23. Then the commander called two officers. He said to them, “I need some men to go to Caesarea. Get 200 soldiers ready. Also, get 70 horsemen and 200 men with spears. Be ready to leave at nine o’clock tonight.
24. Get some horses for Paul to ride. He must be taken to Governor Felix safely.”
25. And he wrote a letter that said:
26. From Claudius Lysias.To the Most Excellent Governor Felix:Greetings.
27. The Jews had taken this man, and they planned to kill him. But I learned that he is a Roman citizen, so I went with my soldiers and saved him.
28. I wanted to know why they were accusing him. So I brought him before their council meeting.
29. I learned that the Jews said Paul did some things that were wrong. But these charges were about their own laws. And no charge was worthy of jail or death.
30. I was told that some of the Jews were planning to kill Paul. So I sent him to you at once. I also told those Jews to tell you what they have against him.
31. So the soldiers did what they were told. They took Paul and brought him to the city of Antipatris that night.
32. The next day the horsemen went with Paul to Caesarea. But the other soldiers went back to the army building in Jerusalem.
33. The horsemen came to Caesarea and gave the letter to the governor. Then they turned Paul over to him.
34. The governor read the letter. Then he asked Paul, “What area are you from?” He learned that Paul was from Cilicia.
35. He said, “I will hear your case when those who are against you come here too.” Then the governor gave orders for Paul to be kept under guard in the palace. (This building had been built by Herod.)