Thematic Bible: Claudius lysius

And as they went about to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar: Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them; and when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they ceased from beating Paul. Then the tribune came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains, and inquired, Who he was, and what he had done? read more.
But some among the multitude cried out one thing, some another; and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle. But when he came upon the stairs, he was borne of the soldiers, through the violence of the people. For the multitude of people followed after, crying, Away with him. And as Paul was about to be brought into the castle, he said to the chief captain, May I speak to thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek? Art not thou that Egyptian, who before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out four thousand murtherers into the wilderness? But Paul said, I am a man who am a Jew of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and I beseech thee, suffer me to speak to the people. And when he had given him leave, Paul standing on the stairs, waved his hand to the people: and a great silence being made, he spake to them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,

And as they cried out, and rent their garments, and cast dust into the air, The tribune commanded him to be brought into the castle, and ordered him to be examined by scourging, that he might know, for what cause they cried so against him. And as they were binding him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a Roman, even uncondemned? read more.
The centurion hearing it, went and told the tribune, saying, Consider what thou art about to do; for this man is a Roman. Then the tribune came and said to him, Tell me, Art thou a Roman? He said, Yea. And the tribune answered, I purchased this freedom with a great sum of money. And Paul said, But I was free-born. Then they who were going to examine him, immediately departed from him: and the tribune was afraid, after he knew he was a Roman, because he had bound him. And on the morrow, desiring to know the certainty, what he was accused of by the Jews, he loosed him from his bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all the council to come, and bringing Paul down, set him before them.

And as a great disturbance arose, the tribune fearing lest Paul should be torn in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the castle. And the night following, the Lord standing by him, said, Be of good courage, Paul: for as thou hast testified the things concerning me at Jerusalem, so thou must testify at Rome also. And when it was day, some of the Jews entering into a conspiracy, bound themselves under a curse, saying, That they would neither eat nor drink, till they had killed Paul. read more.
And they were more than forty, who had made this confederacy. And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves by a solemn curse, not to taste anything, till we have killed Paul. Now therefore ye with the council signify to the tribune, that he bring him down to you to-morrow, as though ye would more accurately examine the things concerning him: and we, before he came near, are ready to kill him. But Paul's sister's son, hearing of the ambush, came, and entering into the castle, told Paul. And Paul calling to him one of the centurions, said, Conduct this young man to the tribune; for he hath something to tell him. So he took and led him to the tribune, and said, Paul the prisoner, calling me to him, desired me, to bring this young man to thee, who hath something to tell thee. And the tribune taking him by the hand, and going aside privately asked, What is it, that thou hast to tell me? And he said, The Jews have agreed to ask thee, to bring down Paul to-morrow to the council, as if they would enquire something concerning him more accurately. But do not yield to them; for there are more than forty of them lie in wait, who have bound themselves with a curse, neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, expecting a promise from thee. So the tribune dismissed the young man, having charged him, Tell no man, that thou hast discovered these things to me. And having called to him two of the centurions, he said, Prepare two hundred soldiers to go to Cesarea, and seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen, by the third hour of the night. And provide beasts, to set Paul upon, and conduct him safe to Felix the governor. And he wrote a letter after this manner, Claudius Lysias to the most excellent Governor Felix, greeting. As this man was seized by the Jews, and about to be killed by them, I came with the soldiery and rescued him, having learned, that he was a Roman. And desiring to know the crime of which they accused him, I brought him before their council: Whom I found to be accused concerning questions of their law, but to be charged with nothing worthy of death or of bonds. And when it was shewn me, that an ambush was about to be laid for the man by the Jews, I immediately sent him to thee, commanding his accusers also, to say before thee what they have against him. Farewel. The soldiers therefore, taking Paul, as it was commanded them, brought him by night to Antipatris. On the morrow they returned to the castle, leaving the horsemen to go with him: Who entering into Cesarea, and delivering the letter to the governor, presented Paul also before him. And having read it, he asked, of what province he was? And being informed, that he was of Cilicia, I will give thee, said he, a thorough hearing, when thy accusers also are come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's palace.