When the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. When he understood that he was from Cilicia, he said,
Parallel translations
- 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;
- BSB The governor read the letter and asked what province Paul was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,
- NKJV And when the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. And when he understood that he was from Cilicia,
- NASB Now when he had read it, he also asked from what province Paul was, and when he learned that he was from Cilicia,
- NLT He read it and then asked Paul what province he was from. “Cilicia,” Paul answered.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Felix reads the letter and asks Paul's home province, learning he is from Cilicia. He is establishing jurisdiction over the case.
Overview
A Roman governor would confirm where a prisoner came from to determine whether he had authority to try him. Cilicia (Paul's native region, with Tarsus as its capital) fell under Roman administration linked to Syria, so Felix could proceed. The procedural care reflects the rule of law that, under God's hand, repeatedly shields Paul and gives him a platform to testify.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Acts 21:39But Paul said, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city. I beg you, allow me to speak to the people.”
- Acts 25:1Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.
- Dan 6:1It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred twenty satraps, who should be throughout the whole kingdom;
- Dan 2:49Daniel requested of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel was in the gate of the king.
- Luke 23:6But when Pilate heard Galilee mentioned, he asked if the man was a Galilean.
- Acts 6:9But some of those who were of the synagogue called “The Libertines”, and of the Cyrenians, of the Alexandrians, and of those of Cilicia and Asia arose, disputing with Stephen.
- Esth 8:9Then the king’s scribes were called at that time, in the third month, which is the month Sivan, on the twenty-third day of the month; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded to the Jews, and to the satraps, and the governors and princes of the provinces which are from India to Ethiopia, one hundred twenty-seven provinces, to every province according to its writing, and to every people in their language, and to the Jews in their writing, and in their language.
- Acts 15:41He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the assemblies.
- Esth 1:1Now in the days of Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus who reigned from India even to Ethiopia, over one hundred twenty-seven provinces),
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Original language
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