The Early Church

now, therefore, ye, signify ye to the chief captain, with the sanhedrim, that to-morrow he may bring him down unto you, as being about to know more exactly the things concerning him; and we, before his coming nigh, are ready to put him to death.'

And the son of Paul's sister having heard of the lying in wait, having gone and entered into the castle, told Paul,

and Paul having called near one of the centurions, said, `This young man lead unto the chief captain, for he hath something to tell him.'

He indeed, then, having taken him, brought him unto the chief captain, and saith, `The prisoner Paul, having called me near, asked me this young man to bring unto thee, having something to say to thee.'

And the chief captain having taken him by the hand, and having withdrawn by themselves, inquired, `What is that which thou hast to tell me?'

and he said--`The Jews agreed to request thee, that to-morrow to the sanhedrim thou mayest bring down Paul, as being about to enquire something more exactly concerning him;

thou, therefore, mayest thou not yield to them, for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, who did anathematize themselves--not to eat nor to drink till they kill him, and now they are ready, waiting for the promise from thee.'

The chief captain, then, indeed, let the young man go, having charged him to tell no one, `that these things thou didst shew unto me;'

and having called near a certain two of the centurions, he said, `Make ready soldiers two hundred, that they may go on unto Caesarea, and horsemen seventy, and spearmen two hundred, from the third hour of the night;

beasts also provide, that, having set Paul on, they may bring him safe unto Felix the governor;'

he having written a letter after this description:

`Claudius Lysias, to the most noble governor Felix, hail:

This man having been taken by the Jews, and being about to be killed by them--having come with the soldiery, I rescued him, having learned that he is a Roman;

and, intending to know the cause for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their sanhedrim,

whom I found accused concerning questions of their law, and having no accusation worthy of death or bonds;

and a plot having been intimated to me against this man--about to be of the Jews--at once I sent unto thee, having given command also to the accusers to say the things against him before thee; be strong.'

Then, indeed, the soldiers according to that directed them, having taken up Paul, brought him through the night to Antipatris,

and on the morrow, having suffered the horsemen to go on with him, they returned to the castle;

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

And the governor having read it , and inquired of what province he is, and understood that he is from Cilicia;

`I will hear thee--said he--when thine accusers also may have come;' he also commanded him to be kept in the praetorium of Herod.

And after five days came down the chief priest Ananias, with the elders, and a certain orator--Tertullus, and they made manifest to the governor the things against Paul;

and he having been called, Tertullus began to accuse him , saying, `Much peace enjoying through thee, and worthy deeds being done to this nation through thy forethought,

always, also, and everywhere we receive it, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness;

and that I may not be further tedious to thee, I pray thee to hear us concisely in thy gentleness;