1 AND Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. [ Remember even though he persecuted the Christians, when he was doing it he thought that he was doing what God wanted him to do. He was acting faithfully in his knowledge. ]

2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.

3 Then said Paul unto him, 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?

4  And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God’s high priest? [ You hypocrite. So the guy's like, hey, “Revilest thou God's high priest?" Because God's high priest, Ananias, he's the one that told the guy to hit him in the mouth. And he's like, oh, shoot, “I wist not brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.” I apologize. ]

5 Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people. [ Blood trickling down his lips. He's like, "sorry about that." He only says one more thing. ]

6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, [ He kind of reads his audience, notices part are Pharisees, part are Sadducees- Brilliant, what he does here. ... he says, "I am a Pharisee," which is totally true, "the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question." And because the Sadducees, don't believe in the resurrection, Luke explains in verse eight, they don't believe in angels or spirits or that your spirit becomes like something after you die, but the Pharisees did, he now wins a good part of the room. We're not sure what the breakup is, what percentages are Pharisee and what's Sadducees. But immediately, all the Pharisees come to his side and they're like, "You know what? He's not so bad. We find no evil in this man," ] 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.

7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.

8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.

9 And there arose a great cry: and the scribes [ A scribes responsibility was to write down or copy word for word what was said. It was not their duty or responsibility to change, altar or modify in any way what was written. However; it was the scribes who were the ones who modified the text of the old testament books to remove or alter what the Messiah would do and be. They changed him to become a political figure such that the people would not recognize the Savior when he did come. They removed the ordinances and covenants to their ways, ways in which they could control the people through "the Law". for this reason Jesus holds some of his strongest rebukes for the scribes because these were the very ones who were manipulating the text to have it read the way that they wanted - they were perverting that ways of God. ] 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.

10 And when there arose a great dissension, 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.

11 And 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. [ So this is a major promise, because this is a key point that Luke wants to tell in this story is how does the gospel go to the whole world? And Rome is at the center of the world. It's not the uttermost edge, it's the centerpiece. And if you go to Rome and from Rome, let the message go out from there, you could reach the whole known world. I mean, Spain is about as far west as they understand the known world to be. ]

12 And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, [ Secret combination - The Lord's calling him here and promising, "You're going to go to Rome." It wasn't frightening when he learned the next day from his little nephew that there was a plot by many Jews who'd sworn they would never eat or drink again until they had killed Paul. ] saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

13 And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.

14 And they 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.

15 Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.

16 And when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.

17 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.

18 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.

19 Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that thou hast to tell me?

20 And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly.

21 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.

22 so the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast shewed these things to me.

23 And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, [ If your name is Caesar, you can name a bunch of cities after yourself, so we have a few Caesareas. There's Caesarea that's here just north of Jerusalem. And then there's a Caesarea way up north, or also know as Caesarea Philippi. It's a great strategic location, because from there they can receive and dispatch emissaries from the Roman Empire. And they can kind of send news to Rome and they can receive news and that kind of thing. And so Caesarea is just a nice port city that makes sense. And so that's where the Roman governor at that time is, and his name is Felix. ] and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;

24  And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, [ So the Romans are trying to protect Paul. Kind of an interesting twist here. So ancient Israel, those who are supposed to be God's should be the one's who are really spreading the message, and here we have the Roman's being the one's who are helpping more the Good News about Jesus Christ forward. ] and bring him safe unto Felix the governor. [ So once Paul used his card Roman card(never leave home without it), they have been especially careful to protect him. He gets to go to a place where Roman citizens would be judged, which is the seat of government in that area, off to Caesarea. ]

25 And he wrote a letter after this manner:

26 Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.

27  This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: [ This is the explanation of what supposedly Paul has done wrong. ] then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.

28 And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:

29 Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds. [ Or "You've done nothing worthy of death." ]

30 And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell.

31 Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.

32 On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:

33 Who, when they came to Caesarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.

34 And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia;

35 I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s judgment hall.