14 “And they came to the chief priests and the elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, to taste nothing until we have killed Paul. Now therefore do ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you, as though ye would judge of his case more exactly; and we, or ever he come near, are ready to slay him. But Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, and he came and entered into the castle, and told Paul. And Paul called unto him one of the centurions, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain; for he hath something to tell him. So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and saith, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and asked me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say to thee. And the chief captain took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, What is that thou hast to tell me? And he said, The Jews have agreed to ask thee to bring down Paul to-morrow unto the council, as though thou wouldest inquire somewhat more exactly concerning him. Do not thou therefore yield unto them; for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves under a curse, neither to eat nor to drink till they have slain him; and now are they ready, looking for the promise from thee. So the chief captain let the young man go, charging him, Tell no man that thou hast signified these things to me. And he called unto him two of the centurions, and said, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go as far as Cæsarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night; and he bade them provide beasts, that they might set Paul thereon, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor. And he wrote a letter after this form:
“Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent Governor Felix, greeting. This man was seized by the Jews, and was about to be slain of them, when I came upon them with the soldiers, and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman. And desiring to know the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him down unto their council; whom I found to be accused about questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds. And when it was shown to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to thee forthwith, charging his accusers also to speak against him before thee.
“So the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris. But on the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle; and they, when they came to Cæsarea, and delivered the letter to the governor, presented Paul also before him. And when he had read it, he asked of what province he was; and when he understood that he was of Cilicia, I will hear thy cause, said he, when thine accusers also are come; and he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s palace.”
QUESTIONS.
1. Tell the circumstances of Paul’s appearance before the council.
2. In what danger was Paul, and how was he encouraged?
3. Tell about the conspiracy among the Jews against Paul.
4. To whom did the conspirators make known their purpose? Verse 14.
5. What did they devise for the furtherance of their design? Verse 15.
6. Who learned of this conspiracy? What did he at once do? Verse 16.
7. How was the chief captain made acquainted with it? Verses 17-21.
8. What measures did the officer at once take for Paul’s safety? How strong an escort was provided for him? To what place was Paul to be sent? To whom? Verses 22-24.
9. What sort of letters did the captain send to the governor? Verses 25, 26.
10. How did he set forth his own connection with the matter of Paul’s seizure? Verse 27. See note.
11. What did he say as to the charge against Paul? What testimony did he give as to Paul’s innocence? Verses 28, 29.
12. What commandment did he say he had given to Paul’s accusers? Verse 30.
13. How far did the armed escort accompany Paul? When the horsemen arrived at Cæsarea with Paul, what did they do? Verses 31-33.
14. What question did the governor ask after reading the captain’s letter? Verse 34.
15. What did he say to Paul? What order did he give concerning him? Verse 35.
