Accompanying Paul to Felix the governor, along with the military escort, was the letter we read in vv.26-30. Lysias states that whilst Paul was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed, there was found nothing against him deserving of death by way of Roman law (v.29). A subtle yet important distinction: Christianity (as we know it) wasn’t subversive or rebellious in the eyes of the Romans. Lysias, however, shrewdly left out that Paul was bound and almost beaten despite being a Roman citizen (22.22-29).
Paul arrives in Caesarea and is delivered to the governor (cf. 9.15) and told that the matter would be heard “…when your accusers arrive.” He now begins a two year period (24.27) of detention in Caesarea which was a huge change of pace, so to speak, from his recent travels.
I love what David Guzik wrote on this, a great thought to carry into today:
“Paul needed to receive the promise of Jesus – both promises from 20 years before, and promises recently made – to receive them with confident faith, allowing those promises to make a difference in how he thought and even felt. Every believer must do the same.”
(Emphasis added)
James Travis 