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

21When I stood there, I shouted, “I believe that dead people will rise and they will live again. That is the reason why you are judging me today.” They may think that is a wrong thing that I did.’ 22Felix knew much about the Way of the Lord Jesus. He now said that the meeting had finished. He said to Paul, ‘Soon Lysias, the leader of the soldiers, will arrive here. Then I will decide what to do with you.’ He said to the officer who was holding Paul, ‘Continue to guard this man carefully. But his friends can come and see him. They can help him and they can bring things for him.’ 24After some days, Felix came with Drusilla, his Jewish wife. He told his soldiers to bring Paul to them. Paul talked to them, and they listened to everything that he said. Paul spoke about how people believed in Jesus, the Messiah. 25Paul continued to speak for some time. He said, ‘People need to do what is right. They need to stop themselves doing wrong things. One day, God will judge people for how they have lived.’ While Paul talked about these things, Felix became afraid. He said to Paul, ‘You can leave us now. At some time I may want to listen to you again. Then I will ask you to come to me again.’

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 24:26But Felix also hoped that Paul would give him some money. For that reason he often met with Paul and they talked together.
• Acts 27:3The next day after we left Caesarea, we arrived at Sidon. Julius was kind to Paul. He said, ‘Paul, you can go and visit your friends here. They can give you anything that you need.’
• Acts 28:16When we arrived in Rome, the Roman officer said to Paul, ‘You may live in a house by yourself, but a soldier will guard you there.’
• Proverbs 16:7If you live in a way that pleases the Lord, even your enemies will become your friends.
• Acts 21:8The next day, we left Ptolemais and we sailed to Caesarea. We stayed there with Philip. He was someone who taught people the good news about Jesus. He was one of the seven men that the believers had chosen in Jerusalem.

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