Acts 24:23

Paul

²¹ Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.

²² And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter.

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.

²⁴ And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.

²⁵ And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard, but to allow him some freedom and permit his friends to minister to his needs.
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.
WEB: He ordered the centurion that Paul should be kept in custody and should have some privileges, and not to forbid any of his friends to serve him or to visit him.
ASV: And he gave order to the centurion that he should be kept in charge, and should have indulgence; and not to forbid any of his friends to minister unto him.
DARBY: ordering the centurion to keep him, and that he should have freedom, and to hinder none of his friends to minister to him.
BLB: having commanded the centurion to keep him and to [let him] have ease and not to forbid his own to minister to him.

ÅB: Og han befalte høvedsmannen at han skulle holdes i varetekt og ha ro, og at ingen av hans egne skulle hindres fra å være ham til tjeneste.
OTB: Han beordret centurionen å holde Paulus i forvaring, men å gi ham en viss frihet og ikke hindre noen av vennene hans i å ta seg av hans behov.
B1930: Og han bød høvedsmannen at han skulde holdes i varetekt og ha ro, og at ingen av hans egne skulde hindres fra å være ham til tjeneste.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Acts 27:3
And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself.
Read in context
Acts 28:16
And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.
Read in context
Proverbs 16:7
When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Read in context
Acts 24:26
He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.
Read in context
Acts 21:8–14
And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Cæsarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.
Read in context
Acts 23:35
I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s judgment hall.
Read in context
Acts 28:31
Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.
Read in context
Acts 23:16
And when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.
Read in context