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 the sanhedrim in the face, said, Men, brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God unto this day.

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

And the high priest Ananias commanded those standing near him to smite him in 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 Paul said to him, God is about to smite thee, thou whitewashed wall: indeed thou art sitting judging me according to the law, and dost thou command me to be smitten contrary to the law?

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

And those standing by said, Do you revile the high priest of God?

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, Brethren, I did not know that he is the high priest; for it is written, You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your 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.

And Paul knowing that one part of them belongs to the Sadducees, and another to the Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men, brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of the Pharisees: concerning the hope and the resurrection of the dead I am judged.

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

And he speaking this, there was a dissension of the Pharisees and Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.

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

For the Sadducees indeed 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 was a great clamor: and certain ones of the scribes on the part of the Pharisees, rising up, continued to strive, saying, We find nothing evil in this man: but has a spirit or an angel spoken to him?

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 the dissension being great, the chiliarch fearing lest Paul may be torn to pieces by them, commanded the army, having gone down, to take him from their midst, and lead 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 on the following night, the Lord standing over him, said, Take courage: for as thou hast testified to the things concerning me in Jerusalem, so it behooveth thee also to testify to me in 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 it being day, the Jews having formed a conspiracy, obligated themselves by an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they might kill Paul.

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

And there were more than forty having made this plot:

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.

who, having come to the chief priests and elders, said, We have anathematized ourselves with an anathema, to taste nothing until we may kill 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 you appeal to the chiliarch along with the sanhedrim, that he may lead him down to you, as about to investigate matters concerning him more thoroughly: and we are ready to kill him before he comes nigh.

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

And the son of Paul's sister, having heard of ambuscade, coming and entering into the castle, reported it to 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, having called one of the centurions, said, Lead this young man to the chiliarch: for he has 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.

Then indeed taking him, he led him to the chiliarch, and says, Paul the prisoner, having called me, requested me to lead this young man to you, having something to tell you.

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 chiliarch taking him by the hand, and having gone away privately, asked him, What is that which you have 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 entered into an agreement to ask you that to-morrow you may lead Paul to the sanhedrim, as about to make inquiry as to something more definite 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.

Therefore do not be persuaded by them: for more than forty of them lie in wait for him, who have obligated themselves by an oath, neither to eat nor drink until they may kill him: and now they are ready, awaiting the promise from you.

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

Then indeed the chiliarch sent away the young man, having commanded him to Tell no one that you have revealed 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 having called a certain two of the centurions, he said, Get ready two hundred soldiers that they may go unto Caesarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen, from 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 prepare beasts of burden, that, having carried away Paul, you may deliver him safe to Felix the governor.

25 after writing a letter containing this form:

Writing a letter having this form:

26 Claudius Lysias to the eminent governor Felix, greeting.

Claudius Lysias to the most noble 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, having been taken by the Jews, and being about to be put to death by them, having interposed with my army, I took out of their hands, having learned that he is a Roman:

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

and wishing to know the cause on account of which they clamored against him, I led him into their sanhedrim:

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

whom I found accused concerning questions of their law, having no charge worthy of death or 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 a plot from them being revealed to me to be against the man, I sent him to thee, having commanded his accusers also to speak in thy presence.

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.

Then indeed the soldiers, according to that which had been commanded them, taking Paul led him by night to Antipatris:

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

And on the following day letting the cavalry go on with him, they returned to the castle.

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

Who, having come into Caesarea, and delivered the letter to the governor, also committed Paul to 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 having read, and made inquiry of what jurisdiction,

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.

and ascertaining that he is from Cilicia, said, I will hear thee, when thy accusers may also be present, having commanded that he should be kept in Herod's judgment hall.