AND Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said: “Men and brothers; I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.”
2 And the high priest Ananias commanded those that stood by him to strike him on the mouth.
3 Then said Paul to him: “God shall strike you; you white washed wall: for you sit to judge me according to the law, and yet command me to be struck contrary to the law!”
4 And those that stood by said: “Do you insult God’s high priest?”
5 Then Paul said: “I knew not, brothers, that he is the high priest: for it is written: ‘You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people.'”
6 ¶ Now when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council: “Men and brothers; I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; it is concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead, I am called into question!”
7 And when he had said this: there arose dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.
8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess all these.
9 And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees’ part arose, and contended, saying: “We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not strive against God.”
10 And when arose a great dissension: the tribune fearing, lest Paul be torn apart by them: commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the barracks.
11 And the following night, the Lord stood by him and said: “Be of good cheer Paul; for as you have witnessed of me in Jerusalem; so must you bear witness also in Rome.”
Plot Against Paul
12 ¶ And when it was day, certain of the Jews plotted together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that: they would neither eat, nor drink until 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 killed Paul.
15 Now therefore, you together with the council bring charges before the tribune, so that he will bring him down to you tomorrow: as though you are about to investigate more accurately concerning him; and we, before this: as he comes near, will be ready to kill him.”
16 ¶ Now when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their ambush: he went and entered into the barracks, and told Paul.
17 Then Paul called one of the centurions to him, and said: “Bring this young man to the tribune, for he has something to tell him.”
18 So he took him, and brought him to the tribune, and said: “Paul the prisoner called to me, and asked me to bring this young man to you: who has something to say to you.”
19 ¶ Then the tribune took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him: “What is it, that you have to tell me?”
20 And he said: “The Jews, have agreed to ask you: that you bring down Paul tomorrow into the council, as though they would investigate something concerning him more accurately.
21 But you, do not yield to them: for of them, more than forty men lie in ambush for him; which have bound themselves under a curse: that they will neither eat, nor drink, until they have killed him; and now are ready, looking for agreement from you.”
22 So the tribune then let the young man depart, and charged him: “See you tell no one, that you have revealed these things to me.”
Sent to Felix
23 ¶ And he called two centurions, saying: “Make ready two hundred soldiers to go up to Caesarea; and cavalrymen seventy, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;
24 And provide animals, that they may mount Paul on; and bring him safely to Felix the governor.”
25 ¶ And he wrote a letter after this manner:
26 “Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings.
27 This man was taken by the Jews, and was about to be killed by them. Then I came with a detachment of soldiers, and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman citizen.
28 And when I desired to know the reason of which they accused him: I brought him forth into their council;
29 Whom I perceived to be accused concerning questions of their law; but having nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or bonds.
30 And when it was told me, how that the Jews plotted against this man: I sent him straightaway to you, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before you 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 And the next day, they left the cavalrymen to go with him, and returned to the barracks;
33 Who, when they came into Caesarea, and delivered the letter to the governor: presented Paul before him also.
34 And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was, and when he learnt that he was from Cilicia,
35 He said: I will hear you, when your accusers have also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s Praetorium.