Acts 23:32
On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:
Original Language Analysis
τῇ
G3588
τῇ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
1 of 13
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἐπαύριον
On the morrow
G1887
ἐπαύριον
On the morrow
Strong's:
G1887
Word #:
3 of 13
occurring on the succeeding day, i.e., (g2250 being implied) to-morrow
τοὺς
G3588
τοὺς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
5 of 13
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πορεύεσθαι
to go
G4198
πορεύεσθαι
to go
Strong's:
G4198
Word #:
7 of 13
to traverse, i.e., travel (literally or figuratively; especially to remove (figuratively, die), live, etc.)
σὺν
with
G4862
σὺν
with
Strong's:
G4862
Word #:
8 of 13
with or together (but much closer than g3326 or g3844), i.e., by association, companionship, process, resemblance, possession, instrumentality, additi
αὐτῷ
him
G846
αὐτῷ
him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
9 of 13
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
ὑπέστρεψαν
and returned
G5290
ὑπέστρεψαν
and returned
Strong's:
G5290
Word #:
10 of 13
to turn under (behind), i.e., to return (literally or figuratively)
εἰς
to
G1519
εἰς
to
Strong's:
G1519
Word #:
11 of 13
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
Historical Context
The route from Jerusalem to Caesarea descended from 2,500 feet elevation through dangerous terrain before reaching the coastal highway. Roman military escorts adjusted force composition based on threat assessment—standard operating procedure for prisoner transfers.
Questions for Reflection
- How does this military precision reveal God's protecting hand over Paul's ministry?
- What does the authorities' extraordinary security measures reveal about the intensity of opposition to the gospel?
Analysis & Commentary
On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him—the 200 infantry and 200 spearmen returned to Jerusalem while 70 cavalry continued to Caesarea. This tactical shift reflects Roman military doctrine: the greatest ambush danger lay near Jerusalem in Judean hills; once reaching the coastal plain, mounted troops sufficed. The phrase returned to the castle (parembolēn, παρεμβολὴν, garrison) refers to the Antonia Fortress. This military detail demonstrates Luke's precise knowledge of Roman procedures and the seriousness with which Lysias took the assassination threat.