Paul addresses the council and sets Pharisees and Sadducees against each other over the resurrection. That night the Lord tells him to take courage. A plot to kill him is uncovered, and he is sent under guard to Caesarea.
1 And Paul , earnestly beholding the council , said , Men and brethren , I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day .
2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth .
3 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 ?
4 And they that stood by said , Revilest thou God's high priest ?
5 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 .
6 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 .
7 And when he had so said , there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees : and the multitude was divided .
8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection , neither angel , nor spirit : but the Pharisees confess both .
9 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.
10 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 .
11 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 .
12 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 .
13 And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy .
14 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 .
15 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 .
16 And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait , he went and entered into the castle , and told Paul .
17 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 .
18 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 .
19 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 ?
20 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 .
21 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 .
22 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 .
23 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 ;
24 And provide them beasts , that they may set Paul on , and bring him safe unto Felix the governor .
25 And he wrote a letter after this manner :
26 Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting .
27 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 .
28 And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him , I brought him forth into their council :
29 Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law , but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds .
30 And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man , I sent straightway to thee , and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him . Farewell .
31 Then the soldiers , as it was commanded them , took Paul , and brought him by night to Antipatris .
32 On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him , and returned to the castle :
33 Who , when they came to Caesarea , and delivered the epistle to the governor , presented Paul also before him .
34 And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was . And when he understood that he was of Cilicia ;
35 I will hear thee , said he , when thine accusers are also come . And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment hall .