He was the Roman military tribune who was in charge of maintaining order during the intense conflict between traditional Jews when Paul came to Jerusalem in his later years.
Acts 22:22As they cried out, threw off their cloaks, and threw dust into the air,Acts 22:23the commanding officer commanded him to be brought into the barracks, ordering him to be examined by scourging, that he might know for what crime they shouted against him like that.Acts 22:24When they had tied him up with thongs, Paul) asked the centurion who stood by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and not found guilty?”Acts 22:25When the centurion heard it, he went to the commanding officer and told him, “Watch what you are about to do, for this man is a Roman!”Acts 22:26The commanding officer came and asked him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” He said, “Yes.”Acts 22:27The commanding officer answered, “I bought my citizenship for a great price.” Paul said, “But I was born a Roman.”Acts 22:28Immediately those who were about to examine him departed from him, and the commanding officer also was afraid when he realized that he was a Roman, because he had bound him.Acts 22:29But on the next day, desiring to know the truth about why he was accused by the Jews, he freed him from the bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all the council to come together, and brought Paul down and set him before them.Acts 22:30But on the next day, desiring to know the truth about why he was accused by the Jews, he freed him from the bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all the council to come together, and brought Paul down and set him before them.
이후, 바울을 암살하려는 음모가 있음을 알게된 그는 가이사랴까지 바울을 호송하도록 해주고 총독 벨릭스에게 편지를 써서 같이 보낸다.
Acts 23:16Paul summoned one of the centurions, and said, “Bring this young man to the commanding officer, for he has something to tell him.”Acts 23:17So he took him, and brought him to the commanding officer, and said, “Paul, the prisoner, summoned me and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.”Acts 23:18The commanding officer took him by the hand, and going aside, asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?”Acts 23:19He said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though intending to inquire somewhat more accurately concerning him.Acts 23:20Therefore don’t yield to them, for more than forty men lie in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse to neither eat nor drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, looking for the promise from you.”Acts 23:21So the commanding officer let the young man go, charging him, “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.”Acts 23:22He called to himself two of the centurions, and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, with seventy horsemen, and two hundred men armed with spears, at the third hour of the night.”Acts 23:23He asked them to provide animals, that they might set Paul on one, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.Acts 23:24He wrote a letter like this:Acts 23:25“Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings.Acts 23:26“This man was seized by the Jews, and was about to be killed by them, when I came with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.Acts 23:27Desiring to know the cause why they accused him, I brought him down to their council.Acts 23:28I found him to be accused about questions of their law, but not to be charged with anything worthy of death or of imprisonment.Acts 23:29When I was told that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him to you immediately, charging his accusers also to bring their accusations against him before you. Farewell.”Acts 23:30So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.