Acts 23:6-35

6But Paul, perceiving that one group were 1Sadducees and the other Pharisees, began crying out in 2the 3Council, “45Brothers, 6I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for 7the hope and resurrection of the dead!” 7When he said this, a dissension occurred between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8For 8the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. 9And a great uproar occurred; and some of 9the scribes of the Pharisaic party stood up and started arguing heatedly, saying, “10We find nothing wrong with this man; 11suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” 10And when a great dissension occurred, the commander was afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, and he ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force, and bring him into 12the barracks.

11But on 13the following night, the Lord stood near him and said, “14Be courageous! For 15as you have 16testified to the truth about Me in Jerusalem, so you must testify in Rome also.”

12When it was day, 17the Jews formed a 18conspiracy and 19put themselves under an 20oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. 13There were more than forty who formed this plot. 14They came to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have 21put ourselves under an 22oath to taste nothing until we have killed Paul. 15Now therefore, you 23and 24the 25Council notify the commander to bring him down to you, as though you were going to investigate his case more thoroughly; and as for us, we are ready to kill him before he comes near the place.”

16But the son of Paul’s sister heard about their ambush, 26and he came and entered 27the barracks and told Paul. 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 28the 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, “29The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down tomorrow to 30the 31Council, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more thoroughly about him. 21So do not 32listen to them, for more than forty 33of them are 34in hiding to ambush him, and these men have 35put 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 36the third hour of the night to proceed to 37Caesarea, 38with seventy horsemen and two hundred 39spearmen.” 24They were also to provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to 40Felix the governor. 25And he wrote a letter 41with the following content:

26“Claudius Lysias, to the 42most excellent governor Felix: 43Greetings.

27When this man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, 44I came up to them with the troops and rescued him, 45after learning that he was a Roman. 28And 46wanting to ascertain the basis for the charges they were bringing against him, I 47brought him down to their 4849Council; 29and I found that he was being accused regarding 50questions in their Law, but 51was 52not charged with anything deserving death or 53imprisonment.

30When I was 54informed that there would be 55a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, also instructing 56his accusers to 57bring 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 58the horsemen go on with him, and they returned to 59the barracks. 33When these horsemen had come to 60Caesarea and delivered the letter to 61the governor, they also presented Paul to him. 34Now when he had read it, he also asked from what 62province Paul was, and when he learned that 63he was from Cilicia, 35he said, “I will give you a hearing when your 64accusers arrive as well,” giving orders for 65Paul to be 66kept in Herod’s 67Praetorium.