Early in the morning this council assembled, just as once it had assembled to judge St. Stephen when Saul, the well-known Pharisee, was one of its members. Now he was a prisoner--Paul, the servant of Jesus Christ, standing before many who knew him as the persecutor of Christians. "Men and brethren," he said, "I have conversed with all good conscience before God until this present day." {106} At this the high priest Ananias, in his anger, told those who stood near to strike the prisoner upon the mouth. Then St. Paul said to him, "God shall strike thee, thou whited wall. For sittest thou to judge me according to the law, and contrary to the law commandest me to be struck?" The bystanders now accused the Apostle of speaking against the high priest. Seeing that he was not to be fairly tried, St. Paul appealed to the Pharisees who were present. "Men, brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. Concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question." At these words a great dissension arose between his judges. Party spirit was kindled immediately in the Pharisees, who, forgetting their anger against the Apostle, now declared that they found no evil in him. The confusion increased, so that Lysias heard of it, and ordered his soldiers to go and bring back the prisoner to the castle. {107} It was well that he did so, or St. Paul would have been almost torn to pieces by the indignant Sadducees. Night drew on, and in the still darkness the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to His servant, speaking softly and encouragingly in his ear: "Be constant; for as thou hast testified of me at Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome." {108} Not to die then! not yet to lay down life for God's truth. To suffer again and to suffer more--yet St. Paul was not dismayed. Had he not said already to the Christians of Ephesus, when upon the sea-shore of Miletus they looked on his face for the last time, "I fear none of these things, neither do I count my life more precious than myself, so that I may consummate my course." {109} Chapter VI. During that night the enemies of God's servant were not forgetful of him, and forty men bound themselves under a curse neither to eat nor drink until they had succeeded in killing him. They accordingly made request to the council that Lysias might have St. Paul tried once more, purposing in their hearts to lie in wait as he came out from the castle, and falling upon him, destroy him. In some manner which we do not know, the secret transpired, and a young man related to the Apostle brought news to the castle of what the forty Zelotes had arranged. {110}