1 Then Paul, looking intently at the council, said, "Men and brothers, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day."
2 And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.
3 Then Paul said to him, "God shall strike you, you whitewashed wall! For do you sit to judge me according to the law, and command me to be struck contrary to the law?"
4 And those who stood by said, "Do you revile God's high priest?"
5 And Paul said, "I did not know, brothers, that he was high priest; for it is written, 'You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.'"
6 But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, "Men and brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!"
7 And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the multitude was divided.
8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.
9 Then there arose a great outcry; and the scribes of the Pharisees' party stood up and argued sharply, 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 there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul be pulled in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them and bring him into the barracks.
11 And the following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Be of good courage, Paul; for as you have testified of me at Jerusalem, so you must bear witness at Rome also."
12 And when it was day, some of the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.
13 There were more than forty who had formed this conspiracy.
14 They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, "We have bound ourselves under a solemn curse to taste nothing until we have killed Paul.
15 Now therefore you with the council signify to the commander that he bring him down to you tomorrow, as though you would inquire more precisely concerning him; and we, before he comes near, are ready to kill him."
16 And when the son of Paul's sister heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered the barracks and told Paul.
17 Then Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, "Bring this young man to the commander, for he has something to tell him."
18 So he took him and led him to the commander and said, "The prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this young man to you; he has something to tell you."
19 Then the commander took him by the hand and went with him aside privately and asked him, "What is it that you have to report to me?"
20 And he said, "The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they would inquire somewhat more precisely about him.
21 But do not yield to them; for more than forty of their men lie in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse neither to eat nor to drink until they have killed him; and now they are ready, looking for a promise from you."
22 So the commander let the young man depart, charging him, "Tell no one that you have shown these things to me."
23 And he called two of the centurions and said, "Make ready two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen, at the third hour of the night;
24 and provide mounts to set Paul on, and bring him safely through to Felix the governor."
25 And he wrote a letter in this manner:
26 "Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix: greetings.
27 This man was taken by the Jews and was about to be killed by them; then I came with the troops and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.
28 And wanting to know the cause for which they accused him, I brought him down into their council.
29 I perceived that he was accused about questions of their law, but had nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.
30 And when it was told me that the Jews were going to lay wait for the man, I sent him to you immediately, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before you what they have against him. Farewell."
31 So the soldiers, as they had been ordered, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.
32 And the next day they left the horsemen to go on with him and returned to the barracks.
33 When they came to Caesarea and had delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.
34 And when the governor had read it, he asked of what province he was; and when he understood that he was of Cilicia,
35 he said, "I will hear your case when your accusers also arrive." And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's praetorium.