12Then as soon as it was day, some of the Jews forming a conspiracy, bound themselves under the direst imprecation, declaring that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. 13Now there were more than forty who had on oath formed this conspiracy. 14So they came to the high-priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves by the direst imprecation, to taste nothing till we have killed Paul. 15Now therefore do ye with the sanhedrim give notice to the military tribune, that to-morrow he bring him down to you, as if intending to make more accurate inquiries into the things concerning him: but we, ere he come nigh, are ready to kill him.
16Now Paul’s sister’s son having heard of their lying in wait, came, and entering into the fortress told Paul. 17Then Paul calling to him one of the centurions, said, Carry this young man to the tribune: for he hath something to communicate to him. 18Then he took him, and brought him to the tribune, and said, The prisoner Paul calling me to him, entreated me to bring this young man to thee, having something to say to thee. 19Hereupon the tribune taking him by the hand, and leading him aside, inquired, What is it that thou hast to communicate to me? 20And he said, The Jews have agreed together to entreat thee that to-morrow thou wouldest bring down Paul into the sanhedrim, as about to make some more accurate inquiry concerning him. 21But do not thou consent to them: for more than forty men of them are lying in wait for him, who have bound themselves under an anathema, neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now they are in readiness, waiting only to procure the promise from thee.
22Hereupon the tribune dismissed the youth, with an injunction, not to mention it to any body that thou hast discovered these things to me. 23And calling to him two certain persons of the centurions, he said, Get ready two hundred soldiers to go to Cæsarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen, at the third hour of the night; 24and provide beasts, that setting Paul thereon, you may convey him safely to Felix the governor.
25And he wrote a letter containing this form of words:
26Claudius Lysias to his excellence the governor Felix, greeting.
27This person had been seized by the Jews, and was ready to be slain by them: but coming on them with the guard, I rescued him out of their hands, having understood that he was a Roman citizen. 28And desirous of knowing the crime of which they accused him, I brought him down into their sanhedrim 29and found him accused of some disputed points of their law; but to have no charge laid against him worthy of death or of bonds. 30But it being discovered to me that a design was forming against the man’s life by the Jews, immediately I sent him to thee, commanding his accusers also to produce what they have against him before thee. Farewel.
31Hereupon then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night unto Antipatris. 32And on the morrow, leaving the horsemen to go on with him, they returned to the fortress. 33So when they came to Cæsarea, and had delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also to him. 34Then when the governor had read it, and asked of what province he was, and understood he was of Cilicia; 35I will give thee a thorough hearing, said he, when thy accusers are also come hither. And he commanded them to be kept under guard in Herod’s prætorium.
[CHAP. XXIV.]
SO after five days Ananias the high-priest went down with the elders, and a certain rhetorician, Tertullus, who made their appearance before the governor against Paul. 2And he being summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying,
Since by thee we enjoy so much peace, and such noble acts are happily performed for this nation by thy provident administration, 3always and in all places we acknowledge it, most excellent Felix, with all gratitude. 4Now that I may not be unnecessarily tedious to thee, I entreat thee to hear us briefly with thy wonted candour. 5For we found this fellow a pest to society, and exciting sedition among all the Jews throughout the whole world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazareans: 6who even attempted to profane the temple: we seized him therefore, and intended to judge him according to our own law. 7But Lysias the tribune came, and with great violence took him out of our hands, 8commanding his accusers to appear before thee: whereby thou mayest thyself be able after examination to know the certainty of those things whereof we accuse him.