1 ¶ And Paul, looking intently at the council, said, Men and brothers, I have lived in all good conscience before God to this day.

2 And the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near him to hit Paul on the mouth.

3 Then Paul said, God will strike you, you white-washed wall: for you sit to judge me according to the law, and order me to be struck contrary to the law?

4 And those who stood near said, Do you revile God’s high priest?

5 Then Paul said, I did not realize, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people.

6 ¶ But when Paul realized that some of them were Sadducees, and the others Pharisees, he called out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: I am on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead.

7 And when he had said that, a dispute erupted between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the assembly was divided.

8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are no angels, or spirits: but the Pharisees believe in those things.

9 And there was a great uproar: and the scribes who were Pharisees stood up, and argued, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God.

10 And when the strife began to heat up, the commander, fearing that Paul might be pulled in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him out of there by force, and to bring him to the barracks.

11 The following night the Lord stood by Paul, and said, Take courage: for as you have testified of me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify at Rome.

12 ¶ When morning came, certain Jews plotted together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat or drink until they had killed Paul.

13 And there were more than forty men involved in this conspiracy.

14 And they went to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a solemn oath, not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.

15 So now you along with the council notify the commander to bring Paul down to you tomorrow, as though you would investigate something concerning him more thoroughly: but we, are ready to kill him, before he ever comes near.

16 And when the son of Paul’s sister heard that they were lying in wait, he went into the fortress, and told Paul.

17 Then Paul called one of the centurions over, and said, Take this young man to the commander: for he has certain information to give him.

18 So he took him, and led him to the commander, and said, Paul the prisoner called me over, and asked me to lead this young man to you, since he has something to tell you.

19 Then the commander took him by the hand, and drew him aside, and asked him privately, What is it that you have to tell me?

20 And he said, The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they would investigate something about him more thoroughly.

21 But do not give in to them: for more than forty men are lying in wait for him, having bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat or drink until they have killed him: and they are ready now, waiting for your promise.

22 Then the commander let the young man leave, and cautioned him, Do not tell anyone that you have told me these things.

23 And he called two of his centurions, saying, Get two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen ready to go to Caesarea, tonight at the third hour;

24 And provide mounts, for Paul to ride on, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.

25 And he wrote a letter as follows:

26 Claudius Lysias sends greetings to the most excellent governor Felix.

27 This man was seized by the Jews, and was about to be killed by them: when I came with my troops, and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.

28 And when I wanted to know the reason why they accused him, I brought him down to their council:

29 Where I found that he was accused in regard to questions about their law, but there was no charge against him that would call for death or imprisonment.

30 However when I was told that the Jews were lying in wait for this man, I immediately sent him to you, and instructed his accusers to present their case against him to you. Farewell.

31 Then the soldiers, took Paul, and brought him to Antipatris by night, as they were ordered.

32 On the next day they let the horsemen go on with him, while they returned to the barracks:

33 When the horsemen arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor, and handed Paul over to him.

34 And when the governor had read the letter, he asked Paul which province he was from. And learning that he was from Cilicia;

35 Said, I will hear your case, when your accusers come. And he ordered that Paul be kept in Herod’s judgment hall.