Acts 23 34

Acts 23:34 kjv

And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia;

Acts 23:34 nkjv

And when the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. And when he understood that he was from Cilicia,

Acts 23:34 niv

The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,

Acts 23:34 esv

On reading the letter, he asked what province he was from. And when he learned that he was from Cilicia,

Acts 23:34 nlt

He read it and then asked Paul what province he was from. "Cilicia," Paul answered.

Acts 23 verses

Acts 23 34 Meaning

Acts 23:34 states that upon receiving the letter concerning Paul, Governor Felix first ascertained Paul's province of origin. When he understood that Paul was from Cilicia, he proceeded to hear his case in Caesarea, which was the Roman capital of Judea. This act by Felix was a crucial procedural step to confirm his jurisdiction over Paul's trial according to Roman law.

Acts 23 34 Context

Acts 23:34 follows a series of tumultuous events surrounding the Apostle Paul in Jerusalem. Paul, having returned to Jerusalem, was falsely accused and seized by a mob in the temple precincts (Acts 21). Roman commander Claudius Lysias intervened, saving Paul from being lynched. Discovering Paul was a Roman citizen (Acts 22:25-29), Lysias brought him before the Sanhedrin (Acts 22:30). Paul's appearance before the Jewish council caused a major division among them (Acts 23:1-10), leading to an assassination plot against him by a group of zealots (Acts 23:12-15). Warned by his nephew, Lysias took swift action, dispatching Paul under heavy military escort to Caesarea, the Roman provincial capital, to the procurator Felix, along with a protective letter explaining the situation (Acts 23:16-33). Verse 34 describes the very first action Felix takes upon Paul's arrival and after reading Lysias's explanatory letter. This sets the stage for Paul's extended imprisonment and trials under Roman authority.

Acts 23 34 Word analysis

• And (καὶ - kai): A common conjunction, here marking the continuation of the narrative, linking Felix's action to the preceding event of reading the letter.
• when he had read (ἀναγνοὺς - anagnous): From the Greek verb ἀναγιγνώσκω (anagignōskō), meaning "to read," "to know again," or "to recognize." The aorist participle indicates a completed action that precedes the main verb. It signifies Felix's thorough assimilation of the letter's contents.
• the letter (τὴν ἐπιστολὴν - tēn epistolēn): Refers specifically to the official dispatch from Claudius Lysias, detailed in Acts 23:26-30, explaining Paul's situation, the plot against him, and importantly, his status as a Roman citizen. This letter served as the formal transfer of custody and the initial brief of the case.
• he asked (ἐπερωτήσας - eperōtēsas): From ἐπερωτάω (eperōtaō), meaning "to ask," "to interrogate," or "to inquire." This emphasizes an official, direct question, a procedural inquiry rather than casual curiosity.
• of what (ποίας - poias): A form of "what kind," "what sort," or "which." It signifies a specific detail about origin.
• province (ἐπαρχίας - eparchias): Greek for eparchia, which directly translates to "province," referring to a territorial and administrative division of the Roman Empire. This term highlights the official Roman governmental and legal context. Knowledge of a person's province was fundamental for determining jurisdiction and ensuring legal protocol was followed, particularly for Roman citizens.
• he was (ἐστίν - estin): Simple present tense "is," reflecting a statement of current identity or belonging.
• And when he understood (καὶ πυθόμενος - kai puthomenos): From πυνθάνομαι (pynthánomai), meaning "to inquire," "to learn by inquiry," or "to ascertain." This suggests Felix received a clear answer to his question, confirming the factual detail of Paul's origin. It’s distinct from just asking, implying a reception of the necessary information.
• that he was (ὅτι... ἐστίν - hoti... estin): "That he is." Confirms the content of what was understood.
• of Cilicia (ἀπὸ Κιλικίας - apo Kilikias): "From Cilicia." Cilicia was a Roman province located in southeastern Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). Paul's hometown, Tarsus, was its capital. This piece of information was crucial because Felix was the procurator of Judea; while Cilicia was under different Roman administration (an imperial province governed by an imperial legate), the fact that Paul was from a known Roman province, and also a Roman citizen, allowed Felix to proceed with the case under his direct authority for alleged crimes committed within his jurisdiction.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And when he had read the letter, he asked": This phrase highlights Felix's initial procedural steps. He didn't just glance at the letter; he read it carefully (implied by the nuance of anagnous), and his immediate subsequent action was an official inquiry (eperōtēsas), underscoring his adherence to legal form and due diligence.
• "of what province he was": This question reflects a core principle of Roman provincial administration and jurisdiction. The place of birth or permanent residence (domicile) could dictate which Roman governor or court had authority over a legal matter, especially regarding the prosecution of citizens or specific categories of law. It's not about passing Paul to Cilicia for trial, but establishing the legal backdrop for the Judean procurator's jurisdiction.
• "And when he understood that he was of Cilicia": The definite answer confirming Paul's Cilician origin provides Felix with the necessary legal grounding to proceed. Knowing Paul was from Cilicia (specifically, Tarsus within Cilicia) – a major, long-established Roman province – rather than some ambiguous territory, would confirm Paul's identity within the Roman system, particularly as a Roman citizen (a fact stated in Lysias's letter). This meant Paul's case was unequivocally under Roman provincial law, enabling Felix to properly exercise his authority as a procurator.

Acts 23 34 Bonus section

• Roman Procurator's Role: A Roman procurator like Felix was typically an equestrian (a class below the senatorial aristocracy) who governed a lesser imperial province, often where the emperor required direct management or taxation. Their duties included collecting taxes, managing state property, and judicial authority. Felix's question about Paul's province directly relates to his judicial role.
• Felix's Character: While this specific act shows Felix's procedural side, it's worth noting from later chapters (Acts 24:26-27) that Felix was also corrupt, keeping Paul imprisoned longer than necessary, hoping for a bribe. This specific legal inquiry, however, remains a standard, legitimate step.
• Significance of Paul's Citizenship: Lysias's letter (Acts 23:26-30) explicitly stated Paul's Roman citizenship. This status gave Paul significant legal rights, including protection from arbitrary punishment without trial, the right to appeal to Caesar, and generally ensured he would be treated according to Roman law, not solely Jewish custom. Felix's inquiry about his province of birth further confirms Paul's identity as a subject of the Roman legal system rather than merely a Jewish agitator.
• Tarsus's Status: Tarsus, Paul's city in Cilicia, was a civitas libera, a "free city" that enjoyed a degree of self-governance under Roman rule, contributing to its prominence as a center of learning and trade. While it didn't directly affect the legal jurisdiction for a provincial Roman citizen's case outside of Tarsus, it spoke to the esteemed background from which Paul came.

Acts 23 34 Commentary

Acts 23:34 is a brief but pivotal verse demonstrating the meticulous adherence to Roman legal procedure by Governor Felix. Upon Paul's arrival and the reading of the explanatory letter from Claudius Lysias, Felix's first act was to verify Paul's provincial origin. This was not mere curiosity, but a critical legal inquiry to ascertain if he had proper jurisdiction over the case. For a Roman citizen, one's province of origin often informed where a trial should proceed, though not exclusively. Paul being from Cilicia, a prominent Roman province, solidified his identity within the Empire's administrative structure. Felix's subsequent decision to hold the trial in Caesarea indicates that he determined the alleged crimes, having occurred in Jerusalem within his Judean procuratorship, warranted his immediate attention. This verse showcases the pragmatic side of Roman rule, highlighting the importance placed on order and legal formalities even when dealing with potentially politically sensitive or religiously charged cases. This methodical approach ensures Paul, despite the hostile environment created by the Jewish leaders, would receive a hearing under the Roman system, ultimately serving God's broader purpose of bringing Paul's witness to Rome (Acts 23:11).