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1 Then Paul looked directly at the council members and said, “Men, brothers, I have lived as a citizen before God in all good conscience until this day.”
2 Then the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.
3 Then Paul said to him, “God is about to strike you, you whitewashed wall. Do you sit judging me by the law, yet order me to be struck, against the law?”
4 But those who stood by said, “Are you insulting the high priest of God?”
5 So Paul said, “I was not aware, brothers, that he was a high priest. For it is written, You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.”
6 When Paul saw that the one part of the council were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he spoke loudly in the council, “Men, brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am being judged concerning the certain hope of the resurrection of the dead.”
7 When he said this, an argument began between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the crowd was divided.
8 For indeed the Sadducees say there is no resurrection, nor angels, nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge all of them.
9 So a large uproar occurred, and some of the scribes of the party of the Pharisees stood up and argued, saying, “We find nothing evil in this man. But what if a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel?”
10 When there arose a great argument, the chief captain feared that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, so he commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among the council members, and bring him into the fortress.
11 But the following night the Lord stood beside him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”
12 When it became day, some of the Jews formed a conspiracy, putting themselves under an oath, and promising neither to eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.
13 There were more than forty men who formed this conspiracy.
14 They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have put ourselves under a great curse, to eat nothing until we have killed Paul.
15 Now, therefore, you along with the council report to the chief captain as if you are going to examine more seriously the things concerning Paul, so that he will bring him down to you. As for us, we are ready to kill him before he comes here.”
16 But the son of the sister of Paul heard of the ambush, so he went and entered the fortress and told Paul.
17 So Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the chief captain, for he has something to tell him.”
18 So indeed the centurion took the young man and brought him to the chief captain and said, “Paul the prisoner called for me, and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to say to you.”
19 So the chief captain took hold of his hand and withdrew to a private place and asked him, “What is it that you have to tell me?”
20 Then the young man said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you that tomorrow you might bring Paul down to the council, as if they were going to ask more seriously about something concerning him.
21 Therefore you should not be persuaded by them, because more than forty of these men lie in wait for him. They have put themselves under an oath, neither to eat nor to drink until they have killed him. Even now they are ready, waiting for the promise from you.”
22 So indeed the chief captain dismissed the young man, after instructing him, “Tell no one that you have said these things to me.”
23 Then he summoned a certain two of the centurions and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers so that they might go as far as Caesarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen. They will leave at the third hour of the night.”
24 He also ordered them to provide animals to ride so they might set Paul on them and take him safely to Felix the governor.
25 Then he wrote a letter, having this form:
26 “Claudius Lysias to the most excellent Governor Felix, greetings.
27 This man was arrested by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, when I came upon them with soldiers and rescued him, since I learned that he was a Roman citizen.
28 Then I wanted to know the charge with which they accused him, so I took him down to their council.
29 I learned that he was being accused about questions concerning their own law, but that there was no accusation against him that deserved death or imprisonment.
30 Then it was made known to me that a plot was to be carried out against the man, so immediately I sent him to you, and also instructed his accusers to speak against him in your presence.”
31 So the soldiers indeed, according to what they had been ordered, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.
32 On the next day, most of the soldiers returned to the fortress, but they allowed the horsemen to continue on with Paul.
33 When the horsemen entered into Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.
34 Then the governor read the letter and asked what province Paul was from. When he learned that he was from Cilicia,
35 he said, “I will hear you fully when your accusers also come here.” Then he commanded him to be kept in the palace of Herod.
The Acts of the Apostles