17. Then Paul called one of the centurions over and said, “Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to tell him.”
18. So he took him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner sent for me and asked me to bring you this young man who has something to tell you.”
19. Then the commander took him by the hand, went aside privately, and asked him, “What is it you have to tell me?”
20. The boy said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down tomorrow to the Sanhedrin, pretending to inquire further concerning him.
21. Do not trust them. More than forty men, who have bound themselves with an oath to neither eat nor drink until they have killed him, are waiting for him. And now they are ready, waiting for your promise.”
22. The commander dismissed the young man and ordered him, “Tell no one that you have reported these things to me.”
23. Then he summoned two centurions and said, “Prepare two hundred infantrymen, seventy mounted soldiers, and two hundred light infantrymen with spears to go to Caesarea at the third hour of the night.
24. And provide mounts so Paul may ride and take him safely to Felix the governor.”
25. He wrote a letter that went like this:
26. Claudius Lysias,To His Excellency Governor Felix:Greetings.
27. This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them. When I learned that he was a Roman citizen, I came with soldiers and rescued him.
28. Being minded to learn what crime they alleged, I took him to their Sanhedrin.
29. I found him being accused of controversial matters about their law, but charged with nothing worthy of death or imprisonment.
30. When it was revealed to me that there was a plot against the man, at once I sent him to you and ordered the accusers to state before you their charges against him.Farewell.