Albert Barnes Commentary Acts 23:24

"and [he bade them] provide beasts, that they might set Paul thereon, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor." — Acts 23:24 (ASV)

And provide them beasts. This meant one animal for Paul and one for each of his attendants. The word translated 'beasts'—ktēnē—is general in character and may be applied to horses, camels, or donkeys. Donkeys were most commonly used in Judea.

Unto Felix the governor. He was the governor of Judea. His place of residence was Caesarea, about sixty miles from Jerusalem (see the notes on Acts 8:40).

His name was Antonius Felix, and he was a freedman of Antonia, the mother of the Emperor Claudius. He was high in the favor of Claudius and was made governor of Judea by him. Josephus calls him Claudius Felix.

He had married three wives in succession who were from royal families; one of whom was Drusilla (mentioned later in Acts 23:24), who was sister to King Agrippa. Tacitus (Histories 5.9) says that he governed with all the authority of a king and the baseness and insolence of a slave. "He was an unrighteous governor, a base, mercenary, and bad man" (Clarke). His character is further described in the notes on Acts 24:25.