Acts 23

1 And Paul, after looking intently at the council, said, Men, brothers, I have been a citizen in all good conscience to God until this day.

And Paul, looking stedfastly on the council, said, Brethren, I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day.

2 And the high priest Ananias ordered those who stood by him to strike his mouth.

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

3 Then Paul said to him, God is going to smite thee, a whitewashed wall. Thou even sit judging me according to the law, and violating law, thou command me to be struck?

Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: and sittest thou to judge me according to the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?

4 And those who stood by said, Thou revile God's high priest?

And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God’s high priest?

5 And Paul said, I had not known, brothers, that he is a high priest, for it is written, Thou shall not speak ill of a ruler of thy people.

And Paul said, I knew not, brethren, that he was high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of a ruler of thy people.

6 But when Paul ascertained that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men, brothers, I am a Pharisee, son of a Pharisee. About the hope and resurrection of the dead I am judged.

But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees: touching the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

7 And when he said this, there developed a conflict of the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the group was divided.

And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees; and the assembly was divided.

8 For in fact Sadducees say to be no resurrection nor agent nor spirit, but Pharisees acknowledge them all.

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

9 And there developed a great clamor. And some of the scholars of the Pharisees part having risen, they argued vehemently, saying, We find nothing wrong in this man. But if a spirit spoke to him, or an agent, we should not fight against God.

And there arose a great clamor: and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ part stood up, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: and what if a spirit hath spoken to him, or an angel?

10 And a great conflict having developed, the chief captain, having been alarmed lest Paul might be torn apart by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from the midst of them, and bring him into the fort.

And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should be torn in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the castle.

11 And the following night the Lord, having stood by him, said, Cheer up, Paul, for as thou have testified these things about me at Jerusalem, so thou must testify also at Rome.

And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer: for as thou hast testified concerning me at Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

12 And when it became day, some of the Jews, having made a conspiracy, put themselves under a curse, saying neither to eat nor to drink until they would kill Paul.

And when it was day, the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

13 And there were more than forty who made this conspiracy,

And they were more than forty that made this conspiracy.

14 who, having come near to the chief priests and the elders, said, We have put ourselves under a curse, a curse to taste of nothing until we would kill Paul.

And they came to the chief priests and the elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, to taste nothing until we have killed Paul.

15 Now therefore ye with the council report to the chief captain that tomorrow he may bring him down to you, as though going to inquire more accurately the things about him. And we, before he comes near, are prepared to kill him.

Now therefore do ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you, as though ye would judge of his case more exactly: and we, before he comes near, are ready to slay him.

16 But the son of Paul's sister, having heard of the ambush, having come and entered into the fort, he informed Paul.

But Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, and he came and entered into the castle and told Paul.

17 And Paul, having called one of the centurions, said, Take this young man to the chief captain, for he has something to inform him.

And Paul called unto him one of the centurions, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain; for he hath something to tell him.

18 Indeed therefore having taken him, he brought him to the chief captain, and says, Paul the prisoner, having called me, asked me to bring this young man to thee, who has something to say to thee.

So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and saith, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and asked me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say to thee.

19 And the chief captain having grasped his hand, and having gone in private, he asked him, What is it that thou have to inform me?

And the chief captain took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, What is it that thou hast to tell me?

20 And he said, The Jews have agreed to ask thee that tomorrow thou would bring Paul down to the council, as though going to inquire something more accurately about him.

And he said, The Jews have agreed to ask thee to bring down Paul to-morrow unto the council, as though thou wouldest inquire somewhat more exactly concerning him.

21 Therefore thou should not be persuaded by them, for more than forty men of them wait to ambush him, who have put themselves under an oath, neither to eat nor drink until they have killed him. And now they are ready, expecting the promise from thee.

Do not thou therefore yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, who have bound themselves under a curse, neither to eat nor to drink till they have slain him: and now are they ready, looking for the promise from thee.

22 Indeed therefore the chief captain dismissed the young man, having ordered, Tell no man that thou have shown these things to me.

So the chief captain let the young man go, charging him, Tell no man that thou hast signified these things to me.

23 And having summoned a certain two of the centurions, he said, Prepare two hundred soldiers that they may go to Caesarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen at the third hour of the night.

And he called unto him two of the centurions, and said, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go as far as Cæsarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night:

24 And provide beasts, so that after mounting Paul, they may bring him safely to Felix the governor,

and [he bade them] provide beasts, that they might set Paul thereon, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.

25 after writing a letter containing this form:

And he wrote a letter after this form:

26 Claudius Lysias to the eminent governor Felix, greeting.

Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix, greeting.

27 This man who was seized by the Jews, and was going to be killed by them, having stood by with the soldiers, I rescued him, having learned that he is a Roman.

This man was seized by the Jews, and was about to be slain of them, when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.

28 And wanting to know for what reason they accused him, I brought him down to their council,

And desiring to know the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him down unto their council:

29 whom I found accusing about issues of their law, having not one accusation worthy of death or of bonds.

whom I found to be accused about questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.

30 And when it was reported to me of a plot going to be against the man by the Jews, I immediately sent him to thee, also having commanded the accusers to speak before thee the things against him. Be strong.

And when it was shown to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to thee forthwith, charging his accusers also to speak against him before thee.

31 Indeed therefore, the soldiers, according to that which was precisely arranged for them, having taken Paul, they brought him through the night to Antipatris.

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

32 But on the morrow they returned to the fort, having allowed the horsemen to depart with him,

But on the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:

33 who, after coming to Caesarea and having delivered the letter to the governor, also presented Paul to him.

and they, when they came to Cæsarea and delivered the letter to the governor, presented Paul also before him.

34 And the governor having read it, and having questioned from what province he was, and having found out that he was from Cilicia,

And when he had read it, he asked of what province he was; and when he understood that he was of Cilicia,

35 he said, I will hear thee when thine accusers also will arrive. And he commanded him to be kept in the Praetorium of Herod.

I will hear thee fully, said he, when thine accusers also are come: and he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s palace.