Acts 23

1 And Paul, fixing his eyes on the council, said, Brethren, I have walked in all good conscience with God unto 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 But the high priest Ananias ordered those standing by him to smite his 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 smite thee, whited wall. And thou, dost thou sit judging me according to the law, and breaking the law commandest me to be smitten?

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 And those that stood by said, Dost thou rail against the high priest of God?

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

5 And Paul said, I was not conscious, brethren, that he was high priest; for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evilly of the ruler of thy 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 But Paul, knowing that the one part [of them] were of the Sadducees and the other of the Pharisees, cried out in the council, Brethren, I am a Pharisee, son of Pharisees: I am judged concerning the hope and resurrection of [the] dead.

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 And when he had spoken this, there was a tumult of the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the multitude 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 Sadducees say there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but Pharisees confess both of them.

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

9 And there was a great clamour, and the scribes of the Pharisees' part rising up contended, saying, We find nothing evil in this man; and if a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel...

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 And a great tumult having arisen, the chiliarch, fearing lest Paul should have been torn in pieces by them, commanded the troop to come down and take him by force from the midst of them, and to bring [him] into the fortress.

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 But the following night the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good courage; for as thou hast testified the things concerning me at Jerusalem, so thou must bear witness at Rome also.

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 And when it was day, the Jews, having banded together, put themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they should kill 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 And they were more than forty who had joined together in this oath;

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

14 and they went to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have cursed ourselves with a curse to taste nothing until we kill 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 therefore do ye with the council make a representation to the chiliarch so that he may bring him down to you, as about to determine more precisely what concerns him, and we, before he draws near, are ready to kill him.

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 Paul's sister's son, having heard of the lying in wait, came and entered into the fortress and reported [it] to 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 And Paul, having called one of the centurions, said, Take this youth to the chiliarch, for he has something to report to 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 He therefore, having taken him with [him], led him to the chiliarch, and says, The prisoner Paul called me to [him] and asked me to lead this youth to thee, who has something to say to thee.

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 And the chiliarch having taken him by the hand, and having gone apart in private, inquired, What is it that thou hast to report to 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 And he said, The Jews have agreed together to make a request to thee, that thou mayest bring Paul down to-morrow into the council, as about to inquire something more precise concerning 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 thou then be persuaded by them, for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, who have put themselves under a curse neither to eat nor drink till they kill him; and now they are ready waiting the promise from thee.

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 The chiliarch then dismissed the youth, commanding [him], Utter to no one that thou hast represented these things 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 And having called to [him] certain two of the centurions, he said, Prepare two hundred soldiers that they may go as far as Caesarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred light-armed footmen, for 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 And [he ordered them] to provide beasts, that they might set Paul on them and carry [him] safe through to Felix the governor,

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

25 having written a letter, couched in this form:

And he wrote a letter after this manner:

26 Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix, greeting.

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

27 This man, having been taken by the Jews, and being about to be killed by them, I came up with the military and took out [of their hands], having learned that he was a Roman.

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 desiring to know the charge on which they accused him, I brought him down to their council;

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

29 whom I found to be accused of questions of their law, but to have no charge laid against him [making him] worthy of death or of bonds.

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 But having received information of a plot about to be put in execution against the man [by the Jews], I have immediately sent him to thee, commanding also his accusers to say before thee the things that are against him. [Farewell.]

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 The soldiers therefore, according to what was ordered them, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris,

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

32 and on the morrow, having left the horsemen to go with him, returned to the fortress.

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

33 And these, having entered into Caesarea, and given up the letter to the governor, presented Paul also to him.

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

34 And having read [it], and asked of what eparchy he was, and learned that [he was] of 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 thee fully when thine accusers also are arrived. And he commanded him to be kept 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.