The earliest manuscripts do not include the end of , , and the beginning of : "... and wanted to judge him according to our law. 7 But the commander Lysias came with great power and took him out of our hands 8 and ordered his accusers to go to you."
Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, now postponed the trial and said, "When the commander Lysias comes down here, I will decide the case."
[Felix was in a political dilemma. He knew enough about the Christian faith to know that Paul was innocent. At the same time, he wanted to stay on good terms with the Jews, so he postponed the trial to gain time. We do not know if Commander Claudius Lysias was ever called in for further questioning.]
