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.

Paul, looking steadfastly at the council, said, “Brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience until today.”

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

The high priest, Ananias, commanded those who stood by him to strike 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 Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to judge me according to the law, and command me to be struck contrary to the law?”

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

Those who stood by said, “Do you malign 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.

Paul said, “I didn’t know, brothers, that he was high priest. For it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a 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.

But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. Concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!”

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

When he had said this, an argument arose between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the crowd 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, nor angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess all of these.

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.

A great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ part stood up, and contended, saying, “We find no evil in this man. But if a spirit or angel has spoken to him, let’s not fight against God!”

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.

When a great argument arose, the commanding officer, fearing that Paul would 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 barracks.

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.

The following night, the Lord stood by him and said, “Cheer up, Paul, for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so you must testify 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.

When it was day, some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.

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

There were more than forty people who had 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.

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, you with the council inform the commanding officer that he should bring him down to you tomorrow, as though you were going to judge his case more exactly. We are ready to kill him before he comes near.”

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 they were lying in wait, and he came and entered into the barracks 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.

Paul summoned one of the centurions and said, “Bring this young man to the commanding officer, 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.

So he took him and brought him to the commanding officer and said, “Paul, the prisoner, summoned me and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has 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?

The commanding officer took him by the hand, and going aside, asked him privately, “What is it that 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.

He said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though intending to inquire somewhat more accurately 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 don’t yield to them, for more than forty men lie in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse to neither eat nor drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, looking for 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.

So the commanding officer let the young man go, charging him, “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.

He called to himself two of the centurions, and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred men armed with spears, 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,

He asked them to provide mounts, that they might set Paul on one, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.

25 after writing a letter containing this form:

He wrote a letter like this:

26 Claudius Lysias to the eminent governor Felix, greeting.

“Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings.

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 killed by them when I came 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,

Desiring to know the cause why they accused him, I brought him down to their council.

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

I found him to be accused about questions of their law, but not to be charged with anything worthy of death or of imprisonment.

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.

When I was told that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him to you immediately, charging his accusers also to bring their accusations against him before you. Farewell.”

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, carrying out their orders, 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 next day they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the barracks.

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

When they came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented 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,

When the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. When he understood that he was from Cilicia, he said,

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 you fully when your accusers also arrive.” He commanded that he be kept in Herod’s palace.