry, attached to the foot.

Spearmen - , Persons who held a spear or javelin in their hand; from ͅ ͅ taking or holding a thing in the right hand. But the Codex Alexandrinus reads , from , the right hand, and , to cast or dart, persons who threw javelins. But both words seem to mean nearly the same thing.

The third hour of the night - About nine o' clock p.m., for the greater secrecy, and to elude the cunning, active malice of the Jews.

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