Thematic Bible: Claudius lysius


Thematic Bible



And as they were going to kill him, a report 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 chiliarch and the soldiers, they left off beating Paul. Then the commanding officer came near and took him, and ordered him to be bound with two chains; and inquired, who he was, and what he had done. read more.
But some in the croud bawled out one thing and some another: and as he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle. And when he was upon the stairs, he was even borne by the soldiers, because of the violence of the people. For the multitude followed crying out, Away with him. And as Paul was going to be led into the castle, he said to the tribune, May I be allowed to speak a word to thee? And he said, Canst thou speak Greek? Art not thou that Egyptian, who before this madest a sedition, and didst lead out into the wilderness four thousand murtherers? But Paul said, I am indeed a Jew, a man of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and I beg thou wouldest permit me to speak to the people. And when he gave him leave, Paul standing on the stairs made a sign with the hand to the people: and there being a great silence made, He spake to them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,

And as they were bawling out, and throwing off their clothes, and casting up dust into the air, the tribune commanded him to be brought into the castle, and ordered him to be put to the question by scourging; that he might know for what reason they so cried out 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 man who is a Roman, uncondemned? read more.
And the centurion hearing this, 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? And he said, Yes. And the tribune replied, I obtained this freedom with a large sum of money. And Paul said, But I was free-born. Immediately therefore those who were going to put him to the question quitted him: and the tribune also was afraid, when he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him. And on the morrow, desiring to know for certain what he was accused of by the Jews, he loosed him from his bonds, and ordered the chief priests and all their council to attend; and he brought down Paul, and set him before them:

But as there arose much contention, the tribune fearing least Paul should be torn in pieces by them, ordered a party of soldiers to go down, and take him by force out of the midst of them, and to bring him into the castle. And the following night, the Lord standing by him said, Paul, be of good courage; for as thou hast testified concerning me at Jerusalem, so must thou also bear testimony at Rome. And when it was day, some of the Jews, having formed a conspiracy, bound themselves with a curse, saying, that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. read more.
And they were more than forty that had made this oath: who came to the chief priests and the elders, and said, "We have bound ourselves by a curse to eat nothing till we have killed Paul. Now therefore do ye with the rest of the sanhedrim signify to the tribune, that he would bring him down to you to-morrow, as if you would examine more accurately some things concerning him: and we are ready to dispatch him before he come near you." But Paul's sister's son, hearing of the ambush, came and entered into the castle, and told Paul. Then Paul called one of the centurions to him, and said, Introduce this young man to the tribune; for he hath something to tell him. So he took him and brought him to the tribune, and said, Paul the prisoner called me to him, and desired me to introduce this young man unto thee, as having something to say to thee. And the tribune took him by the hand, and retiring into a private apartment asked him, What is it which thou hast to tell me? And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee, that thou wouldest bring down Paul to-morrow to the council, as if they would inquire something more strictly concerning him. But do not thou comply with them: for there lie in wait for him more than forty men of them, who have bound themselves with a curse neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him: and they are now ready, waiting for an order from thee. Then the tribune dismissed the young man, charging him, Tell no one that thou hast discovered these things to me. And he called two of the centurions to him, and said, Get ready two hundred soldiers to go to Cesarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen, by the third hour of the night. And provide beasts, that they may set Paul on and bring him safe to Felix the governor. And he wrote a letter to this effect: Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting. This man being seized by the Jews, and about to be killed by them, I came upon them with some soldiers and rescued him: for I understand that he is a Roman. But desiring to know the cause for which they accused him, I brought him down into their council: and I found he was accused about questions of their law, but had no charge against him deserving death or bonds. But an ambush, which was going to be laid for the man by the Jews, being discovered to me, immediately I sent him to thee, telling his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell. The soldiers therefore, according to the orders given them, took up Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris. And the next day they returned to the castle, leaving the horsemen to go with him; who, when they came into Cesarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him. And when the governor had read the letter, and asked of what province he was; being informed that he was of Cilicia, he said, I will hear thee, when thine accusers are also come. And he ordered him to be kept in Herod's palace.