1And Paul , looking stedfastly on the council , said , Brethren , I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day . 2And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth . 3Then said Paul unto him , God shall smite thee, thou whited wall : and sittest thou to judge me according to the law , and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law ? 4And they that stood by said , Revilest thou God ’s high priest? 5And Paul said , I knew not , brethren , that he was high priest: for it is written , Thou shalt not speak evil of a ruler of thy people . 6But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees , he cried out in the council , Brethren , I am a Pharisee , a son of Pharisees : touching the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question . 7And when he had so said , there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees ; and the assembly was divided . 8For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit ; but the Pharisees confess both . 9And there arose a great clamor : and some of the scribes of the Pharisees ’ part stood up , and strove , saying , We find no evil in this man : and what if a spirit hath spoken to him , or an angel? 10And when there arose a great dissension , the chief captain , fearing lest Paul should be torn in pieces by them , commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them , and bring him into the castle .
The Plot Against Paul
11And the night following the Lord stood by him , and said , Be of good cheer: for as thou hast testified concerning me at Jerusalem , so must thou bear witness also at Rome . 12And when it was day , the Jews banded together , and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul . 13And they were more than forty that made this conspiracy . 14And they came to the chief priests and the elders , and said , We have bound ourselves under a great curse, to taste nothing until we have killed Paul . 15Now therefore do ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you , as though ye would judge of his case more exactly: and we , before he comes near , are ready to slay him . 16But Paul ’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait , and he came and entered into the castle and told Paul . 17And Paul called unto him one of the centurions , and said , Bring this young man unto the chief captain ; for he hath something to tell him . 18So he took him , and brought him to the chief captain , and saith , Paul the prisoner called me unto him , and asked me to bring this young man unto thee , who hath something to say to thee . 19And the chief captain took him by the hand , and going aside asked him privately , What is it that thou hast to tell me ? 20And he said , The Jews have agreed to ask thee to bring down Paul to-morrow unto the council , as though thou wouldest inquire somewhat more exactly concerning him . 21Do not thou therefore yield unto them : for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men , who have bound themselves under a curse, neither to eat nor to drink till they have slain him : and now are they ready , looking for the promise from thee. 22So the chief captain let the young man go, charging him , Tell no man that thou hast signified these things to me .
Paul Sent to Governor Felix
23And he called unto him two of the centurions , and said , Make ready two hundred soldiers to go as far as Cæsarea , and horsemen threescore and ten , and spearmen two hundred , at the third hour of the night : 24and he bade them provide beasts , that they might set Paul thereon , and bring him safe unto Felix the governor . 25And he wrote a letter after this form : 26Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix , greeting . 27This man was seized by the Jews , and was about to be slain of them , when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him , having learned that he was a Roman . 28And desiring to know the cause wherefore they accused him , I brought him down unto their council : 29whom I found to be accused about questions of their law , but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds . 30And when it was shown to me that there would be a plot against the man , I sent him to thee forthwith, charging his accusers also to speak against him before thee. 31So the soldiers , as it was commanded them , took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32But on the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him , and returned to the castle : 33and they , when they came to Cæsarea and delivered the letter to the governor , presented Paul also before him . 34And when he had read it , he asked of what province he was ; and when he understood that he was of Cilicia , 35I will hear thee fully, said he , when thine accusers also are come : and he commanded him to be kept in Herod ’s palace .