Acts 24:23 - Exposition

Gave order to the for com manded a, A.V.; that he should be kept in charge for to keep Paul, A.V. and T.R.; and should hare indulgence for and to let him have liberty, A.V.; not to forbid any of his friends for that he should forbid none of his acquaintance, A.V.; to minister unto him for to minister or come unto him, A.V. and T.R. Indulgence ( ἄνεσις ); literally, relaxation, viz. of the prison restraints and confinement. The word is used in the LXX . of 2 Chronicles 23:15 , ἔδωκαν αὐτῃ ἄνεσιν , i.e. those who had taken Athaliah prisoner, "let her loose" till she got out of the temple court. It is also a common medical term for the cessation or remission of pain or disease. St. Paul uses it four times in his Epistles for "rest" or "ease" ( 2 Corinthians 2:13 ; 2 Corinthians 7:5 ; 2 Corinthians 8:13 ; 2 Thessalonians 1:7 ). Doubtless St. Luke was thus enabled to be much with St. Paul during his imprison merit, and, as suggested above, to have his help in writing his Gospel.