18. So he took him and brought him to the commander and explained, “The prisoner Paul called me and asked that I bring this young man to you; he has something to say to you.”
19. The commander took him by the hand, drew him aside, and asked him privately, “What is it you have to report to me?”
20. He replied, “The Jews have conspired to ask you to bring Paul down to the Sanhedrin tomorrow, as though they meant to inquire about him more thoroughly,
21. but do not believe them. More than forty of them are lying in wait for him; they have bound themselves by oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are now ready and only wait for your consent.”
22. As the commander dismissed the young man he directed him, “Tell no one that you gave me this information.”
23. Then he summoned two of the centurions and said, “Get two hundred soldiers ready to go to Caesarea by nine o’clock tonight, along with seventy horsemen and two hundred auxiliaries.
24. Provide mounts for Paul to ride and give him safe conduct to Felix the governor.”
25. Then he wrote a letter with this content:
26. “Claudius Lysias to his excellency the governor Felix, greetings.
27. This man, seized by the Jews and about to be murdered by them, I rescued after intervening with my troops when I learned that he was a Roman citizen.
28. I wanted to learn the reason for their accusations against him so I brought him down to their Sanhedrin.
29. I discovered that he was accused in matters of controversial questions of their law and not of any charge deserving death or imprisonment.
30. Since it was brought to my attention that there will be a plot against the man, I am sending him to you at once, and have also notified his accusers to state (their case) against him before you.”
31. So the soldiers, according to their orders, took Paul and escorted him by night to Antipatris.