Paul a Prisoner
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Paul be again brought before the council. Lysias listened with close
attention. He saw the difficulties of the situation, and instantly formed
his plans. Choosing, however, not to reveal them, he dismissed the
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youth, with the single admonition: “See thou tell no man that thou
hast showed these things to me.”
When the young man had gone, the commandant “called unto
him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go
to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two
hundred, at the third hour of the night; and provide them beasts, that
they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.”
Lysias gladly improved this opportunity to get Paul off his hands.
He was the object of so great animosity, and his presence created so
widespread an excitement, that a riot might occur among the people at
any time, with consequences dangerous to the commandant himself.
The Jews as a people were in a state of excitement and irritation, and
tumults were of frequent occurrence. A short time previous, a Roman
knight of far higher rank than Lysias himself, had been violently taken
and dragged by the maddened Jews around the walls of Jerusalem, and
finally beheaded, because he received a bribe from the Samaritans.
Upon the suspicion of similar crimes, other high officials had been
imprisoned and disgraced. Should Paul be murdered, the chief captain
might be charged with having been bribed to connive at his death.
There was now sufficient reason to send him away secretly, and thus
get rid of an embarrassing responsibility.
It was important that no time be lost. At nine in the evening, the
body of soldiers, with Paul in the midst, marched out of the fortress,
and through the dark and silent streets of the city, and at a rapid pace
pursued their journey toward Caesarea. At Antipatris, thirty-five miles
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from Jerusalem, the travelers halted. There was now little danger of
attack, and in the morning the four hundred foot-soldiers were sent
back to Jerusalem, while the horsemen continued their journey.
The distance from Antipatris to Caesarea was but twenty-five
miles, and it was in the broad light of day that Paul, attended by
“threescore and ten horsemen,” entered the city. How unlike his present
escort was the humble Christian company that had attended him on
the journey from Caesarea but a few days before! Notwithstanding his
changed surroundings, he was recognized by Philip and others of his