^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

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Footnotes

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).

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Then he called two of the centurions and said, “Get ready two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night. Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to Felix the governor.”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

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.”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

He summoned two of his centurions and said, “Get two hundred soldiers ready with seventy cavalry and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight. Also provide mounts to ride so that Paul may be brought safely to Felix the governor.”

NLTNew Living Translation

Then the commander called two of his officers and ordered, “Get 200 soldiers ready to leave for Caesarea at nine o’clock tonight. Also take 200 spearmen and 70 mounted troops. Provide horses for Paul to ride, and get him safely to Governor Felix.”

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

And he summoned two of the centurions and said, “Make ready from the third hour of the night two hundred soldiers and seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen, in order that they may proceed as far as Caesarea. And provide mounts so that they can put Paul on them and bring him safely to Felix the governor.”

KJV 1900King James Version

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.

Public Domain