Acts 23:12-35 - A Conspiracy To Kill Paul
12 And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together and they vowed under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. 13 And they were more than forty who had made this conspiracy. 14 And they came to the princes of the priests and the elders and said, We have made a vow of anathema that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul. 15 Now therefore ye with the council signify to the tribunal that he bring him down unto you tomorrow, as though ye would enquire something more certain concerning him, and we, before he arrives, are ready to kill him.
16 And when Paul's sister's son heard of their ambush, he went and entered into the fortress and told Paul. 17 Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him and said, Bring this young man unto the tribunal, for he has a certain thing to tell him.
18 So he took him and brought him to the tribunal and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him and asked me to bring this young man unto thee, who has something to say unto thee.
19 Then the tribunal 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 ask thee that thou would bring down Paul tomorrow into the council, as though they would enquire something more certain of him. 21 But do not believe them, for more than forty of them lie in wait to ambush him, who have vowed under a curse that they will neither eat nor drink until they have killed him, and now they are ready, looking for a promise from thee.
22 So the tribunal then let the young man depart and charged him, See thou tell no one that thou hast showed these things to me.
23 And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea and seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen, 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 sends greeting.
27 This man was taken of the Jews and should have been killed by them; then I came with an army and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman. 28 And when I desired to know the cause of why they accused him, I brought him forth into their council, 29 whom I found 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 the Jews lay in wait to ambush 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 next day they left the horsemen to go with him and returned to the fortress, 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.