New Living Translation
Acts 24:23
23He ordered an officer to keep Paul in custody but to give him some freedom and allow his friends to visit him and take care of his needs.
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
21except for the one time I shouted out, ‘I am on trial before you today because I believe in the resurrection of the dead!’” 22At that point Felix, who was quite familiar with the Way, adjourned the hearing and said, “Wait until Lysias, the garrison commander, arrives. Then I will decide the case.” He ordered an officer to keep Paul in custody but to give him some freedom and allow his friends to visit him and take care of his needs. 24A few days later Felix came back with his wife, Drusilla, who was Jewish. Sending for Paul, they listened as he told them about faith in Christ Jesus. 25As he reasoned with them about righteousness and self-control and the coming day of judgment, Felix became frightened. “Go away for now,” he replied. “When it is more convenient, I’ll call for you again.”
Read all of Acts 24Acts 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 24:26He also hoped that Paul would bribe him, so he sent for him quite often and talked with him.
- Acts 27:3The next day when we docked at Sidon, Julius was very kind to Paul and let him go ashore to visit with friends so they could provide for his needs.
- Acts 28:16When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to have his own private lodging, though he was guarded by a soldier.
- Proverbs 16:7When people’s lives please the Lord, even their enemies are at peace with them.
- Acts 21:8The next day we went on to Caesarea and stayed at the home of Philip the Evangelist, one of the seven men who had been chosen to distribute food.
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
In the dictionaries
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
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
Commentaries