Thematic Bible: Claudius lysius

They were seeking to kill him when tidings came to the military commander of the band that all Jerusalem was in confusion. At once he took soldiers and centurions and ran down to the crowd. When they saw the military commander and the soldiers they quit beating Paul. Then the military commander came near and laid hold on him. He commanded that he be bound with two chains. He asked who he was and what he had done. read more.
Some in the crowd shouted one thing and some another. The commander could not find out the facts because of the uproar so he commanded him to be brought into the barracks. Paul reached the steps. The violence of the mob was so great he had to be carried by the soldiers. The mob followed closely and shouted: Away with him! And as Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the commander, Might I say something to you? He replied: Do you know Greek? Are you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand assassins into the desert? But Paul said, I am a Jew, of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city and I request that you allow me to speak to the people. The commander gave permission so Paul stood on the stairs, motioned to the people. When there was silence he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying:

They were screaming, throwing off their clothes, and throwing dust up in the air. The Roman commander ordered his men to take Paul into the barracks. He told them to whip him in order to find out why the Jews were screaming like this against him. When they tied him up to be whipped Paul said to the officer standing there, Is it lawful for you to whip a Roman citizen who has not been tried for a crime? read more.
When the officer heard this, he went to the commander and asked him: What are you doing? That man is a Roman citizen! The commander went to Paul and asked him: Tell me, are you a Roman citizen? Yes, answered Paul. The commander said: I became one by paying a large amount of money. I am one by birth, Paul answered. At once the men who were going to question Paul drew back from him. The commander was frightened when he found out that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had put him in chains. The commander wanted to find out for sure what the Jews were accusing Paul of. The next day he had Paul's chains taken off and ordered the chief priests and the whole Council to meet. Then he took Paul and made him stand before them.

The dispute became so violent the commander was afraid they would pull Paul to pieces. He commanded the soldiers to go down and to take him from among them by force, and to bring him into the barracks. The following night the Lord stood by him and said: Be of good courage, Paul, for just as you testified about me in Jerusalem, so you also must bear witness at Rome. When day arrived some of the Jews came together and united with an oath saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. read more.
There were more than forty involved in this conspiracy. They went to the chief priests and elders and said: We have united with a great oath that we will eat nothing until we have killed Paul. Now therefore you, with the Sanhedrin, inform the commander that he bring him down to you tomorrow. You say you would inquire some more regarding him. We are ready to put him to death before he comes near. Hearing about the ambush, Paul's sister's son entered the barracks and reported to Paul. Paul called one of the centurions and said: Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to tell him. The officer took him to the commander, and said: The prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, because he has something to say to you. The commander took him by the hand and led him off by himself, and asked: What do you have to tell me? He said: The Jewish authorities have agreed to ask you tomorrow to take Paul down to the Council. They want you to pretend the Council wants to get more accurate information about him. Do not give in to them. There are more than forty men lying in wait for him. They are united with an oath that they will neither eat nor drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready and looking for a promise from you. So the commander sent the young man away commanding, Tell no one that you have told these things to me. He called two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea. Also prepare seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen, at the third hour of the night. Provide some horses for Paul to ride and get him safely through to Governor Felix. Then the commander wrote a letter that went like this: Claudius Lysias to His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings. The Jews seized this man and were about to kill him. I learned that he is a Roman citizen, so I went with my soldiers and rescued him. I took him to their council to find out of what they accused him. I found that he did not do a thing for which he deserved to die or be put in prison. The accusation against him had to do with questions about their own law. When I was informed that there was a plot against him, I decided to send him to you. I told his accusers to make their charges against him before you. The soldiers carried out their orders. That night they took Paul as far as Antipatris. The next day the foot soldiers returned to the fort and left the horsemen to go on with him. They took him to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor. Then they turned Paul over to him. The governor read the letter and asked Paul what province he was from. When he found out that he was from Cilicia, he said, I will hear you fully when your accusers arrive. He commanded him to be kept in the praetorian of Herod.