1 AND Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.
2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.
3 Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?
4 And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God’s high priest?
5 Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.
6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.
8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.
9 And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees’ part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.
10 And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.
11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
12 And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.
13 And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.
14 And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.
15 Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would inquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.
16 And when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.
17 Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him.
18 So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee.
19 Then the chief captain 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 desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would inquire somewhat of him more perfectly.
21 But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee.
22 So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast shewed these things to me.
23 And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Cæsarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, 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 sendeth greeting.
27 This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.
28 And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:
29 Whom I perceived 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 that the Jews laid wait for 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 morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:
33 Who, when they came to Cæsarea, 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.

1And Paul earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I haue liued in all good conscience before God vntill this day.

2And the high Priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him, to smite him on the mouth.

3Then saith Paul vnto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to iudge mee after the Law, and commandest mee to be smitten contrary to the Law?

4And they that stood by, said, Reuilest thou Gods high Priest?

5Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that hee was the high Prist: For it is written, Thou shalt not speake euill of the ruler of thy people.

6But when Paul perceiued that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, hee cryed out in the Councill, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the sonne of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead, I am called in question.

7And when hee had so said, there arose a dissension betweene the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was diuided.

8For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither Angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confesse both.

9And there arose a great cry: and the Scribes that were of the Pharisees part arose, and stroue, saying, Wee finde no euill in this man: but if a spirit or an Angel hath spoken to him, let vs not fight against God.

10And when there arose a great dissension, the chiefe captaine fearing lest Paul should haue bene pulled in pieces of them, commanded the souldiers to goe downe, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.

11And the night folowing, the Lord stood by him, and saide, Bee of good cheere, Paul: for as thou hast testified of mee in Hierusalem, so must thou beare witnesse also at Rome.

12And when it was day, certaine of the Iewes banded together, and bound themselues vnder a curse, saying, that they would neither eate nor drinke till they had killed Paul.

13And they were more then fourtie which had made this conspiracie.

14And they came to the chiefe Priests and Elders, and said, Wee haue bound our selues vnder a great curse, that wee will eate nothing vntill wee haue slaine Paul.

15Now therefore ye with the Councill, signifie to the chiefe captaine that he bring him downe vnto you to morrow, as though yee would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or euer he come neere, are ready to kill him.

16And when Pauls sisters sonne heard of their laying in wait, hee went and entred into the castle, & told Paul.

17Then Paul called one of the Centurions vnto him, and said, Bring this yong man vnto the chiefe captaine: for he hath a certaine thing to tell him.

18So he took him, and brought him to the chiefe captaine, and said, Paul the prisoner called me vnto him, and praied mee to bring this yong man vnto thee, who hath something to say vnto thee.

19Then the chiefe captaine tooke him by the hand, and went with him aside priuately, and asked him, What is that thou hast to tell me?

20And he said, The Iewes haue agreed to desire thee, that thou wouldest bring downe Paul to morrow into the Council, as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly.

21But do not thou yeeld vnto them: for there lie in wait for him of them moe then fourtie men, which haue bound themselues with an othe, that they will neither eate nor drinke, till they haue killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee.

22So the chiefe captaine then let the yong man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man, that thou hast shewed these things to me.

23And he called vnto him two Centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred souldiers to goe to Cesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearemen two hundred, at the third houre of the night.

24And prouide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe vnto Felix the gouernour.

25And hee wrote a letter after this manner:

26Claudius Lysias, vnto the most excellent Gouernour Felix, sendeth greeting.

27This man was taken of the Iewes and should haue beene killed of them: Then came I with an armie, and rescued him, hauing vnderstood that he was a Romane.

28And when I would haue knowen the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him foorth into their Council.

29Whom I perceiued to be accused of questions of their lawe, but to haue nothing laide to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.

30And when it was tolde me, how that the Iewes laid waite for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gaue commandement to his accusers also, to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell.

31Then the souldiers, as it was commaunded them, tooke Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.

32On the morow, they left the horsemen to goe with him, and returned to the castle.

33Who when they came to Cesarea, and deliuered the Epistle to the gouernour, presented Paul also before him.

34And when the gouernour had read the letter, he asked of what prouince he was. And when he vnderstood that he was of Cilicia:

35I will heare thee, said hee, when thine accusers are also come. And hee commanded him to be kept in Herods iudgement hall.

 

1 Paul looked intently at the Sanhedrin and said, "My brothers, I have conducted myself with a perfectly clear conscience before God to this day." 2 The high priest Ananias ordered his attendants to strike his mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall. Do you indeed sit in judgment upon me according to the law and yet in violation of the law order me to be struck?" 4 The attendants said, "Would you revile God's high priest?" 5 Paul answered, "Brothers, I did not realize he was the high priest. For it is written, 'You shall not curse a ruler of your people.'" 6 Paul was aware that some were Sadducees and some Pharisees, so he called out before the Sanhedrin, "My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees; (I) am on trial for hope in the resurrection of the dead." 7 When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the group became divided. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection or angels or spirits, while the Pharisees acknowledge all three. 9 A great uproar occurred, and some scribes belonging to the Pharisee party stood up and sharply argued, "We find nothing wrong with this man. Suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?" 10 The dispute was so serious that the commander, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, ordered his troops to go down and rescue him from their midst and take him into the compound. 11 The following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Take courage. For just as you have borne witness to my cause in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness in Rome." 12 When day came, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. 13 There were more than forty who formed this conspiracy. 14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, "We have bound ourselves by a solemn oath to taste nothing until we have killed Paul. 15 You, together with the Sanhedrin, must now make an official request to the commander to have him bring him down to you, as though you meant to investigate his case more thoroughly. We on our part are prepared to kill him before he arrives." 16 The son of Paul's sister, however, heard about the ambush; so he went and entered the compound and reported it to Paul. 17 Paul then called one of the centurions and requested, "Take this young man to the commander; he has something to report to him." 18 So he took him and brought him to the commander and explained, "The prisoner Paul called me and asked that I bring this young man to you; he has something to say to you." 19 The commander took him by the hand, drew him aside, and asked him privately, "What is it you have to report to me?" 20 He replied, "The Jews have conspired to ask you to bring Paul down to the Sanhedrin tomor row, as though they meant to inquire about him more thoroughly, 21 but do not believe them. More than forty of them are lying in wait for him; they have bound themselves by oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are now ready and only wait for your consent." 22 As the commander dismissed the young man he directed him, "Tell no one that you gave me this information." 23 Then he summoned two of the centurions and said, "Get two hundred soldiers ready to go to Caesarea by nine o'clock tonight, along with seventy horsemen and two hundred auxiliaries. 24 Provide mounts for Paul to ride and give him safe conduct to Felix the governor." 25 Then he wrote a letter with this content: 26 "Claudius Lysias to his excellency the governor Felix, greetings. 27 This man, seized by the Jews and about to be murdered by them, I rescued after intervening with my troops when I learned that he was a Roman citizen. 28 I wanted to learn the reason for their accusations against him so I brought him down to their Sanhedrin. 29 I discovered that he was accused in matters of controversial questions of their law and not of any charge deserving death or imprisonment. 30 Since it was brought to my attention that there will be a plot against the man, I am sending him to you at once, and have also notified his accusers to state (their case) against him before you." 31 So the soldiers, according to their orders, took Paul and escorted him by night to Antipatris. 32 The next day they re turned to the compound, leaving the horsemen to complete the journey with him. 33 When they arrived in Caesarea they delivered the letter to the governor and presented Paul to him. 34 When he had read it and asked to what province he belonged, and learned that he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, "I shall hear your case when your accusers arrive." Then he ordered that he be held in custody in Herod's praetorium.  

v1. Paul may have looked earnestly because of his eye trouble, he also was intense in his witness to them. The issue concerning Christ just would not go away. The Sanhedrin had earlier faced the claims of Jesus at his trial, Peter and John, the twelve, and Stephen. Paul had a clear conscience about preaching to the Gentiles.
v2. Josephus says Ananias was insolent, hot-tempered, profane and greedy so his illegal command to have Paul smitten was not out of character. Contrast him with the disciple Ananias who restored Paul’s sight.
v3. Jesus too was struck on the mouth for his answer to the high priest and contested it’s legality. Paul calls him a whited wall for his hypocrisy, Jesus called them whited sepulchers. God smote Ananias by the hand of an assassin during the Jewish war according to Josephus.
v4,5. The others stood up for the high priest and Paul seems to apologize for not having proper respect for the office regardless of the officer. If Ananias was not in ceremonial dress, Paul, coupled with poor eye sight, probably could not imagine a high priest acting like that.
v6-8. Realizing he could never get a fair hearing from those people, Paul, led by the Spirit, made a  smart political move to divide his fellow Pharisees from those Sadducees who did not believe in resurrection. Also his mention of a vision and angelic messenger went well with Pharisees but was totally objectionable to Sadducees. Some Pharisees had even become Christians. Paul was specifically thinking of the resurrection of Christ, without which we would have no hope.
v9,10. The Pharisees were willing to concede to Paul rather than cooperate with Sadducees and the contention was so sharp with each side pulling on Paul that the soldiers were again sent in to rescue him. (Like a worm being pulled by two birds.)
v11. Many times when things look bleak the Lord sends encouragement. He not only assures Paul of present safety, but promises his hope to go to Rome will be fulfilled. (Though not in the way Paul would have hoped.) For Paul’s first three visions see Acts 9;4-6; 16;9 and 18;9-10.
Paul may have felt:           But God said:
Depressed                          Be of good cheer
A failure    Thou hast testified in Jerusalem
Unable to carry out mission                Witness also at Rome
v12-15. It was a great rage against Paul to have 40 fanatical men bound with a curse that they will not eat and drink till he is dead. They even provided the scheme to make  his Roman protection vulnerable. After Paul had been taken from them, lawyers ordinarily would have released them from their oath.
v16-19. It was of God’s providence that Paul’s nephew heard of the scheme and after going through the chain of command he was able to tell his story. He may have been going to school and learned of it from fellow students.
v20. -22. The lad was able to tell the story in detail and was dismissed with caution to secrecy, probably for his own safety. He was obviously not an older person as some think, or the  kind captain would not have led him by the hand.
v23,24. The chief captain took it seriously and provided at least 473 men for safe transfer of Paul 9 o’clock at night that he might get a fair trial before Felix the governor.  Paul probably wasn’t used to riding and put in an uncomfortable 40 mile night ride. The 200 spear men were probably under direct command of the captain.
v25-30. The chief captain bends the truth because it was not till after Paul was rescued that he was told he was a Roman. Then he conveniently leaves out the matter of chaining a Roman citizen preparatory for flogging. Truthfully, belief in resurrection was no cause for death.
v31,33. The foot soldiers had a work out to jog that distance in one night. They had passed through an area with suitable cover for ambush. With Paul now at a safer distance and  terrain, they probably went back to Jerusalem much slower while Paul and the other riders continued about 27 miles to Caesarea, a total of 67 miles. Unger says 47 miles in straight line, some figure the total distance by roads up to 90 miles.
34,35 Tarsus was the capitol of Cilicia and the trial could have been held at either place. The governor there would not want to mess with such a small case and the Jews would be angry about having to go so far. Felix kept  Paul in confined n one of the buildings attached to the palace till the accusers could arrive from Jerusalem.  This was probably military custody in which he would have a chain going to a soldier. This was less severe than a dungeon and stocks, but not as free as house arrest.