Written by Yahusha's Student: LUKE (the Doctor) ...
1 Paul looked intently at the council members and said, “Brothers, I have lived my life with a clear conscience before YAHUSHA. I have always done what I thought was right.”
2 Ananias, the high priest, was there, and when he heard this, he told the men who were standing near Paul to hit him in the mouth. TO SHAME HIM, FOR IN THE MIDDLE EAST THEN, AS NOW, A MALE BEING STRUCK ON THE FACE CAUSED HIM TO LOSE HIS HONOUR - AN EXTREMELY SERIOUS AND VOLATILE MATTER IN ORIENTAL SOCIETY.
3 Paul said to Ananias, “You better watch out, cause’ YAHUSHA will hit you too! You’re like a dirty wall that’s been white-washed. You sit there and judge me, using the Law of Moses. But you are telling them to hit me, which is also against the same Law.” 4 The men standing near Paul said to him, “Are you sure you wanna insult Alahim’s High Priest like that?” 5 Paul said, “O’ Brothers, I didn’t know he was the High Priest, for the Scriptures say, ‘You mustn’t speak evil about the ruler of your people.’ (EX 22:28)
6 Paul knew that half the men in the council meeting were Sadducees and the others were Pharisees. So he shouted, “My brothers, I’m a Pharisee myself and my father was a Pharisee also! I'm only on trial here today because I believe that people will rise from the dead.” 7 When Paul said this, a big argument started between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the whole council was divided. 8 (The Sadducees don’t believe in resurrection after death, nor Angels or spirits, but the Pharisees believe in both.) 9 All these Jews began shouting louder and louder. Some of the Scribes (who were also Pharisees) stood up and argued, “We find nothing wrong with this man. Maybe an Angel or a Spirit really did speak to him.” 10 The argument turned into a fight, and the Commander was afraid that the Jews would tear Paul to pieces. So he told the soldiers to go down and take Paul away from these Jews and put him in the army building.
11 The next night the Master YAHUSHA came and stood by Paul, saying, “Be brave My Son! You have told people in Jerusalem about Me. Now you must do the same again, and be My witness in Rome.” 12 The next morning some of the Jews conspired to kill Paul, vowing that they would not eat or drink anything until they had killed him. 13 There were more than 40 of them who made this plan. 14 They went and talked to the Chief Priests and the Jewish Elders, saying, “We have vowed not to eat or drink until we’ve killed Paul. 15 So this is what we want you to do: Send a message to the Commander from you and the high council. Tell him you want him to bring Paul out to you. Say that you want to ask him more questions. Then we will be waiting in ambush, to kill him while he’s on the way here.” 16 But Paul’s nephew (his sister’s son) heard about this plan, went to the army building and told Paul. 17 Then Paul called one of the army officers and said to him, “Take this young man to the Commander, for he’s got a message for him.” 18 So the army officer brought Paul’s nephew to the Commander. The officer said, “The prisoner Paul asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.” 19 The Commander led the young man to a place where they could be alone. The Commander asked, “What do you want to tell me?” 20 The young man said, “Some Jews have decided to ask you to bring Paul down to their council meeting tomorrow. They want you to think that they plan to ask Paul more questions. 21But don’t believe them! More than 40 of them are hiding in ambush, waiting to kill him. They have all vowed not to eat or drink until they’ve killed him. Now they’re just waiting for you to approve.” 22 The Commander sent the young man away, telling him, “Don’t tell anyone that you have told me about their plan.” 23 Then the Commander called two army officers, saying to them, “I need some men to go to Caesarea. Get 200 soldiers ready. Also, get 70 soldiers on horses and 200 men to carry spears. Be ready to leave at nine o’clock tonight. 24 Get some horses for Paul to ride so that he can be taken to Governor Felix safely.” 25 The Commander wrote a letter that said: 26 'From Claudius Lysias, to the Most Honorable Governor Felix. Greetings: 27 Some Jews had taken this man and planned to kill him. But I learned that he is a Roman citizen, so I went with my soldiers and rescued him. 28 I wanted to know why they were accusing him. So I brought him before their council meeting. 29 This is what I learned: The Jews said this man did some things that were wrong. But these charges were about their own Jewish Laws, and there was nothing worthy of jail or death. 30 I was told that some of the Jews were making a plan to kill him. So I decided to send him to you. I also told those Jews to tell you what they have against him'. 31 The soldiers did what they were told. They got Paul and took him to the city of Antipatris that night. 32 The next day the soldiers on horses went with Paul to Caesarea, but the other soldiers and the spearmen went back to the army building in Jerusalem. 33 The soldiers on horses entered Caesarea, gave the letter to Governor Felix, and then turned Paul over to him. 34 The Governor read the letter and asked Paul, “What country are you from?” The Governor learned that Paul was from Cilicia. 35 The Governor said, “I will hear your case when the Jews who are accusing you come here too.” Then the Governor gave orders for Paul to be kept in the palace built by Herod.
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