- Paul looked directly at the Sanhedrin - (and) said , vvv “ Brothers , I have conducted myself - before God in all good conscience to this - day. ”
At this , the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near (Paul) to strike him on the mouth.
Then - Paul said to him , - “ God will strike (you) , you whitewashed wall ! - You sit (here) to judge me according to the law , yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck. ”
But those standing nearby said , “ How dare you insult the high priest - of God ! ”
“ Brothers , ” - - Paul replied , “ vvv I was not aware that he was (the) high priest , for it is written - : ‘ vvv Do not speak evil (about the) ruler of your people.’ ”
Then - Paul , knowing that - vvv some of them were Sadducees and - others Pharisees , called out in the Sanhedrin , vvv “ Brothers , I am a Pharisee , (the) son of a Pharisee. (It is) because of (my) hope - in the resurrection of (the) dead (that) I am on trial. ”
As soon as ... he had said (this) , a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees , and the assembly was divided.
For ... (the) Sadducees say (that) there is neither a resurrection , nor angels , nor spirits , but (the) Pharisees acknowledge - them all.
- A great clamor arose , and some - scribes from the party of the Pharisees got up (and) contended sharply ... , “ We find nothing wrong with this - man. - What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him ? ”
- (The) dispute grew so violent (that) the commander was afraid ... vvv they would tear Paul to pieces ... .... He ordered the soldiers to go down (and) remove him by force ... ... ... ... and bring (him) into the barracks.
- The following night the Lord stood near (Paul) (and) said , “ Take courage ! - As you have testified - about Me in Jerusalem , so also you must testify in Rome. ”
- When daylight came ... , the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath ... ... not to eat (or) drink until ... they had killed - Paul.
- More than forty (of them) - were involved in this - plot.
They went to the chief priests and - elders (and) said , “ We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath (not) to eat (anything) until ... we have killed - Paul.
Now then , you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him down ... to you on the pretext ... of examining his case ... ... more carefully. - We are ready - to kill him on the way ... ... .... ”
But (when) the son of Paul’s - sister heard about the plot , he went ... ... into the barracks (and) told - Paul.
Then - Paul called one of the centurions (and) said , “ Take this - young man to the commander ; - he has something to tell him. ”
So - (the centurion) took him ... ... to the commander and said , “ Paul the prisoner sent (and) asked me to bring this - young man to you. He has something to tell you. ”
- The commander took (the young man) by the hand , - drew (him) vvv aside , and asked , “ What vvv vvv do you need to tell me ? ”
- He answered , - “ The Jews have agreed - to ask you to bring - Paul to the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext ... of acquiring more information ... about him.
- {Do} not {let} them persuade you , because more than forty - - men are waiting to ambush him. (They) have bound themselves with an oath ... not to eat (or) drink until ... they have killed him ; - they are ready now , awaiting - vvv your consent. ”
So - the commander dismissed the young man and instructed (him) , “ Do not tell (anyone) that you have reported this to me. ”
Then he called - two of (his) centurions (and) said , “ Prepare two hundred soldiers , - seventy horsemen , and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea in the third hour of the night.
- Provide mounts - (for) - Paul to take (him) safely to - Governor Felix. ”
(And) he wrote - the following - - letter :
Claudius Lysias , To His Excellency , Governor Felix : Greetings.
This - man was seized by the Jews , and - they were about to kill (him) when I came with (my) troops to rescue (him). For I had learned that he is a Roman citizen ,
and since I wanted to understand (their) charges - - (against) him , I brought (him) down to their - Sanhedrin.
- I found that the accusation involved questions (about) their (own) law , but there was no charge worthy of death or imprisonment.
(When) I was informed that there was a plot against the man , I sent (him) to you at once. vvv I also instructed (his) accusers to present (their case) against him before you.
So - the soldiers vvv vvv followed their orders ... (and) brought ... - Paul by night to - Antipatris.
- The next day they returned to the barracks (and) let the horsemen go on with him.
(When the horsemen) arrived in - Caesarea , - they delivered the letter to the governor and presented - Paul to him.
- (The governor) read (the letter) and asked what province (Paul) was from. - Learning that (he was) from Cilicia ,
he said , “ I will hear your case ... when your - accusers arrive -. ” Then he ordered that (Paul) be kept under guard in - - Herod’s Praetorium.