Then [the tribune] called two of the centurions and said, “Get ready two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night. 24 Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to Felix the governor.” 25 And he wrote a letter to this effect:
26 “Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency the governor Felix, greetings. 27 This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman citizen. 28 And desiring to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their council. 29 I found that he was being accused about questions of their law, but charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment. 30 And when it was disclosed to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him.”
31 So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 And on the next day they returned to the barracks, letting the horsemen go on with him. 33 When they had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him. 34 On reading the letter, he asked what province he was from. And when he learned that he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, “I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive.” And he commanded him to be guarded in Herod’s praetorium.
Paul is being held in the Roman soldiers’ barracks. This was for Paul’s protection in Jerusalem when the tribune saw that the mob there was about to tear Paul limb from limb. Then comes a plot involving 40 men who swore an oath to kill Paul. The story picks up here: The tribune orders two centurions to to bring 200 men to protect Paul and bring him to Felix. All this to protect Paul. He is still in custody. He is not free to go. But his enemies do not have free access to him.
I’m guessing that Paul felt OK about all this. I suspect his treatment on this occasion was better than he experienced in Philippi, as well as temporary imprisonments on other occasions during his missionary travels. He will be imprisoned in Caesarea for about two years. He will also be imprisoned when he finally gets to Rome – though that will be more of a house arrest.
Paul’s defense will always include his testimony to God’s grace in Jesus Christ. He will use his Roman citizenship. He will appeal to Caesar. That will get him to Rome. But every moment in his imprisonment, testimony, travels, and encounters will be about Jesus, the hope of the resurrection, and the truth of who Jesus is.
We may not be behind bars, or confined to a soldiers’ barracks. But God’s protective hand is always upon us. We do not live apart from his providential care. We may not need to make a defense before governors, magistrates, or much less emperors. We may not be called to be missionaries in the same way Paul was called. But we are called to seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness. We are called to love one another. We are to forgive as Christ has forgiven us. We are always to be ready to give an account for the hope that we have.
I doubt I’ll ever be put in prison because of my Christian witness. But I may face challenges and situations where my faith is put to the test, and my hope in Jesus becomes ever more pure. Whenever such things happen, we can thank God that he is faithful, gracious, and mercifully present.
David Bahn - Reflections 
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