For his own safety the Apostle Paul has to be gotten out of Jerusalem. A plot is afoot to assassinate him. The Roman commander in charge of the barracks where Paul is being held arranges for him to be transferred to Caesarea into the custody of Governor Felix.
"Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, 'Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight. Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.'" (Acts 23:23-24) Felix was a procurator appointed by Emperor Claudius in about 52 AD-53 AD. The ancient historian Tacitus states he was a tyrannical, greedy, and immoral ruler. Seutonius claims he was married three times. Josephus mentions that Felix was quite successful at stamping out riots and uprisings and that he was the governor who put a stop to the revolt of the "Egyptian prophet" and "false Messiah", the same Egyptian the Roman commander first thought Paul to be. (Acts 21:38)
The commander asks for horses (plural) to be provided for Paul. This could be so the horses can be switched out periodically on the way, or it could be that the extra horses are used to carry Paul's belongings or supplies, or these extra horses could be intended for the guards who are most closely appointed to see to his safety and his needs on the journey.
Finally we learn the name of the Roman commander when Luke relates the contents of a letter he writes to Felix. "He wrote a letter as follows: 'Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings.'" (Acts 23:25-26)
Commander Lysius now takes several liberties with the truth. "This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him, but I came with my troops and rescued him, for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen. I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin. I found that the accusation had to do with questions about their law, but there was no charge against him that deserved death or imprisonment. When I was informed of a plot to be carried out against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also ordered his accusers to present to you their case against him.'" (Acts 23:27-30)
He had no idea Paul was a Roman citizen when he sent his troops into the fray to rescue Paul from the mob that was beating him outside the temple gates. Lysius believed Paul was the Egyptian prophet who has been at large ever since his uprising was quelled by Felix and his soldiers. He conveniently leaves out the information that he illegally arrested and bound a Roman citizen without any charges having been brought against him. He is especially careful to leave out the fact that he was about to have a Roman citizen scourged in order to torture from him the reason some of the Jews wanted him dead. Claudius Lysias makes himself look quite honorable in his letter to Felix. Nevertheless, we still must credit him with saving Paul's life on several occasions: first from the mob that was beating him outside the temple, then from the same mob who began to riot outside the barracks, then from the Sanhedrin, and now at last from the forty-plus men who have formed a conspiracy to assassinate him.
"So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul with them during the night and brought him as far as Antipatras. The next day they let the cavalry go on with him, while they returned to the barracks." (Acts 23:31-32) The terrain between Jerusalem and Antipatris would have provided a number of good ambush points, but between Antipatris and Caesarea the land was too flat and open to conceal a band of conspirators. The entire company escorts Paul to Antipatris, but then only the cavalry accompanies him on to Caesarea, the worst of the danger being behind them now.
"When the cavalry arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and handed Paul over to him. The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia, he said, 'I will hear your case when your accusers get here.' Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod's palace." (Acts 23:33-35) Felix wants to determine whether he is the proper judge to hear Paul's case. Upon hearing that Paul is from Cilicia, Felix agrees that the case falls under his jurisdiction. Because Paul is a Roman citizen who has not been charged with any violation of Roman law, he is housed at the Praetorium rather than in a prison dungeon. Felix is following the law by waiting for Paul's accusers to arrive from Jerusalem before hearing the case. He will listen to the problem from all sides before rendering a decision, as he should. In the meantime, a number of commentators believe Paul was accorded the respect due to a Roman citizen who is obviously not a dangerous criminal and who does not appear to have violated any laws Rome would be concerned with. Felix, like Lysius, is holding him until the reasons for the hatred and the murderous plot can be determined.
Paul is going to have the opportunity to speak of the gospel to Governor Felix who, convicted in his heart but unwilling to give up his immoral lifestyle, is going to put off making a decision for Christ.
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