Acts 23

1 Paul looked directly at the Sanhedrin and said, “Brothers, I have conducted myself before God in all good conscience to this day.”

And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men [and] brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.

2 At this, the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the 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 will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit here to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck.”

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

4 But those standing nearby said, “How dare you insult the high priest of God!”

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

5 “Brothers,” Paul replied, “I was not aware that he was the high priest, for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’”

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

6 Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. It is because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”

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

7 As soon as he had said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.

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

8 For the Sadducees say that there is neither a resurrection, nor angels, nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.

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

9 A great clamor arose, and some scribes from the party of the Pharisees got up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”

And there arose a great cry: and the scribes [that were] of the Pharisees’ part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.

10 The dispute grew so violent that the commander was afraid they would tear Paul to pieces. He ordered the soldiers to go down and remove him by force and bring him into the barracks.

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

11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so also you must testify in Rome.”

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

12 When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.

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

13 More than forty of them were involved in this plot.

And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.

14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.

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

15 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.”

Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.

16 But when the son of Paul’s sister heard about the plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.

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

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

Then Paul called one of the centurions unto [him], and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him.

18 So the centurion took him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner sent and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.”

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

19 The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside, and asked, “What do you need to tell me?”

Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went [with him] aside privately, and asked [him], What is that thou hast to tell me?

20 He answered, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul to the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of acquiring more information about him.

And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly.

21 Do not let them persuade you, because more than forty men are waiting to ambush him. They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him; they are ready now, awaiting your consent.”

But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee.

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

So the chief captain [then] let the young man depart, and charged [him, See thou] tell no man that thou hast shewed these things to me.

23 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.

And he called unto [him] two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Cæsarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;

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

And provide [them] beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring [him] safe unto Felix the governor.

25 And he wrote the following letter:

And he wrote a letter after this manner:

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

Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix [sendeth] greeting.

27 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,

This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.

28 and since I wanted to understand their charges against him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin.

And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:

29 I found that the accusation involved questions about their own law, but there was no charge worthy of death or imprisonment.

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

30 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.

And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what [they had] against him. Farewell.

31 So the soldiers followed their orders and brought Paul by night to Antipatris.

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

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

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

33 When the horsemen arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and presented Paul to him.

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

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

And when the governor had read [the letter], he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that [he was] of Cilicia;

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

I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s judgment hall.