This is an embarrassing moment for the Roman military commander in Jerusalem. Paul had been ambushed in the temple in Jerusalem by religious traditionalists who dragged him out into the streets to kill him (Acts 21:30). Such public disorder was illegal in Roman provinces, so the military soon arrived on the scene (Acts 21:32).
It was very odd. Paul, the Apostle, under Roman guard was about to be questioned by the Supreme religious court – in the Roman barracks in Jerusalem, under the orders of the military Commander for the city (Acts 22:30). Paul's arrest had been provoked by rioting traditional religionists, trying to kill him because he said that God had sent him to the Gentiles, who they despised (Acts 21:30-32).
The Sanhedrin, the Jewish Ruling Council, had been ordered by the Roman military commander to allow Paul to defend himself against their hostility (Acts 22:30). A special court had been convened where the Sanhedrin faced Paul under the watchful eyes of the soldiers to ensure that the process did not become violent. The Council was made up of both Pharisees, who believed in the resurrection and eternal life, and Sadducees who did not.
Paul's speech to the Sanhedrin Council was cut short. He had just declared that he was brought up as a Pharisee, and that he fully believed in the resurrection of the dead (Acts 23:6).
These verses are difficult to read. Devout religious people, who claimed to love and worship God, were so full of hatred towards Paul: they bound themselves with an oath, not to eat or drink, until they had killed him. The previous evening the Sanhedrin Council had heard Paul speak about his belief in the resurrection (Acts 23:6), which the Pharisees on the Council applauded.
Paul did not panic because he was wise. The Roman military in Jerusalem, whose duty was to keep the peace, had foiled two attempts by Paul's accusers to kill him (Acts 21:30-42; 23:10). The Apostle had been kept in the barracks overnight.
Paul was held in protective custody in the Fortress of Antonia near to the temple in Jerusalem. Twice, religions extremists tried to kill him and now a third plot had been uncovered (Acts 23:12-15). The chief priests would ask Claudius Lysias, the military commander, to bring Paul to the Sanhedrin for more questioning. Then a mob would ambush Paul, overpower the few soldiers and kill the apostle.
Apparently, there is nothing remarkable about this narrative. Paul was being moved from the Fortress in Jerusalem to another in Caesarea. It was an emergency evacuation to get Paul away from a third plot to kill him; but well within the capacity of the Roman army to assemble and escort of 470 militia and horses with six hours' notice.
Paul had been moved, under armed guard, from Jerusalem to the Roman stronghold in Caesarea (Acts 23:23-24). Governor Felix agreed to hear Paul's accusers and to decide if the apostle had a case to answer (Acts 23:25-30). Meanwhile he was safe from the murderous mob who had attempted to kill him on three occasions. Under Roman law, evidence had to be presented for both sides.
In the Roman fortress at Caesarea, Paul was on trial before Felix. This Roman Governor was responsible for Syria and Cilicia, the province which included Paul's home city of Tarsus. Religious activists, who had tried to kill Paul on three occasions, accused him of causing Jewish people to riot wherever he went (Acts 24:5-8).
