Acts 23

1 And Paul behelde earnestly the Councill, and sayde, Men and brethren, I haue in all good conscience serued God vntill this day.

and Paul looking earnestly at the sanhedrim, said, "Brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God even to this day:"

2 Then the hie Priest Ananias commanded them that stood by, to smite him on the mouth.

but the high priest Ananias ordered those that stood next him, to smite him on the mouth.

3 Then sayd Paul to him, God will smite thee, thou whited wall: for thou sittest to iudge me according to the Lawe, and transgressing the Lawe, commaundest thou me to be smitten?

Then said Paul to him, "God will smite thee, thou whited wall: dost thou sit to judge me according to the law, and contrary to the law commandest me to be smitten?"

4 And they that stood by, sayd, Reuilest thou Gods hie Priest?

But they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high-priest?

5 Then sayd Paul, I knewe not, brethren, that he was the hie Priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speake euill of the ruler of thy people.

And Paul said, I was not aware, brethren, that it was the high-priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.

6 But when Paul perceiued that the one part were of the Sadduces, and the other of the Pharises, hee cried in the Council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharise, the sonne of a Pharise: I am accused of the hope and resurrection of the dead.

But Paul, knowing that the one part were sadducees, and the other pharisees, cried out in the sanhedrim, "Brethren, I am a pharisee, the son of a pharisee: for the hope of a resurrection of the dead I am now prosecuted."

7 And when hee had saide this, there was a dissension betweene the Pharises and the Sadduces, so that the multitude was deuided.

Upon his saying this, there rose a contention between the pharisees and the sadducees; and the people were divided.

8 For the Sadduces say that there is no resurrection, neither Angel, nor spirit: but the Pharises confesse both.

For the sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but the pharisees acknowledge both.

9 Then there was a great crye: and the Scribes of the Pharises part rose vp, and stroue, saying, Wee finde none euill in this man: but if a spirit or an Angel hath spoken to him, let vs not fight against God.

So there was a great clamor: and the scribes that were of the party of the pharisees rose up and contended, saying, We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.

10 And when there was a great dissension, the chiefe captaine, fearing lest Paul should haue bene pulled in pieces of them, commanded the souldiers to go downe, and take him from among them, and to bring him into the castel.

But as there arose much contention, the tribune fearing least Paul should be torn in pieces by them, ordered a party of soldiers to go down, and take him by force out of the midst of them, and to bring him into the castle.

11 Nowe the night folowing, the Lord stoode by him, and saide, Be of good courage, Paul: for as thou hast testified of mee in Hierusalem, so must thou beare witnesse also at Rome.

And the following night, the Lord standing by him said, Paul, be of good courage; for as thou hast testified concerning me at Jerusalem, so must thou also bear testimony at Rome.

12 And when the day was come, certaine of the Iewes made an assemblie, and bounde themselues with a curse, saying, that they woulde neither eate nor drinke, till they had killed Paul.

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

13 And they were more then fourtie, which had made this conspiracie.

And they were more than forty that had made this oath:

14 And they came to the chiefe Priestes and Elders, and said, We haue bound our selues with a solemne curse, that wee will eate nothing, vntill we haue slaine Paul.

who came to the chief priests and the elders, and said, "We have bound ourselves by a curse to eat nothing till we have killed Paul.

15 Nowe therefore, ye and the Council signifie to the chiefe captaine, that hee bring him foorth vnto you to morow: as though you would know some thing more perfectly of him, and we, or euer he come neere, will be readie to kill him.

Now therefore do ye with the rest of the sanhedrim signify to the tribune, that he would bring him down to you to-morrow, as if you would examine more accurately some things concerning him: and we are ready to dispatch him before he come near you."

16 But when Pauls sisters sonne heard of their laying awaite, he went, and entred into the castel, and tolde Paul.

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

17 And Paul called one of the Centurions vnto him, and said, Take this yong man hence vnto the chiefe captaine: for he hath a certaine thing to shewe him.

Then Paul called one of the centurions to him, and said, Introduce this young man to the tribune; for he hath something to tell him.

18 So hee tooke him, and brought him to the chiefe captaine, and saide, Paul the prisoner called mee vnto him, and prayed mee to bring this yong man vnto thee, which hath some thing to say vnto thee.

So he took him and brought him to the tribune, and said, Paul the prisoner called me to him, and desired me to introduce this young man unto thee, as having something to say to thee.

19 Then the chiefe captaine tooke him by the hande, and went apart with him alone, and asked him, What hast thou to shewe me?

And the tribune took him by the hand, and retiring into a private apartment asked him, What is it which thou hast to tell me?

20 And he saide, The Iewes haue conspired to desire thee, that thou wouldest bring foorth Paul to morow into the Council, as though they would inquire somewhat of him more perfectly:

And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee, that thou wouldest bring down Paul to-morrow to the council, as if they would inquire something more strictly concerning him.

21 But let them not perswade thee: for there lie in waite for him of them, more then fourtie men, which haue bound themselues with a curse, that they will neither eate nor drinke, till they haue killed him: and nowe are they readie, and waite for thy promise.

But do not thou comply with them: for there lie in wait for him more than forty men of them, who have bound themselves with a curse neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him: and they are now ready, waiting for an order from thee.

22 The chiefe captaine then let the yong man depart, after hee had charged him to vtter it to no man, that he had shewed him these things.

Then the tribune dismissed the young man, charging him, Tell no one that thou hast discovered these things to me.

23 And he called vnto him two certaine Centurions, saying, Make readie two hundred souldiers, that they may go to Cæsarea, and horsemen three score and ten, and two hundred with dartes, at the thirde houre of the night.

And he called two of the centurions to him, and said, Get ready two hundred soldiers to go to Cesarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen, by the third hour of the night.

24 And let them make readie an horse, that Paul being set on, may be brought safe vnto Felix the Gouernour.

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

25 And he wrote an epistle in this maner:

And he wrote a letter to this effect:

26 Claudius Lysias vnto the most noble Gouernour Felix sendeth greeting.

Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.

27 As this man was taken of the Iewes, and shoulde haue bene killed of them, I came vpon them with the garison, and rescued him, perceiuing that he was a Romane.

This man being seized by the Jews, and about to be killed by them, I came upon them with some soldiers and rescued him: for I understand that he is a Roman.

28 And when I would haue knowen the cause, wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their Council.

But desiring to know the cause for which they accused him, I brought him down into their council:

29 There I perceiued that hee was accused of questions of their Lawe, but had no crime worthy of death, or of bondes.

and I found he was accused about questions of their law, but had no charge against him deserving death or bonds.

30 And when it was shewed me, how that the Iewes layd waite for the man, I sent him straightway to thee, and commanded his accusers to speake before thee the thinges that they had against him. Farewell.

But an ambush, which was going to be laid for the man by the Jews, being discovered to me, immediately I sent him to thee, telling his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell.

31 Then the souldiers as it was commanded them, tooke Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.

The soldiers therefore, according to the orders given them, took up Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.

32 And the next day, they left the horsemen to goe with him, and returned vnto the Castel.

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

33 Now when they came to Cæsarea, they deliuered the epistle to the Gouernour, and presented Paul also vnto him.

who, when they came into Cesarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.

34 So when the Gouernour had read it, hee asked of what prouince he was: and when he vnderstoode that he was of Cilicia,

And when the governor had read the letter, and asked of what province he was; being informed that he was of Cilicia, he said,

35 I will heare thee, said he, when thine accusers also are come, and commanded him to bee kept in Herods iudgement hall.

I will hear thee, when thine accusers are also come. And he ordered him to be kept in Herod's palace.