But regarding the Gentiles who have believed, we have written a letter, having decided that they should avoid meat that has been sacrificed to idols and blood and what has been strangled and sexual immorality.”

He immediately took soldiers and centurions and ran down to the crowd. When they saw the commanding officer and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.

As I was en route and near Damascus, about noon a very bright light from heaven suddenly flashed around me.

I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ He said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’

Since I could not see because of the brilliance of that light, I came to Damascus led by the hand of those who were with me.

When they had stretched him out for the lash, Paul said to the centurion standing nearby, “Is it legal for you to lash a man who is a Roman citizen without a proper trial?”

When the centurion heard this, he went to the commanding officer and reported it, saying, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.”

Paul looked directly at the council and said, “Brothers, I have lived my life with a clear conscience before God to this day.”

When morning came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink anything until they had killed Paul.

But when the son of Paul’s sister heard about the ambush, he came and entered the barracks and told Paul.

Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commanding officer, for he has something to report to him.”

The commanding officer took him by the hand, withdrew privately, and asked, “What is it that you want to report to me?”

When I was informed there would be a plot against this man, I sent him to you at once, also ordering his accusers to state their charges against him before you.

After five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and an attorney named Tertullus, and they brought formal charges against Paul to the governor.

which I was doing when they found me in the temple, ritually purified, without a crowd or a disturbance.

Then Felix, who understood the facts concerning the Way more accurately, adjourned their hearing, saying, “When Lysias the commanding officer comes down, I will decide your case.”

When he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges that they were not able to prove.

Rather they had several points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a man named Jesus who was dead, whom Paul claimed to be alive.

Because I was at a loss how I could investigate these matters, I asked if he were willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried there on these charges.

But when Paul appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of His Majesty the Emperor, I ordered him to be kept under guard until I could send him to Caesar.”