The Early Church

Now therefore do you with the council signify to the tribune, that he bring him forth to you, as if you meant to know something more certain touching him. And we, before he come near, are ready to kill him.

Which when Paul's sister's son had heard, of their lying in wait, he came and entered into the castle and told Paul.

And Paul, calling to him one of the centurions, said: Bring this young man to the tribune: for he hath some thing to tell him.

And he, taking him, brought him to the tribune and said: Paul, the prisoner, desired me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath some thing to say to thee.

And the tribune, taking him by the hand, went aside with him privately and asked him: What is it that thou hast to tell me?

And he said: The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldst bring forth Paul to-morrow into the council, as if they meant to inquire some thing more certain touching him.

But do not thou give credit to them: for there lie in wait for him more than forty men of them, who have bound themselves by oath neither to eat nor to drink, till they have killed him. And they are now ready, looking for a promise from thee.

The tribune therefore dismissed the young man, charging him that he should tell no man that he had made known these things unto him.

Then having called two centurions, he said to them: Make ready two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea: and seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen, for the third hour of the night.

And provide beasts, that they may set Paul on and bring him safe to Felix the governor.

(For he feared lest perhaps the Jews might take him away by force and kill him: and he should afterwards be slandered, as if he was to take money.) And he wrote a letter after this manner:

Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor, Felix, greeting:

This man, being taken by the Jews and ready to be killed by them, I rescued, coming in with an army, understanding that he is a Roman.

And meaning to know the cause which they objected unto him, I brought him forth into their council.

Whom I found to be accused concerning questions of their law; but having nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bands.

And when I was told of ambushes that they had prepared for him, I sent him to thee, signifying also to his accusers to plead before thee. Farewell.

Then the soldiers, according as it was commanded them, taking Paul, brought him by night to Antipatris.

And the next day, leaving the horsemen to go with him, they returned to the castle.

Who, when they were come to Caesarea and had delivered the letter to the governor, did also present Paul before him.

And when he had read it and had asked of what province he was and understood that he was of Cilicia:

I will hear thee, said he, when thy accusers come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment hall.

And after five days, the high priest, Ananias, came down with some ancients and one Tertullus, an orator, who went to the governor against Paul.

And Paul being called for, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: Whereas, through thee we live in much peace and many things are rectified by thy providence,

We accept it always and in all places, most excellent Felix, with all thanksgiving.

But that I be no further tedious to thee, I desire thee of thy clemency to hear us in a few words.