Charles Ellicott Commentary Acts 23:34

"And when he had read it, he asked of what province he was; and when he understood that he was of Cilicia," — Acts 23:34 (ASV)

He asked of what province he was.—The question was a natural one for a procurator of Judea to ask about any prisoner brought before him. (Compare to Pilate’s question in Luke 23:6.) It does not appear why Felix was ready to take cognizance of a matter which apparently, to judge by the precedent set by Pilate, belonged to the jurisdiction of another. Perhaps he had no motive for winning the favor of the governor of Cilicia, or thought that the nature of the accusation overruled the nationality of the accused.