Acts 23:17-35 ▼

17 And Paul, having summoned one of the centurions, was saying, “Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to him.”

18 Therefore indeed the one having taken him brought him to the commander, and he says, “Paul the prisoner, having summoned me, asked me to lead this young man to you, having something to say to you.”

19 Then the commander, having taken hold of his hand and having withdrawn in private, began to inquire, “What is it that you have to report to me?”

20 And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you that you might bring down Paul into the Council tomorrow as being about to inquire something more accurately about him.

21 You, therefore, should not be persuaded by them. For more than forty of their men lie in wait for him, who have put themselves under an oath neither to eat nor to drink until they should kill him; and now they are ready, awaiting the promise from you.”

22 Therefore indeed the commander dismissed the young man, having instructed him, “Tell no one that you have reported these things to me.”

23 And having summoned a certain two of the centurions, he said, “Prepare for the third hour of the night two hundred soldiers and seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen, so that they might go as far as Caesarea,

24 and provide mounts so that, having set Paul upon them, they might bring him safely to Felix the governor,”

25 having written a letter having this form:

26 Claudius Lysias, To the most excellent Governor Felix: Greetings.

27 This man having been seized by the Jews and being about to be killed by them—having come up with the troop, I rescued him, having learned that he is a Roman.

28 And resolving to know the charge on account of which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their Council,

29 whom I found being accused concerning questions of their law, but having no accusation worthy of death or of chains.

30 And a plot having been disclosed to me to be against the man, I sent him to you at once, also having instructed the accusers to speak these things against him before you.

31 Therefore indeed the soldiers, according to that having been ordered them, having taken Paul, brought him to Antipatris by night.

32 And on the next day, having allowed the horsemen to go with him, they returned to the barracks;

33 those having entered into Caesarea and having delivered the letter to the governor, also presented Paul to him.

34 And having read it and having asked what province he is from, and having learned that he is from Cilicia,

35 he was saying, “I will hear you fully when your accusers may have arrived also,” having commanded him to be guarded in the Praetorium of Herod.