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.

Then Paul, fixing a steady gaze on the Sanhedrin, said, "Brethren, it is with a perfectly clear conscience that I have discharged my duties before God up to this day."

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

On hearing this the High Priest Ananias ordered those who were standing 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?

"Before long," exclaimed Paul, "God will strike you, you white-washed wall! Are you sitting there to judge me in accordance with the Law, and do you yourself actually break the Law by ordering me to be struck?"

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

"Do you rail at God's High Priest?" cried the men who stood by him.

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.

"I did not know, brethren," replied Paul, "that he was the High Priest; for it is written, 'Thou shalt not speak evil of a ruler of Thy 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.

Noticing, however, that the Sanhedrin consisted partly of Sadducees and partly of Pharisees, he called out loudly among them, "Brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees. It is because of my hope of a resurrection of the dead that I am on my trial."

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

These words of his caused an angry dispute between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly took different sides.

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

For the Sadducees maintain that there is no resurrection, and neither angel nor spirit; but the Pharisees acknowledge the existence of both.

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 there arose a great uproar; and some of the Scribes belonging to the sect of the Pharisees sprang to their feet and fiercely contended, saying, "We find no harm in the 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 struggle was becoming violent, the Tribune, fearing that Paul would be torn to pieces by the people, ordered the troops to go down and take him from among them by force 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.

The following night the Lord came and stood at Paul's side, and said, "Be of good courage, for as you have borne faithful witness 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.

Now, when daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and solemnly swore not to eat or drink till they had killed Paul.

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

There were more than forty of them who bound themselves by 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 under a heavy curse to take no food till 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 you and the Sanhedrin should make representations to the Tribune for him to bring him down to you, under the impression that you intend to inquire more minutely about him; and we are prepared to assassinate 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 the intended attack upon him. So he came and went into the barracks and told Paul about it;

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 Captains and said, "Take this young man to the Tribune, for he has information to give 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 him to the Tribune, and said, "Paul, the prisoner, called me to him and begged me to bring this youth to you, because 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?

Then the Tribune, taking him by the arm, withdrew out of the hearing of others and asked him, "What have you 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 replied, "have agreed to request you to bring Paul down to the Sanhedrin to-morrow for the purpose of making yourself more accurately acquainted with the 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.

I beg you not to comply; for more than forty men among them are lying in wait for him, who have solemnly vowed that they will neither eat nor drink till they have assassinated him; and even now they are ready, in anticipation of receiving that promise of 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 Tribune sent the youth home, cautioning him. "Do not let any one know that you have given me this information," he said.

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, calling to him two of the Captains, he gave his orders. "Get ready two hundred men," he said, "to march to Caesarea, with seventy cavalry and two hundred light infantry, starting at nine o'clock to-night."

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

He further told them to provide horses to mount Paul on, 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 of which these were the contents:

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

"Claudius Lysias to his Excellency, Felix the Governor: all good wishes.

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 they were on the point of killing him, when I came upon them with the troops and rescued him, for I had been informed 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.

And, wishing to know with certainty the offense of which they were accusing him, I brought him down into 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.

and I discovered that the charge had to do with questions of their Law, but that he was accused of nothing for which he deserves 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.

But now that I have received information of an intended attack upon him, I immediately send him to you, directing his accusers also to state before you the case they have against him."

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

So, in obedience to their orders, the soldiers took Paul and brought him by night as far as Antipatris.

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

The next day the infantry returned to the barracks, leaving the cavalry to proceed with him;

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

and, the cavalry having reached Caesarea and delivered the letter to the Governor, they brought Paul also to him.

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

Felix, after reading the letter, inquired from what province he was; and being told "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 all you have to say, when your accusers also have come." And he ordered him to be detained in custody in Herod's Palace.