14. They went to the ruling kohanim and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath to taste nothing until we have killed Paul.
15. So now you and the Sanhedrin serve notice to the commander to bring him down to you—like you are about to investigate his case more thoroughly. But we are ready to kill him before he comes near.”
16. But the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush. He went into the headquarters and told Paul.
17. Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander, for he has a message for him.”
18. So the centurion took him and led him to the commander and said, “The prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, as he has something to say to you.”
19. The commander took him by the hand, stepped aside, and began asking him privately, “What is it that you have to report to me?”
20. And he said, “The Judean leaders have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the Sanhedrin tomorrow—as if they are about to investigate more thoroughly about him.
21. But do not give in to them, for more than forty of them have bound themselves by an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. Even now, they are ready and waiting for your consent.”
22. So the commander dismissed the young man, charging him, “Tell no one that you have informed me about these things.”
23. Calling two of his centurions, he said, “At the third hour of the night, prepare two hundred soldiers, along with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen, to proceed as far as Caesarea.
24. Also provide mounts for Paul to ride, so that he might be brought safely to Felix the governor.”
25. He wrote a letter to this effect:
26. “Claudius Lysias, To the Most Excellent Governor Felix: Greetings!
27. This man was seized by the Judean leaders and was about to be killed by them, when I came on the scene with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he is a Roman citizen.