Now when the centurion, ¹  who stood in front of him, saw how he died, ²  he said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”

Pilate was surprised that he was already dead. He ¹  called the centurion and asked him if he had been dead for some time.

When the centurion ¹  heard ²  about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders ³  to him, asking him to come ⁴  and heal his slave.

Then the father realized that it was the very time ¹  Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live,” and he himself believed along with his entire household.

While they were trying ¹  to kill him, a report ²  was sent up ³  to the commanding officer ⁴  of the cohort ⁵  that all Jerusalem was in confusion. ⁶ 

Then the commanding officer ¹  came up and arrested ²  him and ordered him to be tied up with two chains; ³  he ⁴  then asked who he was and what ⁵  he had done.

When the commanding officer ¹  had given him permission, ²  Paul stood ³  on the steps and gestured ⁴  to the people with his hand. When they had become silent, ⁵  he addressed ⁶  them in Aramaic, ⁷ 

When they had stretched him out for the lash, ¹  Paul said to the centurion ²  standing nearby, “Is it legal for you to lash a man who is a Roman citizen ³  without a proper trial?” ⁴ 

So the commanding officer ¹  came and asked ²  Paul, ³  “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” ⁴  He replied, ⁵  “Yes.”

The commanding officer ¹  answered, “I acquired this citizenship with a large sum of money.” ²  “But I was even ³  born a citizen,” ⁴  Paul replied. ⁵ 

The commanding officer ¹  took him by the hand, withdrew privately, and asked, “What is it that you want ²  to report to me?”

Then the commanding officer ¹  sent the young man away, directing him, ²  “Tell no one that you have reported ³  these things to me.”

Then Felix, ¹  who understood the facts ²  concerning the Way ³  more accurately, ⁴  adjourned their hearing, ⁵  saying, “When Lysias the commanding officer comes down, I will decide your case.” ⁶ 

He ordered the centurion ¹  to guard Paul, ²  but to let him have some freedom, ³  and not to prevent any of his friends ⁴  from meeting his needs. ⁵ 

After two years ¹  had passed, Porcius Festus ²  succeeded Felix, ³  and because he wanted to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison. ⁴ 

When it was decided we ¹  would sail to Italy, ²  they handed over Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion ³  of the Augustan Cohort ⁴  named Julius.

Since considerable time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous ¹  because the fast ²  was already over, ³  Paul advised them, ⁴ 

But the centurion, ¹  wanting to save Paul’s life, ²  prevented them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land, ³ 

For those who have served well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves ¹  and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. ² 

Elders who provide effective leadership ¹  must be counted worthy ²  of double honor, ³  especially those who work hard in speaking ⁴  and teaching.