“1 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men [and]
brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.
2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite
him on the mouth. 3 Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee,
[thou] whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and
commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law? 4 And they that stood
by said, Revilest thou God’s high priest? 5 Then said Paul, I wist not,
brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not
speak evil of the ruler of thy people.”
“6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the
other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men [and] brethren, I am a
Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the
dead I am called in question. 7 And when he had so said, there arose a
dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude
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 cry: and the scribes [that were] of the Pharisees’ part
arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit
or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God. 10 And
when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest
Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers
to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring [him]
into the castle. 11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and
said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in
Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.”
“12 And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and
bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor
drink till 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 slain Paul. 15 Now therefore ye with the
council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to
morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning
him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him. 16 And when
Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered
into the castle, and told Paul. 17 Then Paul called one of the
centurions unto [him], and said, Bring this young man unto the chief
captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him. 18 So he took him, and
brought [him] to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called
me unto [him], and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath
something to say unto thee. 19 Then the chief captain took him by the
hand, and went [with him] aside privately, and asked [him], What is that
thou hast to tell me? 20 And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire
thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as
though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly. 21 But do not
thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than
forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will
neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready,
looking for a promise from thee. 22 So the chief captain [then] let the
young man depart, and charged [him, See thou] tell no man that thou hast
shewed these things to me. 23 And he called unto [him] two centurions,
saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen
threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the
night; 24 And provide [them] beasts, that they may set Paul on, and
bring [him] safe unto Felix the governor. 25 And he wrote a letter after
this manner: 26 Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix [sendeth]
greeting. 27 This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed
of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood
that he was a Roman. 28 And when I would have known the cause wherefore
they accused him, I brought him forth into their council: 29 Whom I
perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing
laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds. 30 And when it was told
me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee,
and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee 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 On the
morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the
castle: 33 Who, when they came to Caesarea, and delivered the epistle to
the governor, presented Paul also before him. 34 And when the governor
had read [the letter], he asked of what province he was. And when he
understood that [he was] of Cilicia; 35 I will hear thee, said he, when
thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s
judgment hall.” (Acts 23:1-35 AV)
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