23 Paul looked directly at the Sanhedrin and said, “Brothers, I have lived with a clear conscience before God to this day.” 2 Hearing that, the high priest Ananias commanded those standing by Paul to strike him on the mouth. 3 Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting here to judge me according to the Law, and contrary to the Law you command me to be struck?” 4 Those standing by said, “Are you maligning God’s high priest?”  5 Paul responded, “I did not realize, brothers, that he was the high priest. As it is written, ‘You are not to speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”
    6 Paul realized that some of the Sanhedrin were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, and he shouted out, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am on trial for the hope of the resurrection of the dead!” 7 When he said this, an argument began between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.  8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angels, nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe in all of these.  9 The noise level rose and some of the Pharisee religious teachers stood up and argued strongly, “We find no wrong in this man! What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” 10 When the argument became fierce, the commander, fearing that they would tear Paul to pieces, commanded the soldiers to go and seize him away from them by force, and bring him to the barracks.
    11 The following night the lord stood by Paul and said, “Do not be afraid. As you have testified to my cause in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”
    12 When day came some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under an oath, swearing that they would not eat or drink until they had killed Paul.  13 More than forty people were part of this plot.  14 They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have put ourselves under a solemn oath to eat or drink nothing until we have killed Paul.  15 Therefore you and the Sanhedrin inform the commander that he should bring Paul down to you, as if you were going to examine his case more carefully. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.”
    16 But Paul’s nephew heard about their plot and went to the barracks and told Paul.  17 Paul summoned one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander, because he has something to tell him.”  18 So the centurion took Paul’s nephew and led him to the commander and said, “The prisoner Paul summoned me and asked me to bring this young man to you, as he has something to tell you.”  19 The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside and asked him privately, “What is it that you want to tell me?” 20 He replied, “The Jews have conspired to ask you to bring Paul to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to examine his case more carefully.  21 But do not be persuaded to do this, because more than forty of them will be lying in wait for him. They have bound themselves under an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are ready now, just waiting for you to agree to their request.” 22 The commander let the young man leave, ordering him, “Do not tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”
    23 Then he called in two centurions and said, “Get 200 soldiers ready to go to Caesarea, along with 70 soldiers on horseback and 200 more armed with spears. Have them ready to leave at nine o’clock tonight.  24 Provide horses for Paul to ride to take him safely to Governor Felix.” 25 He wrote a letter that said:  26 “From Claudius Lysias to His Excellency Governor Felix, greetings! 27 This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, when I came with soldiers and rescued him, after learning that he was a Roman citizen. 28 Wanting to know what their accusations were, I took him to their council. 29 I found that he was being accused on matters concerning their law, but I found no charge worthy of death or imprisonment. 30 When I was informed that there was a plot against this man, I sent him to you immediately, directing his accusers to bring their charges against him before you.”
    31 So the soldiers carried out their orders and took Paul by night to Antipatris. 32 The next day they left the horsemen to go on with him, and they returned to the barracks. 33 When the horsemen came to Caesarea they delivered the letter to the governor and also presented Paul to him. 34 When the governor had read the letter, he asked what province Paul was from. On learning that he was from Cilicia, he said, 35 “I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive.” Then he commanded that Paul be held under guard in Herod’s palace.