Paul Sent To Caesarea; Acts 23:23 – 35 Part 2

Church History: Date: A.D.57 – 59

The chief captain ordered a considerable detachment of the Roman forces under his command to get ready to go to Cæsarea immediately, and to take Paul directly to Felix the governor, where he might expect to receive the justice due him that he could not receive from the great Sanhedrim at Jerusalem. The chief captain could have, without any prejudice to the duty of his office, have set Paul free, and making him responsible for his own safety. He was never legally committed to his custody as a criminal, he wasn’t charged with anything worthy of bonds, and he ought to have had the same tenderness for his liberty that he had for his life; but he feared that this would have incensed the Jews too much against him. Or perhaps, finding Paul to be a very extraordinary man, he was proud to have him his prisoner, and under his protection; and the mighty parade with which he sent him off intimates as much. Two centurions, or captains of the hundreds, are employed in this business. They must get ready two hundred soldiers, probably those under their own command, to go to Cæsarea; and with these seventy horse, and two hundred spearmen besides, which some think were the chief captain's guards; whether they were horse or foot is not certain, most probably foot, as pikemen for the protection of the horse.

The chief captain orders, for security purposes that Paul be taken away at the third hour of the night, which some understand to be three hours after sunset, that, it being now after the feast of Pentecost (that is, in the midst of summer), they might have the cool of the night to march in. Others understand it of three hours after midnight, in the third watch, about three in the morning, that they might have the day before them, and might get out of Jerusalem before Paul's enemies were stirring, and so might prevent any popular turmoil, and leave them to roar when they rose, like a lion disappointed of his prey.

He wrote a letter to Felix the governor of this province, by which he discharges himself from any further responsibility concerning Paul, and leaves the whole matter up to Felix. It is probable that Luke the historian had a copy of it given to him, having attended Paul.

He was delivered into the hands of Felix, as his prisoner. The officers presented the letter, and Paul with it, to Felix, and so discharged themselves of their trust. The governor enquired of what province of the empire the prisoner originally was, and was told that he was a native of Cilicia. Felix promised him a speedy trial. "I will hear thee when thing accusers have come, and will have an ear open to both sides, as becomes a judge." He ordered him into custody, that he should be kept a prisoner in Herod's judgment-hall, in some apartment belonging to that palace which was denominated from Herod the Great, who built it. There he had opportunity of acquainting himself with great men that attended the governor's court, and, no doubt, he improved what acquaintance he got there to the best purposes.