1 And Paul, looking steadfastly on the Sanhedrin, said, Men, brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day.
2 And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.
3 Then said Paul to him, God will strike you, you whited wall: and do you sit to judge me according to the law, and command me to be struck contrary to the law?
4 And those who stood by said, Do you revile God's high priest?
5 And Paul said, I didn't know, brothers, that he was high priest: for it is written, You will not speak evil of a ruler of your people.
6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the Sanhedrin, Men, brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees: concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
7 And when he had said this, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees; and the assembly was divided.
8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.
9 And 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 has spoken to him, or an angel?
10 And when there arose a great dissension, the colonel, 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.
11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer: for as you have testified concerning me at Jerusalem, so must you bear witness also at Rome.
12 And when it was day, the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.
13 And there were more than forty that made this conspiracy.
14 And 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.
15 Now therefore you{+} with the Sanhedrin signify to the colonel that he bring him down to you{+}, as though you{+} would judge of his case more exactly: and we, before he comes near, are ready to slay him.
16 But Paul's sister's son heard of their ambush, and he came and entered into the castle and told Paul.
17 And Paul called to him one of the captains, and said, Bring this young man to the colonel; for he has something to tell him.
18 So he took him, and brought him to the colonel, and says, Paul the prisoner called me to him, and asked me to bring this young man to you, who has something to say to you.
19 And the colonel took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, What is it that you have to tell me?
20 And he said, The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring down Paul tomorrow to the Sanhedrin, as though you would inquire somewhat more exactly concerning him.
21 You, therefore, should not yield to 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 until they have slain him: and now they are ready, looking for the promise from you.
22 So the colonel let the young man go, charging him, Tell no man that you have signified these things to me.
23 And he called to him two of the captains, and said, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, and seventy horsemen, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night:
24 and [he bade them] provide beasts, that they might set Paul on them, and bring him safe to Felix the governor.
25 And he wrote a letter after this form:
26 Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix, greetings.
27 This 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.
28 And desiring to know the cause why they accused him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin:
29 whom I found to be accused about questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.
30 And when it was shown to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you forthwith, charging his accusers also to speak the things against him before you.
31 So the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.
32 But on the next day they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:
33 and they, when they came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, presented Paul also before him.
34 And when he had read it, he asked of what province he was; and when he understood that he was of Cilicia,
35 I will hear you fully, he said, when your accusers also have come: and he commanded him to be kept in Herod's palace.