Quotes About Authority

Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him down to you on the pretext of examining his case more carefully. We are ready to kill him on the way.”

Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.”

So the commander dismissed the young man and instructed him, “Do not tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”

Then he called two of his centurions and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea in the third hour of the night.

Provide mounts for Paul to take him safely to Governor Felix.”

And he wrote the following letter:

Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings.

This man was seized by the Jews, and they were about to kill him when I came with my troops to rescue him. For I had learned that he is a Roman citizen,

When I was informed that there was a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also instructed his accusers to present their case against him before you.

The next day they returned to the barracks and let the horsemen go on with him.

The governor read the letter and asked what province Paul was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,

he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers arrive.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herodís Praetorium.

The Jews concurred, asserting that these charges were true.

When the governor motioned for Paul to speak, he began his response: “Knowing that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I gladly make my defense.

Then Felix, who was well informed about the Way, adjourned the hearing and said, “When Lysias the commander comes, I will decide your case.”

At the same time, he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe. So he sent for Paul frequently and talked with him.

Three days after his arrival in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem,

But Festus replied, “Paul is being held in Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon.

So if this man has done anything wrong, let some of your leaders come down with me and accuse him there.”

After spending no more than eight or ten days with them, Festus went down to Caesarea. The next day he sat on the judgment seat and ordered that Paul be brought in.

But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to stand trial before me on these charges?”

Paul replied, “I am standing before the judgment seat of Caesar, where I ought to be tried. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well.

If, however, I am guilty of anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is no truth to their accusations against me, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”

Then Festus conferred with his council and replied, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”