New Testament in a Year

¹⁶ However, the son of Paul’s sister learned of the plot. He thereupon went to the barracks and related the news to Paul. ¹⁷ Paul then summoned one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to him.” ¹⁸ He brought him to the commander and said, “The prisoner Paul called me and requested that I bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.”

¹⁹ The commander took him by the hand, drew him aside, and asked him in private, “What is it that you have to report to me?” ²⁰ He replied, “The Jews have agreed to request you to bring Paul down to the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of inquiring more thoroughly into his case. ²¹ Do not believe them. More than forty of them are waiting for your consent to their request, for they have sworn an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are ready now and are waiting only for your consent.” ²² The commander dismissed the young man, ordering him, “Tell no one that you have given me this information.”

Paul’s Imprisonment and Defenses at Caesarea

²³ Paul Is Imprisoned at Caesarea.^[a] Then he summoned two of his centurions and said, “Have two hundred soldiers ready to leave for Caesarea by nine o’clock tonight,^[b] along with seventy cavalrymen and two hundred auxiliaries. ²⁴ Also provide mounts for Paul to ride, and deliver him to Felix the governor.” ²⁵ He then wrote a letter as follows:

²⁶ Claudius Lysias,

To his Excellency the governor Felix:^[c]

Greetings.

²⁷ This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them; but when I learned that he was a Roman citizen, I arrived on the scene with my troops and rescued him.

²⁸ Wanting to learn what charge they were making against him, I had him brought before their Sanhedrin. ²⁹ I discovered that the accusation dealt with questions about their Law, but that there was no charge against him that merited death or imprisonment. ³⁰ Now I have been informed of a plot to assassinate this man. I am sending him to you without delay, and I have instructed his accusers to present to you their case against him.

³¹ Therefore, the soldiers, acting in accordance with their orders, took Paul and escorted him during the night to Antipatris. ³² On the next day, they returned to the barracks, leaving the cavalrymen to escort him the rest of the way. ³³ When they arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and handed over Paul to him.

³⁴ After reading the letter, the governor asked Paul what province he was from, and on learning that he was from Cilicia, ³⁵ he said, “I will hear your case as soon as your accusers arrive.” Then he ordered that he be held in custody in Herod’s praetorium.