Acts 24:23

And he commanded a centurion The Greek noun has the article, therefore the Rev. Ver.gives "the centurion." It might perhaps be one of the two whom Lysias had put in charge of the conveyance of Paul (Acts 23:23). One might be appointed to go on to Cæsarea, while the other returned with the larger part of the convoy from Antipatris.

to keep Paul The best MSS. omit the proper name. Read (with Rev. Ver.) "that he should be kept in charge." The verb only conveys the idea of safe keeping, not of severe detention, and it is clear that for some reason Felix shewed himself well-disposed towards the Apostle. Either his conscience moved him, or his hope of gain, or perhaps the flattery and compliments of Tertullus had overshot their mark.

and to let him have liberty Better, "and should have indulgence." That is, there should be a relaxation of prison rules in his case.

and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance In order to join on better with the previous clause, read (with Rev. Ver.) "and not to forbid any of his friends." The original has a word stronger than "acquaintance." It refers more particularly to such matters as country, home, family and friends, which are specially a man's own. Here from our limited knowledge we are only able to think of Philip the Evangelist who would be particularly a friend of St Paul, but he had been more than once before in Cæsarea, and he had no doubt made himself known there as in other places. Those unnamed disciples of Cæsarea (Acts 21:16) would be among those who had a warm interest in St Paul, and it is clear from St Luke's language that there were friends at hand and ready to visit the Apostle when they were allowed.

to minister or come unto him The best MSS. have no Greek for "or come." The verb "minister" implies the doing of those services of which a prisoner even under such liberal conditions must ever stand in need. They would be his means of communication with the outer world. And the cupidity of Felix may have suggested that through these friends the means might be supplied for purchasing the Apostle's release.