PAUL TAKEN TO CAESAREA

Acts 23:23-24 And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night; and provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.

Through Paul's nephew, the conspiracy to kill Paul had been uncovered, told to the chief captain, avoided, and Paul was guarded and safely kept from harm by the Roman militia. After this, and in order to keep the riotous Jewish conspirators unaware of Paul's whereabouts, his nephew was allowed to depart, and the chief captain told him to tell no man that thou hast shown these things to me.

Realizing Paul was a Roman citizen from the Cilician city of Tarsus, and to further protect him from the death, which the mob of Jewish zealots had sworn to carry out, the chief captain was determined to send Paul to Caesarea to appear before, be heard, and judged by Felix, the Roman governor of Judea. In order to convey him safely to Caesarea, the chief captain had two centurions, each in charge of one hundred soldiers, to accompany Paul on this journey. As further assurance of his safety, seventy horsemen andtwo hundred spearmen were also to go with Paul. In total, four hundred and seventy Roman soldiers were dispatched to protect Paul from danger and from being ambushed by zealous Jewish mobsters. Also, Paul and those attending to his personal needs, were given beasts, which could have been camels, donkeys, or horses, to ride upon. And as further precaution, they were dispatched at the third hour of the night - nine o'clock, which was probably the most secretive time of night to flee from Jerusalem and escape the Jewish threats of violence.

The story continues in the verses that follow. Claudius Lysias, the chief captain, wrote a letter to Felix introducing Paul to him and explaining the reason for sending him appear before this Roman governor for judgment (Vss. 25-26). In the letter he told Felix that Paul had been taken of the Jews with intentions of killing him. However, understanding that he was a Roman, Paul was rescued from his peril by the chief captain and his army (Vs. 27). Desiring to know and understand what the Jews were accusing him of, he brought him (Paul) forth into their council (Vs. 28). From this hearing the chief captain understood that Paul was accused of violations of their law (the Jewish law), but he concluded that these charges were, according to Roman law, not worthy of death or of bonds (Vs. 29). Claudius Lysias, the chief captain, concluded his letter to Felix telling him that the Jews laid wait for the man (Paul), intending to kill him. He continues to write that when he knew of this conspiracy, he told his accusers to bring their charges against Paul and present them before thee (Vs. 30).

The Roman soldiers assigned by the chief captain were successful in safely accompanying Paul to the city of Antipatris (Vs. 31). This city was located in the Plain of Sharon, approximately fifteen miles from Jerusalem and twenty miles from Caesarea. There Paul, and the Roman army that accompanied him, lodged for the remainder of the night. When the following morning dawned, Paul, accompanied only by the mounted Roman soldiers, continued their journey toward Caesarea. Evidently the threat of a Jewish ambush had waned, and the other four hundred foot soldiers were not deemed necessary to protect Paul, so they returned to the castle in Jerusalem (Vs. 32). When Paul, the personal friends accompanying him, and the Roman horsemen arrived in Caesarea, they immediately went before Felix, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him (Vs. 33). After the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he (Paul) was. From the letter written by Claudius Lysias, the chief captain, Felix understood that Paul was a Roman citizen (Prev. Vs. 27). Having read this, and in order to determine if this hearing fell within his jurisdiction, Felix desired to know from which specific province within the Roman Empire Paul gained his citizenship. When Paul replied that he was of Cilicia, Felix said that he would hear the case when thine accusers are also come (Vs. 34).

This lesson causes us to reflect on this prophetic statement Jesus made to His apostles: But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony against them. (Mark 13:9). In order to preach God's plan of salvation through Christ Jesus to the world, this lot Paul gladly accepted!