Study Desk

But when the son of Paul's sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks^(x) and told Paul.

Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, "Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him."

So he took him to the commander. The centurion said, "Paul, the prisoner,^(y) sent for me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you."

The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside and asked, "What is it you want to tell me?"

He said: "Some Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin^(z) tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about him.^(aa)

Don't give in to them, because more than forty^(ab) of them are waiting in ambush for him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him.^(ac) They are ready now, waiting for your consent to their request."

The commander dismissed the young man with this warning: "Don't tell anyone that you have reported this to me."

Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, "Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen^[b] to go to Caesarea^(ad) at nine tonight.^(ae)

Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix."^(af)

He wrote a letter as follows:

Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency,^(ag) Governor Felix: Greetings.^(ah)

This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him,^(ai) but I came with my troops and rescued him,^(aj) for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen.^(ak)

I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin.^(al)

I found that the accusation had to do with questions about their law,^(am) but there was no charge against him^(an) that deserved death or imprisonment.

When I was informed^(ao) of a plot^(ap) to be carried out against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also ordered his accusers^(aq) to present to you their case against him.

So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul with them during the night and brought him as far as Antipatris.

The next day they let the cavalry^(ar) go on with him, while they returned to the barracks.^(as)

When the cavalry^(at) arrived in Caesarea,^(au) they delivered the letter to the governor^(av) and handed Paul over to him.

The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,^(aw)

he said, "I will hear your case when your accusers^(ax) get here." Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard^(ay) in Herod's palace.