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.”

And Paul, looking attentively on the Sanhedrim, said, Brethren, I have, even to this day, lived in all good conscience toward God--

2 So the high priest Ananias commanded those standing by him to strike his mouth.

And Ananias, the high priest, commanded those that stood by him, 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 is about to strike you, you whited wall! For do you sit to judge me according to the law, and yet, in violation of the law, command me to be struck?

4 So those standing by said, “Do you reproach God's high priest?”

But they, that stood by, said, Do you revile 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.’”

And Paul said, Brethren, I was not aware that it was the high priest; for it is written, "You shall not speak evil of 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, perceiving that the one part was Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, cried out, in the Sanhedrim, Brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; for the hope and resurrection of the dead, I am brought into judgment.

7 When he had said this, an argument started between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.

And on speaking this, there was a contention between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the multitude was divided.

8 (Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel or spirit, but Pharisees confess both.)

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

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!”

And there was a great clamor; and the scribes who were on the side of the Pharisees, arose and contended, saying, We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit, or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God.

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.

And as a great disturbance arose, the commander, fearing lest Paul should be torn in pieces by them, ordered the soldiers to go down, and take him by force from the midst of them, and to bring him into the castle.

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.”

And in the following night, the Lord, standing by him, said, Be of good courage, Paul; for as you have testified the things concerning me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear testimony 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.

And when it was day, some of the Jews, entering into a conspiracy, bound themselves with a curse; saying, that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

13 Now there were more than forty who formed this plot.

And they were more than forty, who had made this agreement.

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.

And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves m by a solemn anathema, not to taste anything till we have slain 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, therefore, do you, with the Sanhedrim, signify to the commander, that he bring him down to you, as if you would more accurately discuss what relates to him; and we are ready to kill him, before he can come near you.

16 But when Paul's sister's son heard about the ambush, he went and entered the barracks and told Paul.

But Paul's sister's son, hearing of the ambush, came, and entering into the castle, 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.”

And Paul, calling one of the centurions to him, said, Conduct this young man to the commander, for 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.”

He, therefore, took and led him to the commander, and said, Paul, the prisoner, calling me to him, desired that I would bring to you this young man, who 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?”

And the commander, taking him by the hand, and leading him into a retired place, inquired of him, What is it that you have 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.

And he said, The Jews have agreed together to ask you, that you bring down Paul to-morrow to the Sanhedrim, as if they would inquire something more accurately concerning 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.”

But do not be prevailed on by them; for there are more than forty of them, that lie in ambush for him, who have bound themselves by a curse, neither to eat nor drink, till they have killed him; and they are now ready, expecting this promise from you.

22 Then the commander dismissed the young man commanding, “Don't tell anyone that you have revealed these things to me!”

The commander, therefore, dismissed the young man, with a charge, Be sure you tell no man, that you have discovered these things 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;

And he called too him two of the centurions, and said, Prepare two hundred soldiers, to go to Cesarea; and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen; by the third hour of the night;

24 and provide mounts to set Paul on so as to deliver him safely to Felix, the governor.”

and provide beasts to set Paul upon, and conduct him in safety to Felix, the governor.

25 He wrote a letter with this content:

And he wrote an epistle, the contents of which are in this copy:

26 “Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings.

Claudius Lysias, to his excellency, Felix, the governor, sends greeting:

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 had like to have been slain by them; when I came with a party of soldiers, and rescued him: and I have since learned, that he is a Roman.

28 And wanting to know the reason they were accusing him, I took him down to their council.

And, desiring to know the crime of which they accused him, I brought him before the Sanhedrim,

29 I found that he was being accused about questions of their law, but there was no accusation worthy of death or bonds.

whom I found to be accused concerning questions of their law, but to have nothing charged upon him worthy of death, or of bonds.

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.”

But when it was signified to me, that an ambush would be laid for the man, by the Jews, I immediately sent him to you, commanding his accusers also to declare before you, what they have against him. Farewell.

31 So the soldiers, according to their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.

The soldiers, therefore, as it was commanded them, taking up Paul, brought him by night to Antipatris.

32 The next day they left the horsemen to go on with him and returned to the barracks.

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

33 When they entered Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.

who, entering into Cesarea, and delivering the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.

34 When the governor read it, he asked what province he was from; learning that it was Cilicia,

And when he had read the letter, he asked of what province he was: and being informed that he was of 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.

I will hear you, said he, when your accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's pretorium.