Acts 23:23
New International Version
Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, “Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight.

New Living Translation
Then the commander called two of his officers and ordered, “Get 200 soldiers ready to leave for Caesarea at nine o’clock tonight. Also take 200 spearmen and 70 mounted troops.

English Standard Version
Then he called two of the centurions and said, “Get ready two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night.

Berean Standard Bible
Then he called two of his centurions and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea in the third hour of the night.

Berean Literal Bible
And having summoned certain two of the centurions, he said, "Prepare for the third hour of the night two hundred soldiers and seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen, so that they might go as far as Caesarea,

King James Bible
And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;

New King James Version
And he called for two centurions, saying, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at the third hour of the night;

New American Standard Bible
And he called to him two of the centurions and said, “Get two hundred soldiers ready by the third hour of the night to proceed to Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen.”

NASB 1995
And he called to him two of the centurions and said, “Get two hundred soldiers ready by the third hour of the night to proceed to Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen.”

NASB 1977
And he called to him two of the centurions, and said, “Get two hundred soldiers ready by the third hour of the night to proceed to Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And when he called to him two of the centurions, he said, “Make ready two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to proceed to Caesarea by the third hour of the night,

Amplified Bible
Then summoning two of the centurions, he said, “Have two hundred soldiers ready by the third hour of the night (9:00 p.m.) to go as far as Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen;

Christian Standard Bible
He summoned two of his centurions and said, “Get two hundred soldiers ready with seventy cavalry and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He summoned two of his centurions and said, “Get 200 soldiers ready with 70 cavalry and 200 spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight.

American Standard Version
And he called unto him two of the centurions, and said, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go as far as C�sarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night:

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And he called two Centurions and said to them, “Go prepare two hundred Romans to go to Caesarea and seventy horsemen and two hundred right-handed spearmen to go out from the third hour in the night.”

Contemporary English Version
The commander called in two of his officers and told them, "By nine o'clock tonight have 200 soldiers ready to go to Caesarea. Take along 70 men on horseback and 200 foot soldiers with spears.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Then having called two centurions, he said to them: Make ready two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen for the third hour of the night:

English Revised Version
And he called unto him two of the centurions, and said, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then the officer summoned two of his sergeants and told them, "I want 200 infantrymen, 70 soldiers on horseback, and 200 soldiers with spears. Have them ready to go to Caesarea at nine o'clock tonight.

Good News Translation
Then the commander called two of his officers and said, "Get two hundred soldiers ready to go to Caesarea, together with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen, and be ready to leave by nine o'clock tonight.

International Standard Version
Then he summoned two centurions and ordered, "Get 200 soldiers ready to leave for Caesarea at nine o'clock tonight, along with 70 mounted soldiers and 200 soldiers with spears.

Literal Standard Version
and having called a certain two of the centurions near, he said, “Make ready two hundred soldiers, that they may go on to Caesarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen, from the third hour of the night;

Majority Standard Bible
Then he called two of his centurions and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea in the third hour of the night.

New American Bible
Then he summoned two of the centurions and said, “Get two hundred soldiers ready to go to Caesarea by nine o’clock tonight, along with seventy horsemen and two hundred auxiliaries.

NET Bible
Then he summoned two of the centurions and said, "Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea along with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen by nine o'clock tonight,

New Revised Standard Version
Then he summoned two of the centurions and said, “Get ready to leave by nine o’clock tonight for Caesarea with two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen.

New Heart English Bible
He called to himself two of the centurions, and said, "Prepare two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, with seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen, at nine tonight."

Webster's Bible Translation
And he called to him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Cesarea, and seventy horsemen, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;

Weymouth New Testament
Then, calling to him two of the Captains, he gave his orders. "Get ready two hundred men," he said, "to march to Caesarea, with seventy cavalry and two hundred light infantry, starting at nine o'clock to-night."

World English Bible
He called to himself two of the centurions, and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred men armed with spears, at the third hour of the night.”

Young's Literal Translation
and having called near a certain two of the centurions, he said, 'Make ready soldiers two hundred, that they may go on unto Caesarea, and horsemen seventy, and spearmen two hundred, from the third hour of the night;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Paul Sent to Felix
22So the commander dismissed the young man and instructed him, “Do not tell anyone that you have reported this to me.” 23Then he called two of his centurions and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea in the third hour of the night. 24Provide mounts for Paul to take him safely to Governor Felix.”…

Cross References
Acts 8:40
But Philip appeared at Azotus and traveled through that region, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

Acts 23:22
So the commander dismissed the young man and instructed him, "Do not tell anyone that you have reported this to me."

Acts 23:32
The next day they returned to the barracks and let the horsemen go on with him.

Acts 23:33
When the horsemen arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and presented Paul to him.


Treasury of Scripture

And he called to him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen three score and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;

two centurions.

Acts 23:17
Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him.

at.

Matthew 14:25
And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

Luke 12:38
And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

Jump to Previous
Armed Caesarea Caesare'a Captains Cavalry Centurions Cesarea Detachment Far Horsemen Hour Hundred Infantry Light March Night Nine Orders Prepare Ready Seventy Soldiers Spearmen Spears Starting Ten Third Threescore
Jump to Next
Armed Caesarea Caesare'a Captains Cavalry Centurions Cesarea Detachment Far Horsemen Hour Hundred Infantry Light March Night Nine Orders Prepare Ready Seventy Soldiers Spearmen Spears Starting Ten Third Threescore
Acts 23
1. As Paul pleads his cause,
2. Ananias commands them to strike him.
7. Dissension among his accusers.
11. God encourages him.
14. The Jews' vow to kill Paul,
20. is declared unto the chief captain.
27. He sends him to Felix the governor.














(23) Spearmen two hundred . . .--Literally, right hand graspers. The word was a strictly technical one, and seems to have been applied to those light armed troops who carried a light spear or javelin in their right hands, as contrasted with those who carried the old spear, with a heavier shaft, which had to be wielded by both. They are coupled by the military writers of the Byzantine empire with archers and peltastae, or light shield-bearers. The escort seems a large one for a single prisoner, but the tumults of the previous days, and the information just received as to the conspiracy, gave the chiliarch good reason to apprehend a formidable attack.

At the third hour of the night.--Assuming that St. Luke uses the Jewish reckoning, this would be about 9 or 10 p.m. It was evidently the object of the chiliarch to place the prisoner beyond the reach of an attack before daybreak. With this view, all, as well as the horsemen, were to be mounted.

Verse 23. - Of the centurions for centurions, A.V.; and said for saying, A.V.; as far as for to, A.V. Two hundred soldiers; one hundred for each centurion; στρατιώτας, foot-soldiers, who alone would be under the command of the centurions. The ἱππεῖς and the δεξιολάβοι would be under the command perhaps of a τουρμάρχης, or decurio, captain of a turma, or squadron. Here there would seem to be two turmae because a turma consisted of thirty-three men - here possibly of thirty-five. Spearmen; δεξιολάβοι. This word occurs nowhere else in Scripture or in any ancient Greek author. It is first found in" Theophylactus Simocatta, in the seventh century, and then again in the tenth century in Constantine Porphyrogenitus" (Meyer). It seems most probable that it was the name of some particular kind of light infantry. But it is not easy to explain the etymology. Perhaps they were a kind of skirmishers thrown out on a march to protect the flanks of an army; as Plutarch speaks of javelin-men and slingers being placed to guard, not only the rear, but also the flanks of the army on the march (Steph., 'Thesaur.,' under οὐραγία). "Holding or taking the right" might be the force of the compound, somewhat after the analogy of δεξιόσειρος δεξιοστάτης, etc.; which agrees with the explanations of Phavorinus παραφύλακας, and with that of Beza, "Qui alicui dextrum latus [meaning simply latus] munit." Only, instead of the improbable notion of these men being a body-guard of the tribune - which their number makes impossible - it should be understood of the troops which protect the flank of an army on the march. Other improbable explanations are that δεξιολάβος means the soldier to whom the right hand of prisoners was fastened, or those who grasp with the right hand their weapon, the lance or javelin. The object of Lysias in sending so large a force was to guard against the possibility of a rescue in the feverish and excited state of the Jewish mind. And no doubt one reason for sending Paul away was his dread of a Jewish riot.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Then
Καὶ (Kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

he called
προσκαλεσάμενός (proskalesamenos)
Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4341: To call to myself, summon. Middle voice from pros and kaleo; to call toward oneself, i.e. Summon, invite.

two
δύο (dyo)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1417: Two. A primary numeral; 'two'.

of [his]
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

centurions
ἑκατονταρχῶν (hekatontarchōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 1543: A centurion of the Roman army. Or hekatontarchos hek-at-on'-tar-khos; from hekaton and archo; the captain of one hundred men.

[and] said,
εἶπεν (eipen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

“Prepare
Ἑτοιμάσατε (Hetoimasate)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 2090: To make ready, prepare. From hetoimos; to prepare.

two hundred
διακοσίους (diakosious)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1250: Two hundred. From dis and hekaton; two hundred.

soldiers,
στρατιώτας (stratiōtas)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4757: A soldier. From a presumed derivative of the same as stratia; a camper-out, i.e. A warrior.

seventy
ἑβδομήκοντα (hebdomēkonta)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1440: Seventy. From hebdomos and a modified form of deka; seventy.

horsemen,
ἱππεῖς (hippeis)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2460: A horse-soldier, a mounted soldier, a cavalryman. From hippos; an equestrian, i.e. Member of a cavalry corps.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

two hundred
διακοσίους (diakosious)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1250: Two hundred. From dis and hekaton; two hundred.

spearmen
δεξιολάβους (dexiolabous)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1187: One posted on the right hand, a spear-man. From dexios and lambano; a guardsman or light-armed soldier.

to
ὅπως (hopōs)
Conjunction
Strong's 3704: From hos and pos; what(-ever) how, i.e. In the manner that (as adverb or conjunction of coincidence, intentional or actual).

go
πορευθῶσιν (poreuthōsin)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 4198: To travel, journey, go, die.

to
ἕως (heōs)
Preposition
Strong's 2193: A conjunction, preposition and adverb of continuance, until.

Caesarea
Καισαρείας (Kaisareias)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 2542: From Kaisar; Caesaria, the name of two places in Palestine.

in
ἀπὸ (apo)
Preposition
Strong's 575: From, away from. A primary particle; 'off, ' i.e. Away, in various senses.

the third
τρίτης (tritēs)
Adjective - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 5154: Third. Ordinal from treis; third; neuter a third part, or a third time, thirdly.

hour
ὥρας (hōras)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 5610: Apparently a primary word; an 'hour'.

of the
τῆς (tēs)
Article - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

night.
νυκτός (nyktos)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3571: The night, night-time. A primary word; 'night'.


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NT Apostles: Acts 23:23 He called to himself two (Acts of the Apostles Ac)
Acts 23:22
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