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Acts 23:31

New Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Acts 23:31 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “So the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

So the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.
Acts 23:31 — American Standard Version

Context — Acts 23

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
28And desiring to know the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him down unto their council:
29whom I found to be accused about questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.
30And when it was shown to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to thee forthwith, charging his accusers also to speak against him before thee.
31So the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.
32But on the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:
33and they, when they came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, presented Paul also before him.
34And when he had read it, he asked of what province he was; and when he understood that he was of Cilicia,
← Acts 23:30Acts 23:32 →
← Full Chapter 23 Acts Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, etc.] Out of the castle, and put him upon a beast, as the chief captain had ordered the centurions, and they had directed the soldiers to do: and brought him by night to Antipatris: they set out from Jerusalem at the third hour, or about nine o’clock at night, and travelled all night, and by break of day came to Antipatris; a city which lay in the road from Jerusalem to Caesarea: it was built by Herod the great, in the best soil of his kingdom, enriched with rivers and woods f1171; and was so called by him, in memory of his father Antipater; it before went by the name of Chabar Zaba f1172, or Capharsaba; the Jewish writers place it in…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“brought him . . . to Antipatris--nearly forty miles from Jerusalem, on the way to CÃ&brvbrsarea; so named by Herod in honor of his father, Antipater.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“To Antipatris - This town was anciently called Cafar-Saba. Josephus says (Antiq., Acts 13:23) that it was about 17 miles from Joppa. It was about 26 miles from Caesarea, and, of course, about 35 miles from Jerusalem. Herod the Great changed its name to Antipatris, in honor of his father Antipater. It was situated in a fine plain, and watered with many springs and fountains. Eli Smith, late missionary to Palestine, who took a journey from Jerusalem to Joppa for the purpose of ascertaining Paul’s route, supposes that the site of Antipatris is the present Kefr Saba. Of this village he gives the following description in the Bibliotheca Sacra for 1843: “It is a Muslim village of considerable…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“The soldiers brought him by night to Antipatris - But not the same night they set out. For Antipatris was about thirty - eight of our miles northwest of Jerusalem. Herod the Great rebuilt it, and gave it this name in honour of his father Antipater: Cesarea was near seventy miles from Jerusalem, and about thirty from Antipatris. Acts 23:35”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“23:31 Antipatris, a city rebuilt by Herod the Great in 9 BC on the Plain of Sharon, was a convenient military control point between Jerusalem and Caesarea.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“as: Act 23:23, Act 23:24; Luk 7:8; Ti2 2:3, Ti2 2:4 Acts 23:33”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification