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said； But I was freeborn。 Then straightway they departed from him which
should have examined him： and the chief captain also was afraid； after he
knew that he was a Roman； and because he had bound him。
〃On the morrow； because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was
accused of the Jews； he loosed him from his bands； and commanded the chief
priests and all their council to appear； and brought Paul down； and set him
before them。〃
The apostle was now to be tried by the same tribunal of which he himself had
been a member before his conversion。
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As he stood before the Jewish rulers； his bearing was calm； and his
countenance revealed the peace of Christ。 〃Earnestly beholding the council；〃
he said； 〃Men and brethren； I have lived in all good conscience before God
until this day。〃 Upon hearing these words； their hatred was kindled afresh；
〃and the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him
on the mouth。〃 At this inhuman command； Paul exclaimed； 〃God shall smite
thee； thou whited wall： for sittest thou to judge me after the law； and
commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law？〃 〃They that stood by said；
Revilest thou God's high priest？〃 With his usual courtesy Paul answered； 〃I
wish not； brethren； that he was the high priest： for it is written； Thou
shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people。
〃But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees； and the other
Pharisees； he cried out in the council； Men and brethren； I am a Pharisee；
the son of a Pharisee： of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called
in question。
〃And when he had so said； there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and
the Sadducees： and the multitude was divided。 For the Sadducees say that
there is no resurrection； neither angel； nor spirit： but the Pharisees
confess both。〃 The two parties began to dispute between themselves； and thus
the strength of their opposition against Paul was broken。 〃The scribes that
were of the Pharisees' part arose； and strove； saying； We find no evil in
this man： but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him； let us not fight
against God。〃
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In the confusion that followed； the Sadducees were eagerly striving to gain
possession of the apostle； that they might put him to death； and the
Pharisees were as eager in striving to protect him。 〃The chief captain；
fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them； commanded the
soldiers to go down； and to take him by force from among them； and to bring
him into the castle。〃
Later； while reflecting on the trying experiences of the day； Paul began to
fear that his course might not have been pleasing to God。 Could it be that
he had made a mistake after all in visiting Jerusalem？ Had his great desire
to be in union with his brethren led to this disastrous result？
The position which the Jews as God's professed people occupied before an
unbelieving world； caused the apostle intense anguish of spirit。 How would
those heathen officers look upon them？claiming to be worshipers of
Jehovah； and assuming sacred office； yet giving themselves up to the control
of blind； unreasoning anger； seeking to destroy even their brethren who
dared to differ with them in religious faith； and turning their most solemn
deliberative council into a scene of strife and wild confusion。 Paul felt
that the name of his God had suffered reproach in the eyes of the heathen。
And now he was in prison； and he knew that his enemies； in their desperate
malice； would resort to any means to put him to death。 Could it be that his
work for the churches was ended and that ravening wolves were to enter in
now？ The cause of Christ was very near to Paul's heart； and with deep
anxiety he thought of the perils of the scattered
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churches； exposed as they were to the persecutions of just such men as he
had encountered in the Sanhedrin council。 In distress and discouragement he
wept and prayed。
In this dark hour the Lord was not unmindful of His servant。 He had guarded
him from the murderous throng in the temple courts； He had been with him
before the Sanhedrin council； He was with him in the fortress； and He
revealed Himself to His faithful witness in response to the earnest prayers
of the apostle for guidance。 〃The night following the Lord stood by him； and
said； Be of good cheer； Paul： for as thou hast testified of Me in Jerusalem；
so must thou bear witness also at Rome。〃
Paul had long looked forward to visiting Rome； he greatly desired to witness
for Christ there； but had felt that his purposes were frustrated by the
enmity of the Jews。 He little thought； even now； that it would be as a
prisoner that he would go。
While the Lord encouraged His servant； Paul's enemies were eagerly plotting
his destruction。 〃And when it was day； certain of the Jews banded together；
and bound themselves under a curse； saying that they would neither eat nor
drink till they had killed Paul。 And they were more than forty which had
made this conspiracy。〃 Here was a fast such as the Lord through Isaiah had
condemneda fast 〃for strife and debate； and to smite with the fist of
wickedness。〃 Isaiah 58：4。
The conspirators 〃came to the chief priests and elders； and said； We have
bound ourselves under a great curse； that we will eat nothing until we have
slain Paul。 Now therefore
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ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto
you tomorrow； as though ye would inquire something more perfectly concerning
him： and we； or ever he come near； are ready to kill him。〃
Instead of rebuking this cruel scheme； the priests and rulers eagerly agreed
to it。 Paul had spoken the truth when he compared Ananias to a whited
sepulcher。
But God interposed to save the life of His servant。 Paul's sister's son；
hearing of the 〃lying in wait〃 of the assassins； 〃went and entered into the
castle； and told Paul。 Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him； and
said； Bring this young man unto the chief captain： for he hath a certain
thing to tell him。 So he took him； and brought him to the chief captain； and
said； Paul the prisoner called me unto him； and prayed me to bring this
young man unto thee； who hath something to say unto thee。〃
Claudius Lysias received the youth kindly； and taking him aside； asked；
〃What is that thou hast to tell me？〃 The youth replied： 〃The Jews have
agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul tomorrow into the
council； as though they would inquire somewhat of him more perfectly。 But do
not thou yield unto them： for there lie in wait for him of them more than
forty men； which have bound themselves with an oath； that they will neither
eat nor drink till they have killed him： and now are they ready； looking for
a promise from thee。〃
〃The chief captain then let the young man depart； and charged him； See thou
tell no man that thou hast showed these things to me。〃
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Lysias at once decided to transfer Paul