23 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.
