^23:1Paul looked directly¹ at the council² and said, “Brothers, I have lived my life with a clear conscience³ before God to this day.” ^23:2At that⁴ the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near⁵ Paul⁶ to strike⁷ him on the mouth. ^23:3Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall!⁸ Do⁹ you sit there judging me according to the law,¹⁰ and in violation of the law¹¹ you order me to be struck?” ^23:4Those standing near him¹² said, “Do you dare insult¹³ God’s high priest?” ^23:5Paul replied,¹⁴ “I did not realize,¹⁵ brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You must not speak evil about a ruler of your people.’ ”¹⁶

^23:6Then when Paul noticed¹⁷ that part of them were Sadducees¹⁸ and the others Pharisees,¹⁹ he shouted out in the council,²⁰ “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am on trial concerning the hope of the resurrection²¹ of the dead!” ^23:7When he said this,²² an argument²³ began²⁴ between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. ^23:8(For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection, or angel, or spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.)²⁵^23:9There was a great commotion,²⁶ and some experts in the law²⁷ from the party of the Pharisees stood up²⁸ and protested strongly,²⁹ “We find nothing wrong³⁰ with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” ^23:10When the argument became³¹ so great the commanding officer³² feared that they would tear Paul to pieces,³³ he ordered the detachment³⁴ to go down, take him away from them by force,³⁵ and bring him into the barracks.³⁶

^23:11The following night the Lord³⁷ stood near³⁸ Paul³⁹ and said, “Have courage,⁴⁰ for just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem,⁴¹ so you must also testify in Rome.”⁴²

The Plot to Kill Paul

^23:12When morning came,⁴³ the Jews formed⁴⁴ a conspiracy⁴⁵ and bound themselves with an oath⁴⁶ not to eat or drink anything⁴⁷ until they had killed Paul. ^23:13There were more than forty of them who formed this conspiracy.⁴⁸^23:14They⁴⁹ went⁵⁰ to the chief priests⁵¹ and the elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath⁵² not to partake⁵³ of anything until we have killed Paul. ^23:15So now you and the council⁵⁴ request the commanding officer⁵⁵ to bring him down to you, as if you were going to determine⁵⁶ his case⁵⁷ by conducting a more thorough inquiry.⁵⁸ We are ready to kill him⁵⁹ before he comes near this place.”⁶⁰

^23:16But when the son of Paul’s sister heard about the ambush,⁶¹ he came and entered⁶² the barracks⁶³ and told Paul. ^23:17Paul called⁶⁴ one of the centurions⁶⁵ and said, “Take this young man to the commanding officer,⁶⁶ for he has something to report to him.” ^23:18So the centurion⁶⁷ took him and brought him to the commanding officer⁶⁸ and said, “The prisoner Paul called⁶⁹ me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.” ^23:19The commanding officer⁷⁰ took him by the hand, withdrew privately, and asked, “What is it that you want⁷¹ to report to me?” ^23:20He replied,⁷² “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council⁷³ tomorrow, as if they were going to inquire more thoroughly about him. ^23:21So do not let them persuade you to do this,⁷⁴ because more than forty of them⁷⁵ are lying in ambush⁷⁶ for him. They⁷⁷ have bound themselves with an oath⁷⁸ not to eat or drink anything⁷⁹ until they have killed him, and now they are ready, waiting for you to agree to their request.”⁸⁰^23:22Then the commanding officer⁸¹ sent the young man away, directing him,⁸² “Tell no one that you have reported⁸³ these things to me.” ^23:23Then⁸⁴ he summoned⁸⁵ two of the centurions⁸⁶ and said, “Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea⁸⁷ along with seventy horsemen⁸⁸ and two hundred spearmen⁸⁹ by⁹⁰ nine o’clock tonight,⁹¹^23:24and provide mounts for Paul to ride⁹² so that he may be brought safely to Felix⁹³ the governor.”⁹⁴^23:25He wrote⁹⁵ a letter that went like this:⁹⁶

^23:26Claudius Lysias to His Excellency Governor⁹⁷ Felix,⁹⁸ greetings. ^23:27This man was seized⁹⁹ by the Jews and they were about to kill him,¹⁰⁰ when I came up¹⁰¹ with the detachment¹⁰² and rescued him, because I had learned that he was¹⁰³ a Roman citizen.¹⁰⁴^23:28Since I wanted to know¹⁰⁵ what charge they were accusing him of,¹⁰⁶ I brought him down to their council.¹⁰⁷^23:29I found he¹⁰⁸ was accused with reference to controversial questions¹⁰⁹ about their law, but no charge against him deserved death or imprisonment.¹¹⁰^23:30When I was informed¹¹¹ there would be a plot¹¹² against this man, I sent him to you at once, also ordering his accusers to state their charges¹¹³ against him before you.

^23:31So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders,¹¹⁴ took¹¹⁵ Paul and brought him to Antipatris¹¹⁶ during the night. ^23:32The next day they let¹¹⁷ the horsemen¹¹⁸ go on with him, and they returned to the barracks.¹¹⁹^23:33When the horsemen¹²⁰ came to Caesarea¹²¹ and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented¹²² Paul to him. ^23:34When the governor¹²³ had read¹²⁴ the letter,¹²⁵ he asked¹²⁶ what province he was from.¹²⁷ When he learned¹²⁸ that he was from Cilicia,¹²⁹^23:35he said, “I will give you a hearing¹³⁰ when your accusers arrive too.” Then¹³¹ he ordered that Paul¹³² be kept under guard in Herod’s palace.¹³³

Read in Logos

Footnotes

1 Grk “Paul, looking directly at the council, said.” The participle ἀτενίσας (atenisas) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
2 Grk “the Sanhedrin” (the Sanhedrin was the highest legal, legislative, and judicial body among the Jews).
3 πολιτεύομαι 3 has “W. a double συνειδήσει ἀγαθῇ πεπολίτευμαι τῷ θεῷ I have lived my life with a clear conscience before God Ac 23:1.”
4 Grk “and” (δέ, de); the phrase “at that” has been used in the translation to clarify the cause and effect relationship.
5 BDAG 778 παρίστημι/παριστάνω 2.b.α has “οἱ παρεστῶτες αὐτῷ those standing near him Ac 23:2.”
6 Grk “him”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
7 Or “hit” (‘strike’ maintains the wordplay with the following verse). The action was probably designed to indicate a rejection of Paul’s claim to a clear conscience in the previous verse.
8 You whitewashed wall. This was an idiom for hypocrisy—just as the wall was painted on the outside but something different on the inside, so this person was not what he appeared or pretended to be (L&N 88.234; see also τοῖχος). Paul was claiming that the man’s response was two-faced (Ezek 13:10–16; Matt 23:27–28). See also Deut 28:22.
9 Grk “And do.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.
10 The law refers to the law of Moses.
11 παρανομέω has “παρανομῶν κελεύεις in violation of the law you order Ac 23:3.” In violation of the law. Paul was claiming that punishment was given before the examination was complete ( Sanhedrin 3:6–8). Luke’s noting of this detail shows how quickly the leadership moved to react against Paul.
12 The word “him” is not in the Greek text but is implied.
13 L&N 33.393 has for λοιδορέω (loidoreō) “to speak in a highly insulting manner—‘to slander, to insult strongly, slander, insult.’ ” Insult God’s high priest. Paul was close to violation of the Mosaic law with his response, as the citation from Exod 22:28 in v. 5 makes clear.
14 Grk “said.”
15 Or “know.”
16 A quotation from Exod 22:28. This text defines a form of blasphemy. Paul, aware of the fact that he came close to crossing the line, backed off out of respect for the law.
17 γινώσκω 4 has “to be aware of someth., perceive, notice, realize”; this is further clarified by section 4.c: “w. ὅτι foll.… Ac 23:6.”
18 See the note on Sadducees in .
19 See the note on Pharisee in .
20 Grk “the Sanhedrin” (the Sanhedrin was the highest legal, legislative, and judicial body among the Jews).
21 That is, concerning the hope that the dead will be resurrected. Grk “concerning the hope and resurrection.” ἐλπίς 1.b.α states, “Of Israel’s messianic hope Ac 23:6 (ἐ. καὶ ἀνάστασις for ἐ. τῆς ἀν. [obj. gen] as 2 Macc 3:29 ἐ. καὶ σωτηρία).” With an objective genitive construction, the resurrection of the dead would be the “object” of the hope.
22 The participle εἰπόντος (eipontos) has been translated temporally.
23 Or “a dispute” ( στάσις 3).
24 Grk “there came about an argument.” This has been simplified to “an argument began”
25 ἀμφότεροι 2 has “all, even when more than two are involved … Φαρισαῖοι ὁμολογοῦσιν τὰ ἀ. believe in them all 23:8.” On this belief see Josephus, 2.8.14 (2.163); 18.1.3 (18.14). This is a parenthetical note by the author.
26 Or “clamor” (cf. κραυγή 1.a, which has “there arose a loud outcry” here, and Exod 12:30).
27 Or “and some scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in .
28 Grk “standing up.” The participle ἀναστάντες (anastantes) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
29 Grk “protested strongly, saying.” L&N 39.27 has “διαμάχομαι: to fight or contend with, involving severity and thoroughness—‘to protest strongly, to contend with.’ … ‘some scribes from the party of the Pharisees protested strongly’ Ac 23:9.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant and has not been translated.
30 “We find nothing wrong with this man.” Here is another declaration of innocence. These leaders recognized the possibility that Paul might have the right to make his claim.
31 This genitive absolute construction with the participle γινομένης (ginomenēs) has been taken temporally (it could also be translated as causal).
32 Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). In Greek the term χιλίαρχος (chiliarchos) literally described the “commander of a thousand,” but it was used as the standard translation for the Latin tribunus militum or tribunus militare, the military tribune who commanded a cohort of 600 men.
33 Grk “that Paul would be torn to pieces by them.” διασπάω has “of an angry mob μὴ διασπασθῇ ὁ Παῦλος ὑπʼ αὐτῶν that Paul would be torn in pieces by them Ac 23:10.” The passive construction is somewhat awkward in English and has been converted to an equivalent active construction in the translation.
34 Normally this term means “army,” but according to στράτευμα, “Of a smaller detachment of soldiers, Ac 23:10, 27.” In the plural it can be translated “troops,” but it is singular here.
35 Or “to go down, grab him out of their midst.”
36 Or “the headquarters.” παρεμβολή 2 has “barracks/headquarters of the Roman troops in Jerusalem Ac 21:34, 37; 22:24; 23:10, 16, 32.”
37 The presence of the Lord indicated the vindicating presence and direction of God.
38 Grk “standing near Paul, said.” The participle ἐπιστάς (epistas) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
39 Grk “him”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
40 Or “Do not be afraid.”
41 For location see ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; .
42 Like Jesus went to Jerusalem, Paul would now go to Rome. This trip forms the concluding backdrop to Acts. This is the second notice about going to Rome (see Acts 19:21 for the first). For location see .
43 Grk “when it was day.”
44 Grk “forming a conspiracy, bound.” The participle ποιήσαντες (poiēsantes) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
45 L&N 30.72 has ‘some Jews formed a conspiracy’ Ac 23:12”; συστροφή 1 has “Judeans came together in a mob 23:12. But in the last pass. the word may also mean—2. the product of a clandestine gathering, plot, conspiracy” (see also Amos 7:10; Ps 63:3).
46 Or “bound themselves under a curse.” ἀναθεματίζω 1 has “ put under a curse τινά someone … pleonastically ἀναθέματι ἀ. ἑαυτόν Ac 23:14 … ἀ. ἑαυτόν vss. 12, 21, 13 v.l.” On such oaths see Shevi’it 3:1–5. The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant in English and has not been translated.
47 The word “anything” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader.
48 L&N 30.73 defines συνωμοσία (sunōmosia) as “a plan for taking secret action someone or some institution, with the implication of an oath binding the conspirators—‘conspiracy, plot.’ … ‘there were more than forty of them who formed this conspiracy’ Ac 23:13.”
49 Grk “who.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative pronoun (“whom”) was translated by the third person plural pronoun (“them”) and a new sentence begun in the translation.
50 Grk “going.” The participle προσελθόντες (proselthontes) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
51 They went to the chief priests. The fact that the high priest knew of this plot and did nothing shows the Jewish leadership would even become accomplices to murder to stop Paul. They would not allow Roman justice to take its course. Paul’s charge in v. 3 of superficially following the law is thus shown to be true.
52 Or “bound ourselves under a curse.” ἀναθεματίζω 1 has “ put under a curse τινά someone … pleonastically ἀναθέματι ἀ. ἑαυτόν Ac 23:14 … ἀ. ἑαυτόν vss. 12, 21, 13 v.l.” The pleonastic use ἀναθέματι ἀνεθεματίσαμεν (literally “we have cursed ourselves with a curse”) probably serves as an intensifier following Semitic usage, and is represented in the translation by the word “solemn.” On such oaths see Nedarim 3:1, 3.
53 This included both food and drink (γεύομαι [geuomai] is used of water turned to wine in John 2:9).
54 Grk “the Sanhedrin” (the Sanhedrin was the highest legal, legislative, and judicial body among the Jews).
55 Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. .
56 Or “decide.” διαγινώσκω has “ἀκριβέστερον τὰ περὶ αὐτοῦ to make a more thorough examination of his case Ac 23:15.”
57 Grk “determine the things about him.”
58 The expression “more thorough inquiry” reflects the comparative form of ἀκριβέστερον (akribesteron).
59 “We are ready to kill him.” Now those Jews involved in the conspiracy, along with the leaders as accomplices, are going to break one of the ten commandments.
60 The words “this place” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.
61 Or “plot” ( ἐνέδρα).
62 Grk “coming and entering …, he told.” The participles παραγενόμενος (paragenomenos) and εἰσελθών (eiselthōn) have been translated as finite verbs due to requirements of contemporary English style.
63 Or “the headquarters.” παρεμβολή 2 has “barracks/headquarters of the Roman troops in Jerusalem Ac 21:34, 37; 22:24; 23:10, 16, 32.”
64 Grk “calling … Paul said.” The participle προσκαλεσάμενος (proskalesamenos) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
65 See the note on the word centurion in .
66 Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. .
67 Grk “he”; the referent (the centurion) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
68 Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. .
69 Grk “calling.” The participle προσκαλεσάμενος (proskalesamenos) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
70 Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. .
71 Grk “you have,” but the expression “have to report” in English could be understood to mean “must report” rather than “possess to report.” For this reason the nearly equivalent expression “want to report,” which is not subject to misunderstanding, was used in the translation.
72 Grk “He said.”
73 Grk “the Sanhedrin” (the Sanhedrin was the highest legal, legislative, and judicial body among the Jews).
74 Grk “do not be persuaded by them.” The passive construction μὴ πεισθῇς αὐτοῖς (mē peisthēs autois) has been converted to an active construction in the translation, and the phrase “to do this” supplied to indicate more clearly the object of their persuasion.
75 Grk “forty men of them.” In the expression ἐξ αὐτῶν ἄνδρες (ex autōn andres) “men” is somewhat redundant and has not been included in the English translation.
76 Grk “are lying in wait for him” ( ἐνεδρεύω); see also v. 16.
77 Grk “for him, who.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative pronoun (“who”) was translated by the third person plural pronoun (“they”) and a new sentence begun in the translation.
78 Or “bound themselves under a curse.” ἀναθεματίζω 1 has “ put under a curse τινά someone … ἀ. ἑαυτόν vss. 12, 21, 13 v.l.”
79 The word “anything” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader.
80 Grk “waiting for your approval,” “waiting for your agreement.” Since it would be possible to misunderstand the literal translation “waiting for your approval” to mean that the Jews were waiting for the commander’s approval to carry out their plot or to kill Paul (as if he were to be an accomplice to their plot), the object of the commander’s approval (their request to bring Paul to the council) has been specified in the translation as “their request.”
81 Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. .
82 παραγγέλλω has “to make an announcement about someth. that must be done, give orders, command, instruct, direct of all kinds of persons in authority, worldly rulers, Jesus, the apostles … παραγγέλλειν an inf. and μή comes to mean forbid to do someth.: π. τινί aor. inf. Lk 5:14; 8:56; without the , which is easily supplied fr. the context Ac 23:22.” However, if the direct discourse which follows is to be retained in the translation, a different translation must be used since it is awkward to introduce direct discourse with the verb to forbid. Thus the alternative to direct was used.
83 On this verb, see ἐμφανίζω 2. The term was frequently used of an official report to authorities. In modern terms, this was a police tip.
84 Grk “And.” Since this represents a response to the reported ambush, καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the logical sequence.
85 Grk “summoning … he said.” The participle προσκαλεσάμενος (proskalesamenos) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
86 See the note on the word centurion in .
87 Caesarea was a city on the coast of Palestine south of Mount Carmel (not Caesarea Philippi). See the note on Caesarea in . This was a journey of about 65 mi (just over 100 km). For location see ; ; ; ; ; ; ; .
88 Or “cavalrymen.”
89 A military technical term of uncertain meaning. δεξιολάβος states, “a word of uncertain mng., military t.t., to Joannes Lydus … and Theophyl. Sim., Hist. 4, 1 a light-armed soldier, perh. bowman, slinger; to a scholion in CMatthaei p. 342 body-guard.… Spearman Goodspd., ; ‘security officer’, GDKilpatrick, 14, ’63, 393f.” Two hundred soldiers … along with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen. The resulting force assembled to guard Paul was almost a full cohort. The Roman commander was taking no chances, but was sending the issue up the chain of command to the procurator to decide.
90 Grk “from.”
91 Grk “from the third hour of the night.”
92 Grk “provide mounts to put Paul on.” Mounts for Paul to ride. The fact they were riding horses indicates they wanted everyone to move as quickly as possible.
93 Felix the governor was Antonius Felix, a freedman of Antonia, mother of the Emperor Claudius. He was the brother of Pallas and became procurator of Palestine in a.d. 52/53. His administration was notorious for its corruption, cynicism, and cruelty. According to the historian Tacitus (History 5.9) Felix “reveled in cruelty and lust, and wielded the power of a king with the mind of a slave.”
94 Grk “Felix the procurator.” The official Roman title has been translated as “governor” ( ἡγεμών 2).
95 Grk “writing.” Due to the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was begun here in the translation, supplying “he” (referring to the commanding officer, Claudius Lysias) as subject. The participle γράψας (grapsas) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
96 Grk “having this form,” “having this content.” L&N 33.48 has “γράψσς ἐπιστολὴν ἔχουσαν τὸν τύπον τοῦτον ‘then he wrote a letter that went like this’ Ac 23:25. It is also possible to understand ἐπιστολή in Ac 23:25 not as a content or message, but as an object (see 6.63).”
97 Grk “Procurator.” The official Roman title has been translated as “governor” ( ἡγεμών 2).
98 Governor Felix. See the note on Felix in v. .
99 The participle συλλημφθέντα (sullēmphthenta) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. The remark reviews events of Acts 21:27–40.
100 Grk “and was about to be killed by them.” The passive construction has been converted to an active one in the translation for stylistic reasons.
101 Or “approached.”
102 Normally this term means “army,” but according to στράτευμα, “Of a smaller detachment of soldiers, sing. Ac 23:10, 27.” In the plural it can be translated “troops,” but it is singular here.
103 In Greek this is a present tense retained in indirect discourse.
104 The word “citizen” is supplied here for emphasis and clarity. The letter written by the Roman commander Claudius Lysias was somewhat self-serving. He made it sound as if the rescue of a Roman citizen had been a conscious act on his part. In fact, he had made the discovery of Paul’s Roman citizenship somewhat later. See Acts 21:37–39 and 22:24–29.
105 Or “determine.”
106 Grk “to know the charge on account of which they were accusing him.” This has been simplified to eliminate the prepositional phrase and relative pronoun διʼ ἢν (di’ hēn) similar to L&N 27.8 which has “ ‘I wanted to find out what they were accusing him of, so I took him down to their Council’ Ac 23:28.”
107 Grk “their Sanhedrin” (the Sanhedrin was the highest legal, legislative, and judicial body among the Jews).
108 Grk “whom I found.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative pronoun (“whom”) has been changed to a personal pronoun (“he”) and a new sentence begun in the translation at this point.
109 ζήτημα states, “in our lit. only in Ac, the mng. it still has in Mod. Gk. (controversial) question, issue, argument … Ac 15:2; 26:3. ζ. περί τινος questions about someth.… 18:15; 25:19.—In 23:29, since περί had already been used, the subj. of the discussion is added in the ζ. τοῦ νόμου αὐτῶν.” With reference to controversial questions. Note how the “neutral” Roman authorities saw the issue. This was a religious rather than a civil dispute. See Acts 18:15.
110 Grk “but having no charge worthy of death or imprisonment.” ἔγκλημα 1 has “legal t.t.… ἔ. ἄξιον θανάτου ἢ δεσμῶν a charge deserving death or imprisonment 23:29.” Despite the official assessment that no charge against him deserved death or imprisonment, there was no effort to release Paul.
111 Grk “It being revealed to me.” The participle μηνυθείσης (mēnutheisēs) has been taken temporally.
112 The term translated “plot” here is a different one than the one in Acts 23:16 (see ἐπιβουλή).
113 Grk “the things against him.” This could be rendered as “accusations,” “grievances,” or “charges,” but since “ordered his accusers to state their accusations” sounds redundant in English, “charges” was used instead.
114 διατάσσω 2 has “κατὰ τὸ δ. αὐτοῖς in accordance their orders … Ac 23:31.”
115 Grk “taking.” The participle ἀναλαβόντες (analabontes) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
116 Antipatris was a city in Judea about 35 mi (55 km) northwest of Jerusalem (about halfway to Caesarea). It was mentioned several times by Josephus ( 13.15.1 [13.390]; 1.4.7 [1.99]).
117 Grk “letting.” The participle ἐάσαντες (easantes) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
118 Or “cavalrymen.”
119 Or “the headquarters.” παρεμβολή 2 has “barracks/headquarters of the Roman troops in Jerusalem Ac 21:34, 37; 22:24; 23:10, 16, 32.”
120 Grk “who, coming to Caesarea.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek construction, a new sentence was begun here in the translation. The relative pronoun (“who”) has been replaced with the referent (the horsemen) in the translation for clarity.
121 Caesarea was a city on the coast of Palestine south of Mount Carmel (not Caesarea Philippi). See the note on Caesarea in . It was about 30 mi (50 km) from Antipatris.
122 παρίστημι/παριστάνω 1.b has “present, represent—α. lit. τινά τινι someone to someone παρέστησαν τὸν Παῦλον αὐτῷ Ac 23:33.”
123 Grk “he”; the referent (the governor) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
124 Grk “having read.” The participle ἀναγνούς (anagnous) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
125 The words “the letter” are not in the Greek text but are implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek, but must be supplied for the modern English reader.
126 Grk “and asking.” The participle ἐπερωτήσας (eperōtēsas) has been translated as a finite verb and καί (kai) left untranslated due to requirements of contemporary English style.
127 Governor Felix asked what province he was from to determine whether he had legal jurisdiction over Paul. He could have sent him to his home province for trial, but decided to hear the case himself.
128 Grk “and learning.” The participle πυθόμενος (puthomenos) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
129 Cilicia was a province in northeastern Asia Minor.
130 Or “I will hear your case.” διακούω has “as legal t.t. give someone an opportunity to be heard in court, give someone (τινός) a hearing Ac 23:35”; L&N 56.13 has “to give a judicial hearing in a legal matter—‘to hear a case, to provide a legal hearing, to hear a case in court.’ ”
131 Grk “ordering.” The participle κελεύσας (keleusas) has been translated as a finite verb and a new sentence begun here due to the length and complexity of the Greek sentence. “Then” has also been supplied to indicate the logical and temporal sequence.
132 Grk “him”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
133 Herod’s palace (Grk “Herod’s praetorium”) was the palace built in Caesarea by Herod the Great. See Josephus, 15.9.6 (15.331). These events belong to the period of a.d. 56–57.