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, looking attentively on the Sanhedrim, said, Brethren, I have, even to this day, lived in all good conscience toward God--

2 At this, the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.

And Ananias, the high priest, commanded those that stood by him, to strike 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 Paul said to him, God is about to strike you, you whited wall! For do you sit to judge me according to the law, and yet, in violation of the law, command me to be struck?

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

But they, that stood by, said, Do you revile the high priest of God?

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.’”

And Paul said, Brethren, I was not aware that it was the high priest; for it is written, "You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your 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.”

Then Paul, perceiving that the one part was Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, cried out, in the Sanhedrim, Brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; for the hope and resurrection of the dead, I am brought into judgment.

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

And on speaking this, there was a contention 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 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 was a great clamor; and the scribes who were on the side of the Pharisees, arose and contended, saying, We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit, or an angel has 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 as a great disturbance arose, the commander, fearing lest Paul should be torn in pieces by them, ordered the soldiers to go down, and take him by force from the midst of 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 in the following night, the Lord, standing by him, said, Be of good courage, Paul; for as you have testified the things concerning me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear testimony in 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, some of the Jews, entering into a conspiracy, bound themselves with 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, who had made this agreement.

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 m by a solemn anathema, not to taste anything till 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, do you, with the Sanhedrim, signify to the commander, that he bring him down to you, as if you would more accurately discuss what relates to him; and we are ready to kill him, before he can come near you.

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

But Paul's sister's son, hearing of the ambush, came, and entering into the castle, 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.”

And Paul, calling one of the centurions to him, said, Conduct this young man to the commander, for he has something 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.”

He, therefore, took and led him to the commander, and said, Paul, the prisoner, calling me to him, desired that I would bring to you this young man, who has something to tell you.

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

And the commander, taking him by the hand, and leading him into a retired place, inquired of him, What is it that you have 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 together to ask you, that you bring down Paul to-morrow to the Sanhedrim, as if they would inquire something more accurately concerning him.

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 be prevailed on by them; for there are more than forty of them, that lie in ambush for him, who have bound themselves by a curse, neither to eat nor drink, till they have killed him; and they are now ready, expecting this promise from you.

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

The commander, therefore, dismissed the young man, with a charge, Be sure you tell no man, that you have discovered 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 too him two of the centurions, and said, Prepare two hundred soldiers, to go to Cesarea; and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen; by the third hour of the night;

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

and provide beasts to set Paul upon, and conduct him in safety to Felix, the governor.

25 And he wrote the following letter:

And he wrote an epistle, the contents of which are in this copy:

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

Claudius Lysias, to his excellency, Felix, the governor, sends 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 seized by the Jews, and had like to have been slain by them; when I came with a party of soldiers, and rescued him: and I have since learned, that he is a Roman.

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

And, desiring to know the crime of which they accused him, I brought him before the Sanhedrim,

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

whom I found to be accused concerning questions of their law, but to have nothing charged upon him 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.

But when it was signified to me, that an ambush would be laid for the man, by the Jews, I immediately sent him to you, commanding his accusers also to declare before you, what they have against him. Farewell.

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

The soldiers, therefore, as it was commanded them, taking up Paul, brought him by night to Antipatris.

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

And the next day they returned to the castle, leaving the horsemen to go with him:

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

who, entering into Cesarea, and delivering 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 he had read the letter, he asked of what province he was: and being informed 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 you, said he, when your accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's pretorium.