1 Paul, looking steadfastly at the council, said, “Brothers, I have
lived before God in all good conscience until this day.”
2 The high priest, Ananias, commanded those who stood by him to strike him
on the mouth.
3 Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do
you sit to judge me according to the law, and command me to be struck
contrary to the law?”
4 Those who stood by said, “Do you malign God’s high priest?”
5 Paul said, “I didn’t know, brothers, that he was high priest. For it is
written, ‘You shall 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 council, “Men and brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of
Pharisees. Concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being
judged!”
7 When he had said this, an argument arose 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 all of these. 9 A great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of
the Pharisees part stood up, and contended, saying, “We find no evil in this
man. But if a spirit or angel has spoken to him, let’s not fight against
God!”
10 When a great argument arose, the commanding officer, fearing that Paul
would 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 barracks.
11 The following night, the Lord stood by him, and said, “Cheer up,
Paul, for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so you must testify
also at Rome.”
12 When it was day, some of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves
under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had
killed Paul. 13 There were more than forty people who had made this
conspiracy. 14 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 council inform the
commanding officer that he should bring him down to you tomorrow, as though
you were going to judge his case more exactly. We are ready to kill him
before he comes near.”
16 But Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, and he came and
entered into the barracks and told Paul. 17 Paul summoned one of the
centurions, and said, “Bring this young man to the commanding officer, for he
has something to tell him.”
18 So he took him, and brought him to the commanding officer, and said,
“Paul, the prisoner, summoned me and asked me to bring this young man to you,
who has something to tell you.”
19 The commanding officer took him by the hand, and going aside, asked him
privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?”
20 He said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the
council tomorrow, as though intending to inquire somewhat more accurately
concerning him. 21 Therefore don’t yield to them, for more than forty men
lie in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse neither to eat
nor to drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, looking for the
promise from you.”
22 So the commanding officer let the young man go, charging him, “Tell no
one that you have revealed these things to me.” 23 He called to himself
two of the centurions, and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers to go as far
as Caesarea, with seventy horsemen, and two hundred men armed with spears, at
the third hour of the night*1 .” 24 He asked them to
provide animals, that they might set Paul on one, and bring him safely to
Felix the governor. 25 He wrote a letter like this:
26 “Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings.
27 “This man was seized by the Jews, and was about to be killed by them,
when I came with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a
Roman. 28 Desiring to know the cause why they accused him, I brought him
down to their council. 29 I found him to be accused about questions of
their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of
bonds. 30 When I was told that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent
him to you immediately, charging his accusers also to bring their accusations
against him before you. Farewell.”
31 So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, 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 barracks. 33 When they came to Caesarea
and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.
34 When the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. When
he understood that he was from Cilicia, he said, 35 “I will hear you fully
when your accusers also arrive.” He commanded that he be kept in Herod’s
palace.
1 about 9:00 PM
World English Bible - Public Domain |
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