Thematic Bible: Claudius lysius

And, as they were seeking to kill him, a report came up to the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in confusion; who, at once, taking with him soldiers and centurions, ran down upon them; and they, seeing the chief captain and the soldiers, ceased beating Paul. Then the chief captain, coming near, laid hold of him, and ordered that he be bound with two chains; and he was inquiring who he was, and what he had done. read more.
And some shouted one thing, some another, among the crowd; and, when he could not ascertain the certainty because of the tumult, he ordered that he be brought into the castle. And, when he came upon the stairway, it happened that he was borne along by the soldiers on account of the violence of the multitude; for the throng of the people was following after, crying out, "Away with him!" And, when about to be led into the castle, Paul says to the chief captain, "May I say something to you?" And he said, "Do you know Greek? Are you not, then, the Egyptian who, before these days, caused a revolt, and led out into the wilderness the four thousand men of the Assassins?" But Paul said, "I am a Jew, of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city; and I beseech you, permit me to speak to the people." And, when he gave him permission, Paul, standing on the stairs, beckoned with his hand to the people; and, when there was great silence, he spake to them in the Hebrew language, saying:

And, as they were crying out, and throwing off their garments, and casting dust into the air, the chief captain gave orders that he should be brought into the castle, saying that he should be examined by scourges, that he might fully know for what cause they were thus clamoring against him. And, as they stretched him out for the thongs, Paul said to the centurion standing by, "Is it lawful for you to scourge a man, who is a Roman, and uncondemned?" read more.
And the centurion, hearing it, going to the chief captain, reported it, saying, "What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman!" And the chief captain, going forward, said to him, "Tell me, are you a Roman?" And he said, "Yes." And the chief captain answered, "I, for a great sum, acquired this citizenship." And Paul said, "But I have been born a citizen." Straightway, therefore, those who were about to examine him departed from him; and the chief captain also was struck with fear, having ascertained that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him. And, on the morrow, wishing to know the certainty, wherefore he was accused by the Jews, he released him, and gave orders that the chief priests and all the Sanhedrin should assemble together; and, bringing Paul down, he set him among them.

And, when a great dissension was arising, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul might be torn in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers, going down, to take him by force out of their midst, and lead him into the castle. And, on the following night, the Lord, standing by him, said, "Be of good courage; for, as you fully testified as to the things concerning Me at Jerusalem, so you must testify at Rome also." And, when it was day, the Jews, making a conspiracy, bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink, till they had killed Paul. read more.
And there were more than forty, who made this conspiracy; who, indeed, going to the high priests and elders, said, "We bound ourselves under a curse to taste of nothing until we kill Paul. Now, therefore, do ye with the Sanhedrin signify to the chief captain that he bring him down to you, as if ye would ascertain more exactly the things concerning him; and we, before he comes near, are ready to kill him. And the son of Paul's sister, hearing of their lying in wait, going and entering into the castle, reported it to Paul. And Paul, calling to himself one of the centurions, said, "Bring this young man to the chief captain; for he has something to tell him," So he, taking him with him, conducted him to the chief captain, and said, "Paul, the prisoner, calling me to him, asked me to bring this young man to you, as he has something to say to you." And the chief captain, taking hold of his hand, and going aside privately, was asking him, "What is it that you have to tell me?" And he said, "The Jews agreed to ask you, that tomorrow you would bring Paul down into the Sanhedrin, as if they would inquire somewhat more exactly concerning him. Be not, therefore, persuaded by them; for more than forty men of them are lying in wait for him; who, indeed, bound themselves under a curse, neither to eat nor drink, till they should kill him; and now they are ready, expecting the promise from you." The chief captain, therefore, dismissed the young man, charging him, "Tell no one that you have shown these things to me," And, calling to him two of the centurions, he said, "Make ready two hundred soldiers, that they may go as far as Caesarea; and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen, at the third hour of the night; to provide beasts also, that, putting Paul thereon, they may bring him safely through to Felix the governor;" writing a letter after this form: "Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor, Felix, Greeting: This man having been arrested by the Jews, and being about to be killed by them, I, going down with the army, rescued; having heard that he was a Roman. And, wishing to know clearly the cause for which they were accusing him, I led him down into their Sanhedrin; whom I found to be accused, concerning their law, but having no accusation worthy of death or of bonds. And, a plot that was about to be against the man having been discovered to me, I immediately sent him to you, charging the accusers to speak against him before you." The soldiers, therefore, according to what had been commanded them, taking up Paul, brought him by night to Antipatris; but, on the morrow, they returned to the castle, leaving the horsemen to go with him; who, indeed, coming to Caesarea, and delivering the letter to the governor, presented Paul also before him. And, having read it, he asked of what province he was. And, learning that he was from Cilicia, "I will hear you fully," he said, "when your accusers also arrive:" giving orders, that he should be kept under guard in Herod's palace.