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.”

Paul looked directly at the council members and said, “Brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day.”

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

The high priest Ananias commanded those who 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 said Paul to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall. Are you sitting to judge me by the law, yet order me to be struck, against the law?”

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

Those who stood by said, “Is this how you insult 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.’”

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

When Paul saw that the one part of the council were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he spoke loudly in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is because I have the certain hope of the resurrection of the dead that I am being judged.”

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

When he said this, an argument began between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the crowd 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, no angels, and no spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge all of them.

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?”

So a large uproar occurred, and some of the scribes belonging to the Pharisees stood up and argued, saying, “We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”

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.

When there arose a great argument, the chief captain feared that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, so he commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among the council members, and bring him into the fortress.

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.”

The following night the Lord stood beside him and said, “Do not be afraid, for as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness 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.

When it became day, some Jews formed a conspiracy and called a curse down upon themselves with an oath not to eat nor drink anything until they had killed Paul.

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

There were more than forty men who formed 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.

They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have put ourselves under a great curse, to eat nothing until we have killed 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, let the council tell the chief captain to bring him down to you, as if you would decide his case more precisely. As for us, we are ready to kill him before he comes here.”

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 heard that they were lying in wait, so he went and entered the fortress 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.”

Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the chief captain, 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.”

So the centurion took the young man and brought him to the chief captain and said, “Paul the prisoner called me to him, and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to say to you.”

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

The chief captain took him by the hand to a private place and asked 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.

The young man said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring down Paul tomorrow to the council, as if they were going to ask more precisely about his case.

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 give in to them, because there are more than forty men who are lying in wait for him. They have called a curse down on themselves, neither to eat nor to drink until they have killed him. Even now they are ready, waiting for consent from you.”

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 let the young man go, after instructing him, “Tell no one that you have said 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.

Then he called to him two of the centurions and said, “Get two hundred soldiers ready to go as far as Caesarea, and seventy horsemen also, and two hundred spearmen. You will leave at the third hour of the night.”

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

He also ordered them to provide animals which Paul could ride, and to take him safely to Felix the governor.

25 And he wrote the following letter:

Then he wrote a letter like this:

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

“Claudius Lysias to the most excellent Governor Felix, greetings.

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 arrested by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, when I came upon them with soldiers and rescued him, since I learned that he was a Roman citizen.

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

I wanted to know why they accused him, so I took him down to their council.

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

I learned that he was being accused about questions concerning their own law, but that there was no accusation against him that deserved death or imprisonment.

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.

Then it was made known to me that there was a plot against the man, so I immediately sent him to you, and instructed his accusers also to bring their charges against him in your presence. Farewell.”

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

So the soldiers obeyed their orders. They 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 next day, most of the soldiers left the horsemen to go with him and they themselves returned to the fortress.

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

When the horsemen reached Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.

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

When the governor read the letter, he asked what province Paul was from. When he learned that he was from 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.

he said, “I will hear you fully when your accusers come here.” Then he commanded him to be kept in Herod's government headquarters.