Old/New Testament
16 When the son of Paul’s sister heard of their plan to lie in wait, he went and entered into the castle and told Paul. 17 And Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, Bring this young man to the high captain, because he has a certain thing to tell him. 18 And he brought him and said, Paul the prisoner called me to him, and asked me to bring this young man to you, who has a certain matter to tell you of.
19 The high captain took him by the hand and went apart with him privately, and asked him, What have you to say to me? 20 And he said, The Jews have resolved to ask you to bring forth Paul tomorrow into the council, as though they want to make further enquiries of him. 21 But do not go along with them, because there will be more than forty men lying in wait for him, who have bound themselves with a vow that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him. And now they are ready and waiting for your word.
22 The high captain let the young man depart, and instructed him, See you tell no one that you have told these things to me. 23 And he called to him two centurions, saying, Make ready 200 soldiers to go to Caesarea, and 70 horsemen and 200 spearmen, at the third hour of the night. 24 And provide horses to put Paul on, and bring him safe to Felix, the governor. 25 And he wrote a letter in this manner:
26 Claudius Lysias to the most noble Governor Felix, sends greetings. 27 This man was taken by the Jews, and was near to being killed by them. Then I came with soldiers and rescued him, and learned that he was a Roman. 28 And when I wished to know the offence for which they accused him, I brought him forth into their council. 29 There I could see that he was accused concerning questions of their law, but was not guilty of anything worthy of death or of bonds. 30 Afterward, when it was reported to me that the Jews were lying in wait for the man, I sent him straightaway to you, and directed his accusers, if they had anything against him, to tell it to you. Farewell.
31 Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 The next day they left horsemen to go with him and returned to the castle.
33 When the horsemen got to Caesarea, they delivered the epistle to the governor and presented Paul before him. 34 When the governor had read the letter, he asked what province he was from. And when he understood that he was from Cilicia, he said, 35 I will hear you when your accusers have come also.
And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s palace.
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.