And Paul,
earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and
brethren, I have lived in all good conscience
before God until this day.
02 And the high priest Ananias commanded them
that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.
03 Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee,
thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me
after the law, and commandest me to be smitten
contrary to the law?
04 And they that stood by said, Revilest thou
God's high priest?
05 Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he
was the high priest: for it is written, Thou
shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.
06 But when Paul perceived that the one part were
Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out
in the council, Men and brethren, I am a
Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and
resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
07 And when he had so said, there arose a
dissension between the Pharisees and the
Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.
08 For the Sadducees say that there is no
resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the
Pharisees confess both.
09 And there arose a great cry: and the scribes
that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and
strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but
if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let
us not fight against God.
10 And when there arose a great dissension, the
chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been
pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers
to go down, and to take him by force from among
them, and to bring him into the castle.
11 And the night following the Lord stood by him,
and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as
thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must
thou bear witness also at Rome.
12 And when it was day, certain of
the Jews banded together, and bound themselves
under a curse, saying that they would neither eat
nor drink till they had killed Paul.
13 And they were more than forty which had made
this conspiracy.
14 And they came to the chief priests and elders,
and said, We have bound ourselves under a great
curse, that we will eat nothing until we have
slain Paul.
15 Now therefore ye with the council signify to
the chief captain that he bring him down unto you
to-morrow, as though ye would enquire something
more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he
come near, are ready to kill him.
16 And when Paul's sister's son heard of their
lying in wait, he went and entered into the
castle, and told Paul.
17 Then Paul called one of the centurions unto
him, and said, Bring this young man unto the
chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to
tell him.
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18 So he took him, and brought him to the chief
captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me
unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man
unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee.
19 Then the chief captain took him by the hand,
and went with him aside privately, and asked him,
What is that thou hast to tell me?
20 And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire
thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to-morrow
into the council, as though they would enquire
somewhat of him more perfectly.
21 But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie
in wait for him of them more than forty men,
which have bound themselves with an oath, that
they will neither eat nor drink till they have
killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a
promise from thee.
22 So the chief captain then let the young man
depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man
that thou hast shewed these things to me.
23 And he called unto him two centurions, saying,
Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to
Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and
spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the
night;
24 And provide them beasts, that they may set
Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the
governor.
25 And he wrote a letter after this manner:
26 Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent
governor Felix sendeth greeting.
27 This man was taken of the Jews, and should
have been killed of them: then came I with an
army, and rescued him, having understood that he
was a Roman.
28 And when I would have known the cause
wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth
into their council:
29 Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of
their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge
worthy of death or of bonds.
30 And when it was told me how that the Jews laid
wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and
gave commandment to his accusers also to say
before thee what they had against him. Farewell.
31 Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them,
took Paul, and brought him by night to
Antipatris.
32 On the morrow they left the horsemen to go
with him, and returned to the castle:
33 Who, when they came to Caesarea and delivered
the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also
before him.
34 And when the governor had read the letter, he
asked of what province he was. And when he
understood that he was of Cilicia;
35 I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers
are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in
Herod's judgment hall.
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