The scene is sober and evocative. At night, escorted by a large Roman detachment, Paul leaves Jerusalem for Caesarea. Perhaps without realizing it, he is fulfilling Jesus’ command: “Leave Jerusalem quickly… I am sending you to distant peoples” (22:18, 21). The operation is similar to transferring the accused to a higher court. In his letter of introduction, the military commander of Jerusalem presents himself as the liberator of a Roman citizen unjustly charged and threatened with death by his compatriots. The commander appears favorable to his superiors and, at the same time, manages to free himself from the troublesome matter. Paul will have the chance to continue bearing witness to Jesus, ascending ever higher in the Empire’s hierarchy (cf. Lk 21:13). This is Luke’s true intention in telling this story to us.