Acts 24:23

Acts 24:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then he gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept in custody but have some liberty, and that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and told him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit him.

Context of Acts 24:23

21other than for this one statement which I had shouted out as I stood among them, ‘For the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you today.’ ” 22But Felix, having a rather accurate understanding about the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.” Then he ordered the centurion to keep Paul in custody, but to let him have some freedom, and [he told the centurion] not to stop any of his friends from providing for his needs. 24Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him talk about faith in Christ Jesus. 25But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control [honorable behavior, personal integrity], and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for now, and when I find [a convenient] time I will send for you.”

Acts 24:23 word by word

διαταξάμενος τῷ ἑκατοντάρχῃ τηρεῖσθαι αὐτὸν, ἔχειν τε ἄνεσιν καὶ μηδένα κωλύειν τῶν ἰδίων αὐτοῦ ὑπηρετεῖν αὐτῷ.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Andτεte · and/bothG5037
• he commandedδιατάσσωdiatassō · to directG1299
• a centurionἑκατόνταρχοςhekatontarchēs hekatontarchos · centurionG1543
• to keepτηρέωtēreō · to keep: guardG5083
• PaulΠαῦλοςPaulos · PaulG3972
• to letἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• libertyἄνεσιςanesis · restG425
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• that he should forbidκωλύωkōluō · to preventG2967
• noneμηδείςmēdeis mēdemia mēden · nothingG3367
• of hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• acquaintanceἴδιοςidios · one's own/privateG2398
• to ministerὑπηρετέωhupēreteō · to serveG5256
• orἤē · orG2228
• come untoπροσέρχομαιproserchomai · to come near/agreeG4334

Cross-references for Acts 24:23

• Acts 24:26At the same time he was also hoping to get money from Paul [as a bribe]; so he continued to send for him quite often and talked with him.
• Acts 27:3The next day we landed at Sidon; and Julius, treating Paul with [thoughtful] consideration, allowed him to go to his friends there and be cared for and refreshed.
• Acts 28:16When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself [in rented quarters] with the soldier who was guarding him.
• Proverbs 16:7When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
• Acts 21:8On the next day we left and came to Caesarea, and we went to the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven [deacons], and stayed with him.

Commentaries on Acts 24:23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23He commanded a centurion to keep Paul - He gave him into the custody of a captain, by whom he was most likely to be well used: and to let him have liberty; he freed him from the chains with which he was bound to the soldiers, his keepers. See on Acts 21:33; (note). And that he should forbid none of his acquaintance, , of his own people, his fellow apostles, and the Christians in general, to minister or come unto him; to furnish him with any of the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23And he commanded … - It is evident from this verse that Felix was disposed to show Paul all the favors that were consistent with his safe keeping. He esteemed him to be a persecuted man, and doubtless regarded the charges against him as entirely malicious. What was Felix‘s motive in this cannot be certainly known. It is not improbable, however, that he detained him: (1)To gratify the Jews by keeping him in custody as if he were guilty, and, (2)That he…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 22-27Verses 22-27 The apostle reasoned concerning the nature and obligations of righteousness, temperance, and of a judgment to come; thus showing the oppressive judge and his profligate mistress, their need of repentance, forgiveness, and of the grace of the gospel. Justice respects our conduct in life, particularly in reference to others; temperance, the state and government of our souls, in reference to God. He who does not exercise himself in these, has…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23Proper treatment of a Roman citizen involved giving him some freedom and allowing his friends to visit and care for him.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22-2322-23. having more perfect knowledge of that--"the" way--(See on Ac 19:23; and Ac 24:14). When Lysias ... shall come ... I will how, &c.--Felix might have dismissed the case as a tissue of unsupported charges. But if from his interest in the matter he really wished to have the presence of Lysias and others involved, a brief delay was not unworthy of him as a judge. Certainly, so far as recorded, neither Lysias nor any other parties appeared again in the…Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 24:23

• Armies
• Centurion
• Kindness
• Prisoners
• Readings, Select
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Paul
• Paul, Saul
• Assent
• Centurion
• Clemency
• Exercise
• Hear
• Inform
• James
• Jewess

Commentaries on Acts 24

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings