Part 30

44:022:030 On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.

44:023:001 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.

44:023:002 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.

44:023:003 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?

44:023:004 And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest?

44:023:005 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.

44:023:006 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.

44:023:007 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.

44:023:008 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.

44:023:009 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.

44:023:010 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.

44:023:011 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.

44:023:012 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.

44:023:013 And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.

44:023:014 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.

44:023:015 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.

44:023:016 And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.

44:023:017 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.

44:023:018 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.

44:023:019 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?

44:023:020 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.

44:023:021 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.

44:023:022 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.

44:023:023 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;

44:023:024 And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.

44:023:025 And he wrote a letter after this manner:

44:023:026 Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.

44:023:027 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.