Acts 24:23

Myles Coverdale Bible

But he commaunded the vndercaptayne to kepe Paul, and to let him haue rest, and that he shulde forbydde none of his acquauntauce to mynister vnto him, or to come vnto him.

Parallel Translations

The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible
He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard, but to allow him some freedom and permit his friends to minister to his needs.

Contemporary English Version
He then ordered the army officer to keep Paul under guard, but not to lock him up or to stop his friends from helping him.

Complete Jewish Bible
He ordered the captain to keep Sha'ul in custody, but to let him have considerable liberty and not prevent any of his friends from taking care of his needs.

Darby Translation
ordering the centurion to keep him, and that he should have freedom, and to hinder none of his friends to minister to him.

Easy-to-Read Version
Felix told the army officer to keep Paul guarded but to give him some freedom and to let his friends bring whatever he needed.

American Standard Version
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.

Bible in Basic English
And he gave orders to the captain to keep Paul under his control, and to let him have everything he had need of; and not to keep his friends from coming to see him.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Then hee commaunded a Centurion to keepe Paul, and that he should haue ease, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister vnto him, or to come vnto him.

George Lamsa Translation
And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul in comfort, and that none of his acquaintances should be prevented from ministering to him.

Hebrew Names Version
He ordered the centurion that Sha'ul 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.

International Standard Version
He ordered the centurion to guard Paulhim">[fn] but to let him have some freedom and not to keep any of his friends from caring for his needs.Acts 27:3; 28:16;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
And he commanded the centurion to keep Paulos in quietude, and that none of his acquaintances should be hindered from ministering to him.

Murdock Translation
And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, at rest; and that no one of his acquaintances should be forbidden to minister to him.

Good News Translation
He ordered the officer in charge of Paul to keep him under guard, but to give him some freedom and allow his friends to provide for his needs.

Christian Standard Bible®
He ordered that the centurion keep Paul under guard, though he could have some freedom, and that he should not prevent any of his friends from serving him.

New International Version (1984)
He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.

King James Version (1611)
And he commanded a Centurion to keepe Paul, and to let him haue libertie, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister, or come vnto him.

Amplified Bible
Then he ordered the centurion to keep Paul in custody, but to let him have some freedom, and [he told the centurion] not to stop any of his friends from providing for his needs.

Update Bible Version
And he gave order to the captain that he should be kept in charge, and should have indulgence; and not to forbid any of his friends to serve him.

Webster's Bible Translation
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 to him.

King James Version
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.

Lexham English Bible
He ordered the centurion for him to be guarded and to have some freedom, and in no way to prevent any of his own people from serving him.

Literal Translation
And having ordered the centurion to keep Paul, and to have ease, and not to forbid anyone of his own to minister or to come to him, he dismissed them .

New American Standard Bible
He gave orders to the centurion for Paul to be kept in custody and yet have some freedom, and not to prevent any of his friends from providing for his needs.

New Century Version
Felix told the officer to keep Paul guarded but to give him some freedom and to let his friends bring what he needed.

New English Translation
He ordered the centurion to guard Paul, but to let him have some freedom, and not to prevent any of his friends from meeting his needs.

New International Version
He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.

New King James Version
So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and told him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit him.

World English Bible
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.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And he commanded the centurion to keep Paul, and let him have liberty, and to hinder none of his friends from assisting or coming to him.

Weymouth's New Testament
And he gave orders to the Captain that Paul was to be kept in custody, but be treated with indulgence, and that his personal friends were not to be prevented from showing him kindness.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And he comaundide to a centurien to kepe hym, and that he hadde reste, nethir to forbede ony man to mynystre of his owne thingis to him.

New Life Bible
He told the soldier to watch Paul, but to let him come and go as much as he wanted to. Paul's friends were to be able to come and care for him.

New Revised Standard
Then he ordered the centurion to keep him in custody, but to let him have some liberty and not to prevent any of his friends from taking care of his needs.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
giving orders unto the centurion, that he should be kept, and have a measure of liberty, and to be hindering, none, of his own from waiting upon him.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And he commanded a centurion to keep him: and that he should be easy and that he should not prohibit any of his friends to minister unto him.

Revised Standard Version
Then he gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept in custody but should have some liberty, and that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And he commaunded an vndercaptayne to kepe Paul and that he shuld have rest and that he shuld forbyd none of his aquayntauce to minister vnto him or to come vnto him.

Young's Literal Translation
having given also a direction to the centurion to keep Paul, to let [him] also have liberty, and to forbid none of his own friends to minister or to come near to him.

Mace New Testament (1729)
Felix then order'd a centurion to take Paul into his custody, without confining him so as to hinder his friends from waiting upon him.

English Revised Version
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.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then he gave orders to the centurion for him to be kept in custody and yet have some freedom, and not to prevent any of his friends from ministering to him.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And he commaunded an vnder captayne to kepe Paul, and to let hym haue rest, and that he shoulde forbyd none of his acquayntaunce to minister vnto hym, or to come vnto hym.

English Standard Version
Then he gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept in custody but have some liberty, and that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs.

New Living Translation
He ordered an officer to keep Paul in custody but to give him some freedom and allow his friends to visit him and take care of his needs.

Simplified Cowboy Version
He adjourned the court and ordered Paul to be kept in custody, but he was free to come and go as he pleased. Felix also allowed Paul's friends to come and see him and care for his needs.

Contextual Overview

²² Whan Felix herde this, he dyfferred the (for he knewe very well of that waye) and sayde: Whan Lysias the vpper captayne commeth downe, I wyl knowe ye vttemost of youre matter ²³ But he commaunded the vndercaptayne to kepe Paul, and to let him haue rest, and that he shulde forbydde none of his acquauntauce to mynister vnto him, or to come vnto him. ²⁴ But after certayne dayes came Felix wt his wife Drusilla, which was a Iewesse, and called for Paul, and herde him of the faith in Christ. ²⁵ Howbeit whan Paul spake off righteousnesse, and off chastite and off the iudgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered: Go thy waye for this tyme. Whan I haue a conuenyent tyme, I wil sende for the. ²⁶ He hoped also, that money shulde haue bene geuen him of Paul, therfore called he oft for him, and commened with him. ²⁷ But after two yeares came Portius Festus in to felix rowme. Yet Felix wyllinge to shewe the Iewes a pleasure, left Paul bounde.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

and to: Acts 24:26, Acts 27:3, Acts 28:16, Acts 28:31, Proverbs 16:7

his: Acts 21:8-14

Reciprocal: Jeremiah 38:13 - Jeremiah Jeremiah 39:11 - gave Matthew 14:9 - sorry Luke 7:8 - under Acts 27:1 - a centurion Hebrews 13:3 - them that

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul,.... In custody, to watch and guard him, and look after him, that he went not away, since he was neither condemned nor acquitted; and therefore must be retained a prisoner, till one or other was done:

and to let him have liberty; not to go where he pleased, or out of the place of confinement, for then there would have been no need of the after direction, not to prohibit his friends from coming to him; but to free him from his bonds and close confinement; which was done, partly on account of his being a Roman, and partly because he took him to be an innocent man, and it may be because he hoped to receive money from him:

that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him; but that they should have free access to him, and the liberty of conversation with him; which layouts granted show that he was inclined to the side of Paul, both through the defence that he had made for himself, and through the letter which Lysias sent him, as well as through the knowledge he had gained by long observation and experience, of the temper and disposition of the Jews, their priests and elders.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And he commanded ... - It is evident from this verse that Felix was disposed to show Paul all the favors that were consistent with his safe keeping. He esteemed him to be a persecuted man, and doubtless regarded the charges against him as entirely malicious. What was Felix’s motive in this cannot be certainly known. It is not improbable, however, that he detained him:

1. To gratify the Jews by keeping him in custody as if he were guilty, and,
2. That he hoped the friends of Paul would give him money to release him. Perhaps it was for this purpose that he gave orders that his friends should have free access to him, that thus Paul might be furnished with the means of purchasing his freedom.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 24:23. He commanded a centurion to keep Paul — He gave him into the custody of a captain, by whom he was most likely to be well used: and to let him have liberty; he freed him from the chains with which he was bound to the soldiers, his keepers. Acts 21:33. And that he should forbid none of his acquaintance, τωνιδιων, of his own people, his fellow apostles, and the Christians in general, to minister or come unto him; to furnish him with any of the conveniences and comforts of life, and visit him as often as they pleased. This was an ample proof that Felix found no evil in him; and he would certainly have dismissed him but for two reasons:

1. He wanted to please the Jews, who, he knew, could depose grievous things against his administration.

2. He hoped to get money from the apostle, or his friends, as the purchase of his liberty.