Acts 23:31-35 - I will give you a hearing

23:31,32

As often happens in Acts (and the gospels) we get incidental details, these are not crucial to the “theological” account of what is happening, but to add to the authenticity. Roman soldiers exercised daily, often in the form of twenty or more mile marches. After they got to Antipatris the soldiers returned to the barracks. Antipatris was at the end of the Judean hill country, so the rest of the journey would be over largely Gentile country and so a lot safer. So the horseman took Paul the final part of the journey. The soldiers would be better used in Jerusalem.

23:33-35

So the cavalry arrived in Caesarea and presented the letter and Paul to Felix. Again we get an incidental detail. Felix asked which province Paul was from, the reason was that it would be possible for Paul to be sent to the governor of that province. On hearing that Paul was from Cilicia Felix decided not to send Paul there. The reason was that the governor of Cilicia  was the governor of Syria, and he was Felix’s immediate superior. So it would look as though Felix was not capable of handling the matter, so it would not look good for him. So Felix would deal with the matter, once Paul’s accusers had arrived. In the meantime Paul was given accommodation in the palace of Herod the Great. Paul was a high-status prisoner.