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23:11-24 On the following night the Lord came to (Paul)
and said "Take courage, for
just as you have solemnly witnessed these things concerning me in
Jerusalem, so it is fitting for you to give witness to them as well in
Rome." When it became day the
Jews made a conspiracy. They put a curse on themselves saying they would
neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. There were more than forty people involved in this plot. They approached the chief priests and
elders and said. "We have put a
curse on ourselves so that we cannot taste anything until we kill
Paul." Therefore (we want you)
to inform the Tribune together with the council so that he (the Tribune)
may bring him down to you as if intending to ascertain exactly the
situation concerning him. As for us, as he draws near we will be ready to
kill him. But the son of Paul's sister heard about the treachery. He came and entered the fort to report
(about this) to Paul. So Paul called
one of the centurions and said.
"Could you bring this young man before the Tribune. He has something to report to him."
He (the centurion) therefore took
him and
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brought
him to the Tribune and said "The prisoner Paul called me to him and
asked if this young man could be brought to you to tell you
something." So taking him by
the hand the Tribune retired privately (with him) and asked "What is
it that you have to report to me?"
He said "The Jews have agreed to ask you tomorrow if you can
bring Paul to the council as though intending to find out more about
him. (But) do not be persuaded by them for there are more than forty of
them who will be lying in wait. They
have put a curse on themselves to refrain from eating and drinking until they kill him. They are now waiting for a promise from
yourself. The Tribune therefore
dismissed the young man and told him "Tell nobody what you have reported to me." (Then) calling
to him two certain centurions he said "Prepare two hundred
soldiers to go as far as Caesarea. Also
(organise) seventy horsemen and two
hundred spearmen to be ready from the third hour of the night. (He told
them) to have horses standing ready so they could put Paul onto them and
bring him safely to Felix the governor.
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