And Paul fixing his eyes on the council, said, Brethren, I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day.
And the high priest Ananias commanded those that stood by him to smite his mouth.
Then said Paul unto him, God is about to smite thee, whited wall. And dost thou sit judging me according to the law, and breaking the law commandest me to be smitten?
And those that stood by said, Revilest thou God’s high priest?
And Paul said, I did not know, brethren, that he was high priest; for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of a ruler of thy people.
But when Paul perceived that the one part were of Sadducees, and the other of Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees, concerning the hope and resurrection of [the] dead I am judged.
And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees; and the assembly was divided.
For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection neither angel nor spirit, but the Pharisees confess them both.
And there arose a great clamour, 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 spoke to him or an angel?
And when there arose a great dissension, the commander, 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.
And the night following, the Lord stood by him and said, Be of good cheer, for as thou hast fully testified concerning me at Jerusalem so also must thou testify at Rome.
And when it was day the Jews, having made a combination, put themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.
And those that made the conspiracy were more than forty,
who therefore came to the high priests and the elders, and said, We have put ourselves under a great curse, to taste nothing until we have killed Paul.
Now therefore do ye, with the council, signify to the commander that he bring him down unto you as though ye would judge his cause more exactly. But we, before he come near, are ready to slay him.
But Paul’s sister’s son heard of the ambush, and having come and entered into the castle, he reported it to Paul.
And Paul called to [him] one of the centurions and said, Bring this young man to the commander; for he hath something to report to him.
He therefore took and brought him to the commander, and saith, The prisoner Paul called me to [him] and asked me to bring this young man to thee, as he hath something to say to thee.
And the commander took him by the hand, and going aside privately asked, What is that which you have to report to me?
And he said, The Jews have agreed to ask thee to bring down Paul tomorrow into the council, as though they would enquire somewhat more exactly concerning him.
Do not thou therefore yield to them, for there lie in ambush for him more than forty men of them, who put themselves under a curse neither to eat nor to drink, till they have slain him; and now they are ready looking for the promise from thee.
So the commander let the young man go, charging him, Tell no man that thou didst show these things unto me.
And he called unto him some two of the centurions, and said, Make ready two hundred soldiers, that they may go as far as Caesarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen, at the third hour of the night.
And [he bade them] provide beasts that they might set Paul on and bring [him] safe through to Felix the governor,
having written a letter in this form.
Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix, greeting.
This man when seized by the Jews and about to be slain by them, I coming up with the soldiery rescued, having learnt that he was a Roman.
And wishing to know thoroughly the cause for which they accused him, I brought [him] down unto their council,
whom I found to be accused about questions of their law, but to have no charge laid worthy of death or bonds.
And when it was shown to me that a plot would be against the man, I forthwith sent [him] unto thee, charging his accusers also to speak against him before thee. [Farewell].
The soldiers therefore, as it was commanded them, took up Paul and brought [him] by night unto Antipatris.
But on the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him and returned to the castle;
and they, when they entered into Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, presented Paul also to him.
And when he had read [it] and asked of what province he was, and understood he was of Cilicia.
I will hear thee fully, said he, when thine accusers also are arrived. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s Praetorium.