Atos 23:16-17

We know nothing more about Paul’s sister than what Luke stated here. She may have lived in Jerusalem, Tarsus, or elsewhere. Obviously her son, Paul’s nephew, sided with his uncle rather than with the assassins. This is the only reference to Paul’s immediate family in the New Testament. Other writers used the Greek word neanian, translated "young man" (Acts 23:17), of persons in their twenties and thirties as well as younger men (cf. Acts 7:58; Acts 20:9). However, Acts 23:19 suggests that he may have been younger than a teenager. Paul could receive visitors in the barracks where he was a prisoner since he was a Roman citizen in protective custody. He could also summon a centurion to do his bidding, which he did here.

"I find today that there is a group of super-pious folk, very sincere and very well-meaning, which tells me I should not go to a doctor concerning my cancer or other illnesses but that I should trust the Lord to heal me. Well, I certainly do trust the Lord; I have turned my case over to the Great Physician, and I believe He provides doctors. It would have been a simple thing for Paul to have told his nephew, ’Thanks for telling me the news, but I’m trusting the Lord-so you can go back home.’ But we find here that Paul used the privileges of his Roman citizenship which were available to him. Obviously the Lord provides these means and He expects us to use them. This in no way means that we are not trusting Him. Rather, we are trusting God to use the methods and the means to accomplish His purpose." [Note: McGee, 4:616.]