1
And Paulos, looking intently at the council, said: “Ishim, brothers, I have conducted myself with all good conscience before Elohim until this day.”
2
And the great kohen Chananyah commanded those standing beside him to strike him upon the mouth.
3
Then Paulos said to him: “Elohim is about to strike you, you whitewashed wall. Do you sit judging me according to the Torah, yet contrary to the Torah command me to be struck?”
4
And those standing nearby said: “Do you insult the great kohen of Elohim?”
5
And Paulos said: “I did not know, brothers, that he was the great kohen, for it is written: ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”
6
And Paulos, knowing that one part was Tzadduqim and the other Perushim, cried out in the council: “Ishim, brothers, I am a Perushi, a son of Perushim. Concerning hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged.”
7
And when he said this, a dispute arose between the Perushim and Tzadduqim, and the multitude was divided.
8
For the Tzadduqim say there is no resurrection, nor messenger, nor ruach, but the Perushim confess all these.
9
And there arose a great outcry, and certain scribes from the party of the Perushim rose and argued strongly, saying: “We find nothing evil in this ish. And what if a ruach or a messenger spoke to him?”
10
And when a great dispute arose, the commander, fearing that Paulos might be torn apart by them, commanded the soldiers to go down, seize him from their midst, and bring him into the fortress.
11
And the following night, the Master stood beside him and said: “Take courage, for just as you testified concerning me in Yerushalayim, so you must also testify in Rome.”
12
And when day came, some of the Yehudim made a conspiracy and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they killed Paulos.
13
And there were more than forty who made this conspiracy.
14
These went to the chief kohenim and elders and said: “We bound ourselves under a great oath to taste nothing until we kill Paulos.
15
Now therefore you, with the council, make known to the commander that he should bring him down to you, as though you are about to determine more precisely the things concerning him. And before he comes near, we are ready to kill him.”
16
But the son of the sister of Paulos, hearing of the ambush, came and entered the fortress and reported it to Paulos.
17
And Paulos called one of the centurions and said: “Bring this young ish to the commander, for he has something to report to him.”
18
Therefore he took him and brought him to the commander and said: “Paulos the prisoner called me and asked that I bring this young ish to you, having something to say to you.”
19
And taking him by the hand, the commander withdrew privately and asked: “What is it that you have to report to me?”
20
And he said: “The Yehudim have agreed to ask you that tomorrow you bring Paulos down to the council, as though they intend to inquire more precisely concerning him.
21
Therefore do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty ishim from among them are lying in ambush for him, having bound themselves under an oath neither to eat nor drink until they kill him. And now they are ready, waiting for your promise.”
22
Therefore the commander released the young ish, commanding: “Tell no one that you revealed these things to me.”
23
And calling two of the centurions, he said: “Prepare two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen, from the third hour of the night,
24
and provide animals so that they may place Paulos upon them and bring him safely to Felix the governor.”
25
And he wrote a letter having this form:
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“Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix: Shalom.
27
This ish was seized by the Yehudim and was about to be killed by them, when I came with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he is a Roman.
28
And desiring to know the reason for which they accused him, I brought him down to their council.
29
I found him being accused concerning questions of their Torah, but having no accusation worthy of death or chains.
30
And when a plot against the ish was made known to me, I sent him to you immediately, also commanding his accusers to speak against him before you.”
31
Therefore the soldiers, according to what was commanded to them, took Paulos and brought him by night to Antipatris.
32
And on the next day, leaving the horsemen to go with him, they returned to the fortress.
33
And those, entering Caesarea and delivering the letter to the governor, also presented Paulos before him.
34
And reading it, he asked from what province he was. And learning that he was from Qilikia,
35
he said: “I shall hear you when your accusers also arrive.” And he commanded that he be guarded in the praetorium of Herodes.