Acts 23
1 Then Paul, looking intently at the council, said, “Men, brothers, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.”
Paul looked directly at the Sanhedrin and said, “Brothers, I have conducted myself before God in all good conscience to this day.”
2 So the high priest Ananias commanded those standing by him to strike his mouth.
At this, the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.
3 Then Paul said to him: “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you command me to be struck contrary to the law!”
Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit here to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck.”
4 So those standing by said, “Do you reproach God's high priest?”
But those standing nearby said, “How dare you insult the high priest of God!”
5 Then Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he is high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”
“Brothers,” Paul replied, “I was not aware that he was the high priest, for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’”
6 Now when Paul perceived that one part were Pharisees and the other Sadducees, he called out in the council, “Men, brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of a Pharisee; I am being judged concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead!”
Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. It is because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”
7 When he had said this, an argument started between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.
As soon as he had said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.
8 (Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel or spirit, but Pharisees confess both.)
For the Sadducees say that there is neither a resurrection, nor angels, nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.
9 There was a great clamor, and the scribes of the Pharisee party stood up and started arguing vigorously, saying, “We find nothing wrong with this man; but if a spirit or angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God!”
A great clamor arose, and some scribes from the party of the Pharisees got up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”
10 Well the dissension became such that the commander, fearing that Paul might be torn in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and snatch him out of their midst and bring him into the barracks.
The dispute grew so violent that the commander was afraid they would tear Paul to pieces. He ordered the soldiers to go down and remove him by force and bring him into the barracks.
11 Now the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, Paul, because as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”
The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so also you must testify in Rome.”
12 And when it was day, some of the Jews formed a conspiracy by binding themselves with a curse neither to eat nor to drink until they had destroyed Paul.
When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
13 Now there were more than forty who formed this plot.
More than forty of them were involved in this plot.
14 They came to the chief priests and the elders and said: “We have bound ourselves with a terrible curse not to taste anything until we have killed Paul.
They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.
15 Now you, therefore, together with the council, explain to the commander that he should bring him down to you tomorrow, as though you are going to determine more accurately the facts in his case; but we are ready to destroy him before he comes near.”
Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him down to you on the pretext of examining his case more carefully. We are ready to kill him on the way.”
16 But when Paul's sister's son heard about the ambush, he went and entered the barracks and told Paul.
But when the son of Paul’s sister heard about the plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.
17 So Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander, because he has something to tell him.”
Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.”
18 So he took him and brought him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner called me over and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.”
So the centurion took him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner sent and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.”
19 So taking him by the hand, the commander went aside and asked privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?”
The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside, and asked, “What do you need to tell me?”
20 So he said: “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow as though intending to inquire somewhat more accurately concerning him.
He answered, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul to the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of acquiring more information about him.
21 But you should not believe them, because more than forty of their men are lying in wait for him, who have bound themselves with a curse neither to eat not to drink until they have destroyed him; even now they are ready, looking for your promise.”
Do not let them persuade you, because more than forty men are waiting to ambush him. They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him; they are ready now, awaiting your consent.”
22 Then the commander dismissed the young man commanding, “Don't tell anyone that you have revealed these things to me!”
So the commander dismissed the young man and instructed him, “Do not tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”
23 Summoning two of the centurions he said: “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at the third hour of the night;
Then he called two of his centurions and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea in the third hour of the night.
24 and provide mounts to set Paul on so as to deliver him safely to Felix, the governor.”
Provide mounts for Paul to take him safely to Governor Felix.”
25 He wrote a letter with this content:
And he wrote the following letter:
26 “Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings.
Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings.
27 This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them; but I came with the troops and rescued him, having learned that he is a Roman.
This man was seized by the Jews, and they were about to kill him when I came with my troops to rescue him. For I had learned that he is a Roman citizen,
28 And wanting to know the reason they were accusing him, I took him down to their council.
and since I wanted to understand their charges against him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin.
29 I found that he was being accused about questions of their law, but there was no accusation worthy of death or bonds.
I found that the accusation involved questions about their own law, but there was no charge worthy of death or imprisonment.
30 When I was told that the Jews were about to execute a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, also directing his accusers to state the charges against him before you. Farewell.”
When I was informed that there was a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also instructed his accusers to present their case against him before you.
31 So the soldiers, according to their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.
So the soldiers followed their orders and brought Paul by night to Antipatris.
32 The next day they left the horsemen to go on with him and returned to the barracks.
The next day they returned to the barracks and let the horsemen go on with him.
33 When they entered Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.
When the horsemen arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and presented Paul to him.
34 When the governor read it, he asked what province he was from; learning that it was Cilicia,
The governor read the letter and asked what province Paul was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,
35 he said, “I will give you a hearing when your accusers also arrive.” And he commanded him to be guarded in Herod's Praetorium.
he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers arrive.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s Praetorium.
