Acts 23:12-35 - A Conspiracy To Kill Paul

¹² And, when it became day, the Jews, forming a conspiracy, bound themselves under a curse, saying, that they would neither eat nor drink till they had slain Paul. ¹³ And they were, more than forty, who, this sworn-confederacy, had formed. ¹⁴ And they went unto the High-priests and Elders, and said - With a curse have we bound ourselves, to taste, nothing, until we have slain Paul. ¹⁵ Now, therefore, do, ye, with the High-council, make it appear unto the captain, that he should bring him down unto you, as though about to ascertain more exactly the things that concern him; and, we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.

¹⁶ But Paul's sister's son hearing of the lying-in-wait, happening to be near, and coming into the castle, - reported it unto Paul. ¹⁷ And Paul, calling unto him one of the centurions, said - This young man, lead thou away unto the captain, for he hath somewhat to report unto him.

¹⁸ He, therefore, taking him with him, brought him unto the captain, and saith - The prisoner Paul, calling me unto him, requested me to bring this young man unto thee, as having somewhat to tell thee.

¹⁹ And the captain, taking him by the hand, and going aside, began, privately, to ask - What is it which thou hast to report unto me?

²⁰ And he said - The Jews, have agreed to request thee, that, to-morrow, thou wouldst bring, Paul, down into the High-council, as though about to ascertain something, more exact, concerning him. ²¹ Thou, therefore, do not be persuaded by them, for there are lying in wait for him, from among them, more than forty men, - who, indeed, have bound themselves under a curse, neither to eat nor drink, till they have killed him; and, now, are they ready, awaiting the promise, from thee.

²² the captain, therefore, dismissed the young man, charging him - Unto no one, divulge thou, that, these things, thou hast shewed unto me.

²³ And calling certain two of the centurions he said - Make ye ready two hundred soldiers, that they may journey as far as Caesarea, - and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen, by the third hour of the night; ²⁴ beasts also provide, in order that, seating Paul thereon, they may bring him safely through unto Felix the governor.

²⁵ And he wrote a letter, after this form: -

²⁶ Claudius Lysias, unto the most excellent governor Felix, Joy!

²⁷ This man, having been apprehended by the Jews, and being about to be killed by them, I went down with the troop, and rescued; having learned that he was, a Roman. ²⁸ And, being minded to find out the cause for which they were accusing him, I took him down into their High-council, ²⁹ whom I found to be accused concerning questions of their law, but, of nothing worthy of death or bonds, to be charged. ³⁰ But, when I was informed there would be a plot against the man, forthwith, I sent him unto thee, charging, his accusers also, to be speaking against him before thee.

³¹ So the soldiers, according to their orders, taking up Paul, brought him by night unto Antipatris; ³² and, on the morrow, leaving the horsemen to go on with him, returned to the castle, - ³³ and the others, entering into Caesarea, and delivering the letter unto the governor, set, Paul also, before him. ³⁴ And, when he had read it, and asked out of what province he was, and learned that he was from Cilicia, ³⁵ I myself will hear thee in full, said he, whensoever, thine accusers also, are come; and gave orders that, in the palace of Herod, he should be kept under guard.