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; (24) And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor. (25) And he wrote a letter after this manner: (26) Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting. (27) 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. (28) And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council: (29) 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) 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. (31) Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris. (32) On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle: (33) Who, when they came to Caesarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him. (34) And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia; (35) I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment hall.
I should not have thought it necessary to have detained the Reader at this place, but to remark to him how the Lord must have wrought, upon this chief captain's mind, through fear for his own safety to provide for Paul's. It appears from his letter to Felix, as here inserted, that he wanted to shew the governor what an high regard he had fur the Roman name, but he artfully concealed that he had bound Paul, while he tells him that he understood he was a Roman. And I pray the Reader yet further to observe, with what contempt he speaks of the accusations brought against Paul, which he called questions of their law. The resurrection of the dead, and a world to come, which Paul was called in question for, (see Acts 23:6) was, in this poor heathen's view, things of no moment! Reader! think of your mercies in Christ! Since the Son of God brought life and immortality to light through his Gospel, oh! how precious the thought, that these things are no longer questionable, 2 Timothy 1:10. Oh! what unspeakable mercies hath Jesus brought his Church! And, oh! what distinguishing grace, when a soul is made the happy partaker of Christ, and all his mercies with him? Hebrews 3:14. Reader! what saith your heart to both?