Reference: Lysias, Claudius
Easton
the chief captain (chiliarch) who commanded the Roman troops in Jerusalem, and sent Paul under guard to the procurator Felix at Caesarea (Ac 21:31-38; 22:24-30). His letter to his superior officer is an interesting specimen of Roman military correspondence (Ac 23:26-30). He obtained his Roman citizenship by purchase, and was therefore probably a Greek. (See Claudius.)
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And as they were attempting to murder him, the report reached the military tribune of the band, that all Jerusalem was in confusion. Who instantly taking soldiers and centurions ran down unto them: and when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they left off beating Paul. read more. Then the tribune approaching him, laid hold on him, and ordered him to be bound with two chains; and asked who he was, and what he had done. Then some among the multitude bellowed out one thing, and some another: so unable to know the certainty of the case because of the tumult, he ordered him to be brought into the fortress. But when he was on the stairs, it happened that he was borne up by the soldiers, because of the press of the crowd. For a multitude of the people followed, crying, Away with him! And when he was just ready to be carried into the fortress, Paul said to the military tribune, May I be permitted to speak a word to thee? And he said, Dost thou know Greek? Art not thou certainly that Egyptian who some time since raised a sedition, and led out into the desert four thousand cutthroats?
the military tribune commanded him to be brought into the fortress, ordering that he should be put to the question by scourging; that he might know for what cause they clamoured so loudly against him. So as they were tying him up for the thongs, Paul said to the centurion standing by him, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman citizen, and uncondemned? read more. And when the centurion heard this, he came and told the military tribune, saying, Consider what you are going to do: for this man is a Roman citizen. Then the tribune came, and said to him, Tell me, art thou a Roman citizen? And he said, Yes. And the tribune replied, With a large sum of money I purchased this citizenship. And Paul said, But I enjoy it as my birthright. Immediately then they who were about to put him to the question, withdrew from him: and indeed the tribune dreaded the consequences, when he knew that he was a Roman citizen, that he had even gone so far as to bind him. So on the morrow, desirous to know of a certainty what it was of which he was accused by the Jews, he loosed him from the bonds, and commanded the high-priest and all the sanhedrim to appear, and bringing Paul down, set him before them.
Claudius Lysias to his excellence the governor Felix, greeting. This person had been seized by the Jews, and was ready to be slain by them: but coming on them with the guard, I rescued him out of their hands, having understood that he was a Roman citizen. read more. And desirous of knowing the crime of which they accused him, I brought him down into their sanhedrim and found him accused of some disputed points of their law; but to have no charge laid against him worthy of death or of bonds. But it being discovered to me that a design was forming against the man's [life] by the Jews, immediately I sent him to thee, commanding his accusers also to produce what they have against him before thee. Farewel.
Hastings
A chiliarch of a cohort in Jerusalem who rescued St. Paul from the Jews in the Temple and took him to the 'Castle,'