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 when Paul had looked on the assembly of them, he said: Men, my brethren; I have lived in all good conscience before God up to this day.

2 But the high priest Ananias ordered those standing by him to smite his mouth.

And Ananias, the priest, commanded those who stood by his side, to smite Paul 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?

And Paul said to him: God is here-after to smite thee, thou Whited Wall! For, sittest thou judging me agreeably to law, while thou transgressest the law, and commandest to smite me?

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

And those standing by, said to him: Dost thou reproach the priest of God!

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.

Paul said to them: I was not aware, my brethren, that he was the priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not curse 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.

And, as Paul knew that a part of the people were of the Sadducees, and a part of the Pharisees, he cried out, in the assembly: Men, my brethren; I am a Pharisee the son of a Pharisee; and for the hope of the resurrection of the dead, I am judged.

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 said this, the Pharisees and Sadducees fell upon one another, and the people were 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, nor angels, nor a spirit: but the Pharisees confess all these.

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 was great vociferation. And some Scribes of the party of the Pharisees rose up, and contended with them, and said. We have found nothing evil in this man: for if a spirit or an angel hath conversed with him, what is there in that?

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, as there was great commotion among them, the Chiliarch was afraid lest they should tear Paul in pieces. And he sent Romans, to go and pluck him from their midst, and 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 when night came, our Lord appeared to Paul, and said to him: Be strong; for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so also art thou to testify 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 morning, several of the Jews assembled together, and bound themselves by imprecations that they would neither eat nor drink until they had slain Paul.

13 And they were more than forty who had joined together in this oath;

And they who had established this compact by oath, were more than forty persons.

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 went to the priests and Elders, and said: We have bound ourselves by imprecations, that we will taste of nothing, until we shall 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.

And now, do ye and the chiefs of the congregation request of the Chiliarch, that he would bring him unto you, as if ye were desirous to investigate truly his conduct: and we are prepared to slay him, ere he shall come to you.

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 the son of Paul's sister, heard of this plot: and he went into the castle, and informed 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.

And Paul sent and called one of the centurions, and said to him: Conduct this youth to the Chiliarch; for he hath something 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.

And the centurion took the young man, and introduced him to the Chiliarch, and said: Paul the prisoner called me, and requested me to bring this youth to thee, for he hath something to tell 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?

And the Chiliarch took the young man by his hand, and led him one side, and asked him: What hast thou 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 the young man said to him: The Jews have projected to ask thee to bring down Paul to-morrow to their assembly, as if wishing to learn something more from him.

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 be not thou persuaded by them: for, lo, more than forty persons of them watch for him in ambush, and have bound themselves by imprecations, that they will neither eat nor drink until they shall have slain him: and lo, they are prepared, and are waiting for thy promise

22 The chiliarch then dismissed the youth, commanding [him], Utter to no one that thou hast represented these things to me.

And the Chiliarch dismissed the young man, after charging him: Let no man know, that thou hast showed me these things.

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 two centurions, and said to them: Go and prepare two hundred Romans to go to Caesarea, and seventy horsemen, and shooters with the right hand two hundred; and let them set out 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 also a saddle beast, that they may set Paul on it, and carry him safely to Felix the governor.

25 having written a letter, couched in this form:

And he wrote a letter and gave them, in which was, thus:

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

Claudius Lysias to the excellent governor Felix; 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.

The Jews seized this man, in order to kill him; but I came with Romans, and rescued him, when I learned 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 as I wished to know the offence, for which they criminated him, I brought him to their assembly.

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.

And I found, that it was about questions of their law they accused him, and that an offence worthy of bonds or of death, was not upon him.

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 the wiles of a plot formed by the Jews against him came to my knowledge, I forthwith sent him to thee. And I have directed his accusers, to go and contend with him, before thee. Farewell.

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

Then the Romans, as they had been commanded, took Paul by night, and brought him to the city of Antipatris.

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

And the next day, the horsemen dismissed the footmen their associates, that they might return to the castle.

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

And they brought him to Caesarea: and they delivered the letter to the governor, and set Paul before him.

34 And having read [it], and asked of what eparchy he was, and learned that [he was] of Cilicia,

And when he had read the letter, he asked him of what province he was? And when he learned 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.

he said to him: I will give thee audience, when thy accusers arrive. And he ordered him to be kept in the Praetorium of Herod.