Act 23:29 | KingComments | STEP | The commander does not waste any time. He gives orders with a view to the transport of Paul. The hour of departure is fixed at the third hour of the night, that is nine o’clock in the evening. The size of the escort is not for the safety of Paul as a Christian, but as a Roman. The commander would make a bad turn if under his reign a Roman would be killed. The commander takes the matter extremely seriously because he knows how fanatical religious people are. That is why he sends an army of no less than four hundred and seventy-two men to protect Paul. He even provides mounts to put Paul on, so that he doesn’t have to walk. His intention is to transfer Paul to Caesarea, where the governor Felix lives. The case has grown over his head, he feels, and Felix as his superior and responsible for the legal order in Judea has to give his opinion on this. In order to explain the transfer of the prisoner, the superior writes a letter to Felix, the content of which is communicated to us by Luke. We don’t know how Luke found out about the content of the letter. In the same way, the superior could not suspect that what he meant only for Felix is now read by all who read the Bible. That does not mean that his letter was inspired, but that Luke was inspired to include this letter in God’s Word. There are also statements from unbelievers and even from the devil in the Bible. Unbelievers or the devil are not inspired, but the Bible writer who mentions these words is. From the beginning of the letter, we get the name of the man about whom we have read so much and who until now has always been referred to as “commander”. This commander is called Claudius Lysias, further on called “the commander Lysias”. In his letter Lysias reports about the reason for sending Paul to the governor. Thereby he gives the facts as they are advantageous for himself with the result that he violates the truth here and there. He did not rescue Paul at all because he had learned that Paul was a Roman. He only learned that fact from Paul when he wanted to have him scourged. He makes it more beautiful than it really was. Furthermore, he gives a correct account of the events. Moreover, it is important to note that in this official letter it is recorded that Paul did nothing worthy of death or imprisonment. Again, the pagans testify of Paul’s innocence. The letter also shows that he has informed the accusers of Paul’s transfer to Caesarea and that they could go there to present their charges against Paul.

‏ Acts 23:29

Lysias’ Letter to Felix

The commander does not waste any time. He gives orders with a view to the transport of Paul. The hour of departure is fixed at the third hour of the night, that is nine o’clock in the evening. The size of the escort is not for the safety of Paul as a Christian, but as a Roman. The commander would make a bad turn if under his reign a Roman would be killed.

The commander takes the matter extremely seriously because he knows how fanatical religious people are. That is why he sends an army of no less than four hundred and seventy-two men to protect Paul. He even provides mounts to put Paul on, so that he doesn’t have to walk. His intention is to transfer Paul to Caesarea, where the governor Felix lives. The case has grown over his head, he feels, and Felix as his superior and responsible for the legal order in Judea has to give his opinion on this.

In order to explain the transfer of the prisoner, the superior writes a letter to Felix, the content of which is communicated to us by Luke. We don’t know how Luke found out about the content of the letter. In the same way, the superior could not suspect that what he meant only for Felix is now read by all who read the Bible. That does not mean that his letter was inspired, but that Luke was inspired to include this letter in God’s Word. There are also statements from unbelievers and even from the devil in the Bible. Unbelievers or the devil are not inspired, but the Bible writer who mentions these words is.

From the beginning of the letter, we get the name of the man about whom we have read so much and who until now has always been referred to as “commander”. This commander is called Claudius Lysias, further on called “the commander Lysias”.

In his letter Lysias reports about the reason for sending Paul to the governor. Thereby he gives the facts as they are advantageous for himself with the result that he violates the truth here and there. He did not rescue Paul at all because he had learned that Paul was a Roman. He only learned that fact from Paul when he wanted to have him scourged. He makes it more beautiful than it really was. Furthermore, he gives a correct account of the events.

Moreover, it is important to note that in this official letter it is recorded that Paul did nothing worthy of death or imprisonment. Again, the pagans testify of Paul’s innocence. The letter also shows that he has informed the accusers of Paul’s transfer to Caesarea and that they could go there to present their charges against Paul.