Acts 23:32

On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle: On the morrow they (the foot soldiers) left the horsemen to go with him, and (they themselves being no longer needed as a guard) returned to the castle ('the barracks')....

− 32._And the next day. _Though Luke did not express before that the soldiers were commanded to return before they came at their way’s end, yet it is certain, that they were appointed to accompany him only unto that place where the chief captain thought Paul would be safe; for he went out privily in the night. And the chief captain knew that so soon as they had finished some part of their journey, there was no farther danger, because the adversaries could have no hope to overtake him; and that it was no point of wisdom − (561) to send part of the garrison far away. “ Tutum... non esse,” it was not safe....

25-35 God has instruments for every work. The natural abilities and moral virtues of the heathens often have been employed to protect his persecuted servants. Even the men of the world can discern between the conscientious conduct of upright believers, and the zeal of false professors, though they disregard or understand not their doctrinal principles. All hearts are in God's hand, and those are blessed who put their trust in him, and commit their ways unto him....

Verse 32. _ON THE MORROW THEY LEFT THE HORSEMEN_] Being now so far from Jerusalem, they considered Paul in a state of safety from the Jews, and that the seventy horse would be a sufficient guard; the four hundred foot, therefore, returned to Jerusalem, and the horse went on to Caesarea with Paul. We need not suppose that all this troop did reach Antipatris on the _same_ night in which they left Jerusalem; therefore, instead of, _they brought him by night to_ _Antipatris_, we may understand the text thus-_Then the soldiers took_ _Paul by night_, and _brought him to Antipatris_. And the thirty-second verse need not to be understood as if the foot reached the castle of Antonia the _next day_, (though all this was possible,) but that, having reached _Antipatris_, and refreshed themselves, they set out the same day, on their march to Jerusalem; _on the morrow they returned_, that is, they _b...

THEY LEFT THE HORSEMEN - As they were then beyond the danger of the conspirators, the soldiers who had guarded them thus far returned to Jerusalem....

EXPOSITION ACTS 23:1 _Looking steadfastly on _for _earnestly beholding, _A.V.; _brethren _for _men and brethren, _A.V._; I have lived before God, _etc., for _I have lived, _etc., _before God, _A.V. LOOKING STEADFASTLY; ἀτενίσας, as in Acts 1:10; Acts 3:4, Acts 3:12; Acts 6:15; Acts 7:55; Acts 10:4;...

ON THE MORROW THEY LEFT THE HORSEMEN TO GO WITH HIM,.... That is, the two hundred soldiers, and the two hundred spearmen, who were all on foot, left the seventy horsemen to conduct Paul to Caesarea; for being come to Antipatris, all danger from the Jews was over: AND RETURNED TO THE CASTLE; the castle Antonia in Jerusalem, from whence they set out....

ARRIVAL AT CÆ SAREA. Antipatris (p. 28), a Greek town even the name of which has disappeared, was where Ras-el-Ain is now, on the road from Lydda to Cæ sarea, 40 miles from Jerusalem, 25 from Cæ sarea. 40 miles are more than a night's march for infantry. The procurator asks the necessary question as to the province of the prisoner (_cf._ Luke 23:6 f.), and undertakes to hear the case when the prosecutors arrive. Of the præ torium (_mg.)_ of Herod at Cæ sarea nothing is known....

THE STRATEGY OF PAUL (Acts 23:1-10)...

LEFT. Greek. _eao_. Generally translated "suffer" in the sense of "permit"....