18
The officer took him, led him to the commander, and said, "The prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, because he has something to say to you."
19
The commander took him by the hand, led him off by himself, and asked him, "What do you have to tell me?
20
He said, "The Jewish authorities have agreed to ask you tomorrow to take Paul down to the Council, pretending that the Council wants to get more accurate information about him.
21
But don't listen to them, because there are more than forty men who will be hiding and waiting for him. They have taken a vow not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are now ready to do it and are waiting for your decision.
22
The commander said, "Don't tell anyone that you have reported this to me." And he sent the young man away.
23
Then the commander called two of his officers and said, "Get two hundred soldiers ready to go to Caesarea, together with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen, and be ready to leave by nine o'clock tonight.
24
Provide some horses for Paul to ride and get him safely through to Governor Felix."
25
Then the commander wrote a letter that went like this:
26
"Claudius Lysias to His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings.
27
The Jews seized this man and were about to kill him. I learned that he is a Roman citizen, so I went with my soldiers and rescued him.
28
I wanted to know what they were accusing him of, so I took him down to their Council.
29
I found out that he had not done a thing for which he deserved to die or be put in prison; the accusation against him had to do with questions about their own law.
30
And when I was informed that there was a plot against him, at once I decided to send him to you. I have told his accusers to make their charges against him before you."
31
The soldiers carried out their orders. They got Paul and took him that night as far as Antipatris.
32
The next day the foot soldiers returned to the fort and left the horsemen to go on with him.
33
They took him to Caesarea, delivered the letter to the governor, and turned Paul over to him.
34
The governor read the letter and asked Paul what province he was from. When he found out that he was from Cilicia,
35
he said, "I will hear you when your accusers arrive." Then he gave orders for Paul to be kept under guard in the governor's headquarters.