Acts 23:17-35

17Paul called one of the centurions to himself and said, “Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to him.” 18So he took him and led him to the commander and said, “Paul 1the prisoner called me over to him and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.” 19The commander took him by the hand, and stepping aside, began to inquire of him privately, “What is it that you have to report to me?” 20And he said, “2The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down tomorrow to 3the 4Council, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more thoroughly about him. 21So do not 5listen to them, for more than forty 6of them are 7in hiding to ambush him, and these men have 8put themselves under an oath not to eat or drink until they kill him; and now they are ready and waiting for assurance from you.” 22Then the commander let the young man go, instructing him, “Tell no one that you have notified me of these things.” 23And he called to him two of the centurions and said, “Get two hundred soldiers ready by 9the third hour of the night to proceed to 10Caesarea, 11with seventy horsemen and two hundred 12spearmen.” 24They were also to provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to 13Felix the governor. 25And he wrote a letter 14with the following content:

26“Claudius Lysias, to the 15most excellent governor Felix: 16Greetings.

27When this man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, 17I came up to them with the troops and rescued him, 18after learning that he was a Roman. 28And 19wanting to ascertain the basis for the charges they were bringing against him, I 20brought him down to their 2122Council; 29and I found that he was being accused regarding 23questions in their Law, but 24was 25not charged with anything deserving death or 26imprisonment.

30When I was 27informed that there would be 28a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, also instructing 29his accusers to 30bring charges against him before you.”

31So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32But on the next day they let 31the horsemen go on with him, and they returned to 32the barracks. 33When these horsemen had come to 33Caesarea and delivered the letter to 34the governor, they also presented Paul to him. 34Now when he had read it, he also asked from what 35province Paul was, and when he learned that 36he was from Cilicia, 35he said, “I will give you a hearing when your 37accusers arrive as well,” giving orders for 38Paul to be 39kept in Herod’s 40Praetorium.