Acts 23:20-24:21

Joe Focht  WED1120  5/18/2022
  1. And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly.
  2. But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee.
  3. So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast shewed these things to me.
  4. And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;
  5. And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.
  6. And he wrote a letter after this manner:
  7. Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.
  8. This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.
  9. And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:
  10. Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.
  11. And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell.
  12. Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.
  13. On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:
  14. Who, when they came to Caesarea and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.
  15. And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia;
  16. I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment hall.
  1. And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul.
  2. And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence,
  3. We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.
  4. Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words.
  5. For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:
  6. Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law.
  7. But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands,
  8. Commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him.
  9. And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so.
  10. Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself:
  11. Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship.
  12. And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city:
  13. Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me.
  14. But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
  15. And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
  16. And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void to offence toward God, and toward men.
  17. Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings.
  18. Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult.
  19. Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against me.
  20. Or else let these same here say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council,
  21. Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.