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.

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

2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him 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 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?

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

Those who stood by said, “Is this how you insult God's high priest?”

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.

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 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.

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

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?

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 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.

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 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.

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 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 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 And they were more than forty men that had made this conspiracy.

There were more than forty men who formed this conspiracy.

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

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

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 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 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 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.

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 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 chief captain let the young man go, after instructing him, “Tell no one that you have said these things to me.”

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

He also ordered them to provide animals which Paul could ride, and to take 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:

Then he wrote a letter like this:

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

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

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

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

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.

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 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.

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

So the soldiers obeyed their orders. They took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.

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

On the next day, most of the soldiers left the horsemen to go with him and they themselves returned to the fortress.

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

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

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

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

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

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