12And when it was day, the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. 13And they were more than forty who made this conspiracy. 14And they came to the chief priests and the elders, and said: We bound ourselves under a great curse, to taste nothing until we have slain Paul.
15Now therefore do ye, with the council, signify to the chief captain that he bring him down to you, as though ye would ascertain more exactly the matters concerning him; and we, before he comes near, are ready to kill him.
16And the son of Paul's sister, hearing of their lying in wait, went and entered into the castle, and told Paul. 17Then Paul called one of the centurions to him, and said: Bring this young man to the chief captain; for he has something to tell him. 18So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said: Paul, the prisoner, called me to him, and asked me to bring this young man to thee, as he has something to say to thee.
19Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went aside privately, and asked: What is that thou hast to tell me? 20And he said: The Jews agreed to desire thee, that thou wouldst bring down Paul to-morrow into the council, as though they would inquire somewhat more exactly concerning him. 21But do not thou yield to them; for of them more than forty men are lying in wait for him, who bound themselves with an oath, neither to eat nor to drink till they have killed him; and now they are ready, looking for the promise from thee. 22The chief captain therefore dismissed the young man, having charged him to say to no one, that thou didst show these things to me. 23And calling to him two or three of the centurions, he said: Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Cæsarea, and seventy horsemen, two hundred spearmen, at the third hour of the night; 24and let them provide beasts, that they may set Paul thereon, and bring him safe to Felix the governor.
25And he wrote a letter after this manner: 26Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix, sends greeting. 27This man was taken by the Jews, and was about to be killed by them; but I came upon them with the soldiery, and rescued him, having learned that he is a Roman. 28And wishing to know the crime for which they were accusing him, I brought him down into their council; 29whom I found to be accused concerning questions of their law, but having nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds. 30And being informed that a plot was about to be laid against the man, I sent straightway to thee, having also commanded the accusers to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell.
31The soldiers, therefore, as was commanded them, took up Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32But on the morrow, leaving the horsemen to go with him, they returned to the castle; 33who, when they had entered into Cæsarea, and delivered the letter to the governor, presented Paul also before him. 34And having read it, he asked of what province he was. And learning that he was from Cilicia, 35he said: I will hear thee fully, when thy accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in the prætorium of Herod.
XXIV. And after five days, the high priest Ananias came down with the elders and a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul; 2and he having been called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done for this nation through thy providence, in every way and everywhere; 3we accept it, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.
4But, not to hinder thee too long, I pray thee that thou wouldst hear us of thy clemency a few words. 5For we have found this man to be a pest, and exciting disturbance among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes; 6who also attempted to profane the temple; whom we took, [6][and desired to judge according to our law. 7But Lysias the chief captain came, and with great violence took him away out of our hands, 8commanding his accusers to come before thee;] from whom thou canst thyself ascertain, by examination, concerning all these things whereof we accuse him.
9And the Jews also joined in assailing him, saying that these things were so.
10Then Paul, the governor having beckoned to him to speak, answered: Knowing that thou hast been for many years a judge for this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself; 11inasmuch as thou mayest know, that there are not more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship; 12and neither in the temple did they find me disputing with any one, or causing a tumult of the people, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city; 13nor can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me.