Acts 23

1 And Paul looking upon the council, said: Men, brethren, I have conversed with all good conscience before God until this present day.

With a stedfast gaze at the Sanhedrin, Paul said, "Brothers, I have lived with a good conscience before God to this day."

2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to strike him on the mouth.

Then the High Priest Ananias ordered those who stood near Paul to strike him on the mouth.

3 Then Paul said to him: God shall strike thee, thou whited wall. For sittest thou to judge me according to the law, and contrary to the law commandest me to be struck?

"You whited sepulcher," exclaimed Paul, "God will strike you! You are sitting there to judge me according to the law, are you? And do you command me to be struck, contrary to the Law?"

4 And they that stood by said: Dost thou revile the high priest of God?

"Do you rail at God’s high priest?" said the bystanders.

5 And Paul said: I knew not, brethren, that he is the high priest. For it is written: Thou shalt not speak evil of the prince of thy people.

"Brothers, I did not know that he was the high priest," exclaimed Paul, "for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of a ruler of my people."

6 And Paul knowing that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, cried out in the council: Men, brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees: concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

Then perceiving that half the Sanhedrin were Sadducees and the other half Pharisee, he cried out in the Sanhedrin. "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees! It is for the hope of the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial!"

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

When he said this, there arose a quarrel between the Pharisees and Sadducees; the meeting was divided.

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

For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel nor spirit; the Pharisees affirm them all.

9 And there arose a great cry. And some of the Pharisees rising up, strove, saying: We find no evil in this man. What if a spirit hath spoken to him, or an angel?

Then a great clamor arose; some of the scribes who belonged to the Pharisaic party stood up, and contended. "We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel?"

10 And when there arose a great dissension, the tribune fearing lest Paul should be pulled in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.

But when the dissension became violent, the tribune, fearing that they would tear Paul in pieces, ordered the troops to march down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks.

11 And the night following the Lord standing by him, said: Be constant; for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

And the following night the Lord stood by him and said. "Be of good courage; for as you have borne faithful witness concerning me at Jerusalem, so you must testify at Rome also."

12 And when day was come, some of the Jews gathered together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying, that they would neither eat, nor drink, till they killed Paul.

When day dawned the Jews made a conspiracy, 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 men that had made this conspiracy.

And there were more than forty who had sworn this oath.

14 Who came to the chief priests and the ancients, and said: We have bound ourselves under a great curse that we will eat nothing till we have slain Paul.

They went to the high priests and elders, and said to them. "We have bound ourselves by a solemn oath to eat nothing until we have killed Paul.

15 Now therefore do you with the council signify to the tribune, that he bring him forth to you, as if you meant to know something more certain touching him. And we, before he come near, are ready to kill him.

"Now do you and the Sanhedrin ask the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you would judge his case more exactly; and we are ready to kill him, before he comes near the place."

16 Which when Paul’s sister’s son had heard, of their lying in wait, he came and entered into the castle and told Paul.

But Paul’s sister’s son heard of their intended attack, and he went and got into the barracks, and told Paul.

17 And Paul, calling to him one of the centurions, said: Bring this young man to the tribune, for he hath some thing to tell him.

And Paul called one of the centurions, and said, "Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to tell him."

18 And he taking him, brought him to the tribune, and said: Paul, the prisoner, desired me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath some thing to say to thee.

So he took him, and brought his to the tribune, and said, "Paul, the prisoner, called me to him, and begged me to bring this young man to you, because he has something to tell you."

19 And the tribune taking him by the hand, went aside with him privately, and asked him: What is it that thou hast to tell me?

And the tribune took him by the hand, and going aside, asked him privately, "What is it that you have to tell me?"

20 And he said: The Jews have agreed to desire thee, that thou wouldst bring forth Paul tomorrow into the council, as if they meant to inquire some thing more certain touching him.

"The Jews," he answered, "have agreed to ask you to bring down Paul tomorrow to the Sanhedrin, as though they wish to examine his case in detail.

21 But do not thou give credit to them; for there lie in wait for him more than forty men of them, who have bound themselves by oath neither to eat, nor to drink, till they have killed him: and they are now ready, looking for a promise from thee.

"Now do not let them persuade, for more than forty men are lying in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse, not to eat nor drink until they have killed him; even now they are all ready, awaiting your consent."

22 The tribune therefore dismissed the young man, charging him that he should tell no man, that he had made known these things unto him.

So the tribune sent the young man home with the injunction, "Tell no man that you have given me this information."

23 Then having called two centurions, he said to them: Make ready two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen for the third hour of the night:

Then he called two centurions to him and said. "Get ready by nine o’clock tonight two hundred infantry to march as far as Caesarea, and also seventy troopers and two hundred spearmen."

24 And provide beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe to Felix the governor.

He further ordered them to provide horses on which to mount Paul, so as to bring him safely to Felix, the governor.

25 (For he feared lest perhaps the Jews might take him away by force and kill him, and he should afterwards be slandered, as if he was to take money.) And he wrote a letter after this manner:

He also wrote a letter in the following terms.

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

"Claudius Lysais unto the Most Excellent Governor Felix, greeting.

27 This man being taken by the Jews, and ready to be killed by them, I rescued coming in with an army, understanding that he is a Roman:

"This man Paul had been seized by the Jews, and was about to be killed by them, when I came upon them with the troops, and rescued him, as I had learned that he was a Roman citizen.

28 And meaning to know the cause which they objected unto him, I brought him forth into their council.

"Anxious to find out why they had accused him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin.

29 Whom I found to be accused concerning questions of their law; but having nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bands.

"Here I learned that he was accused about questions of their law, but was not charged with anything worthy of death or imprisonment.

30 And when I was told of ambushes that they had prepared for him, I sent him to thee, signifying also to his accusers to plead before thee. Farewell.

"Now when I received information that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him at once to you, charging his accusers also to speak against him before you."

31 Then the soldiers, according as it was commanded them, taking Paul, brought him by night to Antipatris.

So the soldiers took Paul, as they were bid, and brought him by night to Antipatris.

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

Next day the infantry returned to the barracks, leaving the troopers to ride on with him.

33 Who, when they were come to Caesarea, and had delivered the letter to the governor, did also present Paul before him.

They reached Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, and also presented Paul before him.

34 And when he had read it, and had asked of what province he was, and understood that he was of Cilicia;

After reading the letter, he asked to what province he belonged, and when he understood that he was of Cilicia, he said,

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

"I will hear your case when your accusers also are come." And he ordered him to be kept in custody in Herod’s palace.