Felix

23Then he called two officers. He said, "Get two hundred soldiers ready to go to Caesarea. Bring seventy men on horses and two hundred men with spears. Leave at nine o'clock tonight."

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;

NoteCaesarea was a city beside the sea. The Roman governor lived there. It was about two days away by road. Back then people counted the hours of the night from sunset. So the third hour of the night was about nine o'clock.

24"Bring animals for Paul to ride as well. Take him safely to Felix, the governor who ruled that area."

And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.

NoteA governor was a ruler that Rome sent to run an area. Felix was the governor here. He decided the important trials.

25Then the commander wrote a letter. This is what it said:

And he wrote a letter after this manner:

26"From Claudius Lysias. To Felix, the honored governor. Greetings."

Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.

NoteLetters back then began with the writer's name, not the end. Claudius Lysias was the commander's name. Calling someone honored was a polite way to speak to a ruler.

27"Some Jewish men grabbed this man. They were about to kill him. I came with my soldiers and saved him. I had learned that he is a Roman citizen."

This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.

NoteA Roman citizen belonged to Rome and had special rights. Soldiers were not allowed to beat him or kill him without a trial. That is why the commander hurried to help Paul.

28"I wanted to know why they said he was guilty. So I brought him down to their council."

And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:

29"I found that their complaints were about their own law. He had done nothing that deserved death or prison."

Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.

30"Then someone told me about a plan to kill him. So I sent him to you right away. I also told the men who blame him to tell you their side. Goodbye."

And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell.

31The soldiers did what they were told. They took Paul at night to a town called Antipatris.

Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.

NoteAntipatris was a small town on the road to Caesarea. It was more than halfway there.

32The next day the soldiers on foot went back to the fort. The men on horses went on with Paul.

On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:

33The horsemen came to Caesarea. They gave the letter to the governor. They brought Paul to him too.

Who, when they came to Caesarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.

34The governor read the letter. He asked what part of the world Paul came from. He learned that Paul came from Cilicia.

And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia;

NoteCilicia was a land far to the north, across the sea. Paul was born there. A governor needed to know which ruler a prisoner belonged to.

35He said, "I will listen to your case when the men who blame you get here." Then he ordered that Paul be guarded in Herod's palace.

I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s judgment hall.

NoteHerod was a king who had built a huge palace in Caesarea. The Roman governor used it later. Paul was kept there with soldiers watching him.

1Five days later Ananias came down to the city of Caesarea. He was the high priest, the top leader of the priests. Some older leaders came with him. They also brought a speaker named Tertullus. He told the governor Felix their complaint against Paul.

And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul.

NoteA governor was the man Rome sent to run a whole region. Felix was the governor here. Paul was being held in Caesarea, a city by the sea. The Roman governor lived in that city. Ananias and the other leaders traveled there from Jerusalem to speak against Paul.

2Paul was called in. Tertullus began to accuse him. He said, "Because of you, we have had peace for a long time. Your careful planning has made things better for our nation."

And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence,

NoteTertullus was a speaker paid to argue in court. He began with praise to make Felix like him. That was a normal way to start a speech back then.

3"Always and everywhere we say thank you for this, most excellent Felix."

We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.

Note"Most excellent" was a polite title for an important official. It is like saying "sir" to a judge today.

4"But I do not want to take up too much of your time. Please be kind and hear us say just a few words."

Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words.

5"We have found that this man causes trouble wherever he goes. He starts fights among Jewish people all over the world. He is a leader of the group called the Nazarenes."

For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:

NoteNazarenes was a name people used for the followers of Jesus. Jesus grew up in a town called Nazareth. The name was often said in an unkind way.

6"He even tried to do wrong things inside the temple. So we grabbed him. We wanted to judge him by our own law."

Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law.

NoteThe temple was the great building in Jerusalem where Jews worshiped God. Only certain people were allowed in certain parts of it. Bringing the wrong person inside was a very serious charge.

7"But Lysias, the army commander, came and pulled him away from us by force."

But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands,

NoteLysias was the Roman commander of the soldiers in Jerusalem. A crowd had grabbed Paul there and wanted to hurt him. Lysias sent soldiers to pull Paul out and keep him safe.

8"Lysias told the ones accusing him to come to you. If you ask questions yourself, you can learn about everything we say he did."

Commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him.

9The other Jewish leaders there agreed. They said all these things were true.

And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so.

10The governor waved his hand for Paul to speak. Paul said, "I know you have judged this nation for many years. So I am glad to speak up for myself."

Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself:

11"You can find out for yourself that this is true. Only twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship."

Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship.

NoteJews traveled to Jerusalem for special worship times each year. People always said they "went up" to Jerusalem. The city sits high on a hill.

12"No one found me arguing with anyone in the temple. I was not stirring up crowds in the synagogues, the places where Jews meet to worship. I was not doing that in the city either."

And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city:

NoteA synagogue was a meeting place in a town for Jews. There was only one temple, but many synagogues everywhere.

13"And they cannot prove any of the things they are saying about me."

Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me.

14"But here is what I do admit to you. I worship the God of our fathers, following the Way. They call the Way a sect, a small group with its own ideas. I believe everything written in the Law and in the books of the prophets, the men who spoke God's words."

But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:

NoteThe first followers of Jesus called their group "the Way." The Law meant the first books of the Bible, given through Moses. The prophets were men who spoke messages from God. Their books were read aloud when people gathered.

15"I have the same hope in God that these men have. I believe that dead people will be raised to life again. That will happen to good people and to bad people."

And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

NoteSome Jewish leaders believed God would raise dead people to life. Other Jewish leaders did not believe that at all. Paul is saying he believes the same thing many of them believe.

16"Because of that hope, I always try hard to do what is right. I want a clear heart before God and before people."

And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.

17"After being away several years, I came back to my people. I brought money to help poor people, and I brought gifts for God."

Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings.

NoteThe money was a gift collected for poor people far away. The gifts for God were animals and food brought to the temple. Bringing them was a normal act of worship.

18"That is what I was doing when some Jews from Asia found me in the temple. I had followed the rules that make a person clean for worship. I was not with a crowd, and there was no shouting."

Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult.

NoteBefore worshiping at the temple, people followed washing rules. Doing this made a person ready, or "clean," for worship. Paul is saying he was carefully obeying those rules. Asia here does not mean the whole continent. It was a Roman area in what is now Turkey.

19"Those men are the ones who should be standing here before you. They should say what they have against me, if they have anything."

Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against me.

20"Or let these men here tell you what wrong they found in me. They saw me when I stood in front of the council."

Or else let these same here say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council,

NoteThe council was the group of top Jewish leaders in Jerusalem. They met to judge cases and decide questions about the law.

21"The only thing I shouted while standing there was this. I said, 'You are putting me on trial today because I believe dead people will rise.'"

Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.

22Felix knew quite a lot about the Way. So he stopped the hearing without deciding. He said, "When Lysias the commander comes down here, I will settle your case."

And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter.

23He told a centurion, an officer over a hundred soldiers, to guard Paul. But Paul was to have some freedom. His friends could come and bring him what he needed.

And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him.

NotePrisoners then were not given food by the guards. Friends had to bring them meals, clothes and blankets.

24A few days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul. He listened to Paul talk about believing in Christ.

And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.

NoteChrist means the special king God had promised to send. Paul taught that Jesus is that promised king.

25Paul talked about doing right, about self-control, and about the day God will judge. Felix became afraid. He said, "You may go for now. When I have time, I will send for you."

And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

NoteSelf-control means choosing not to do whatever you want. Paul also spoke about a day when God will judge everyone.

26Felix also hoped Paul would give him money to be let go. So he sent for Paul often and talked with him.

He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.

NoteMoney given in secret to a judge is called a bribe. Felix wanted Paul's friends to pay him to set Paul free. Taking money like that was against Roman law.

27Two years went by. Then Porcius Festus took Felix's place as governor. Felix wanted to please the Jews. So he left Paul in prison.

But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix’ room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.

NoteRome sent a new governor to take over after a few years. Festus was the new man. Paul had waited in prison two whole years with no decision.