Acts 23

1 THEN Paul, looking earnestly at the sanhedrim, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience unto God even to this day.

Then Paul, looking intently at the council, said, “Men, brothers, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.”

2 Then the high-priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to smite him on the mouth.

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

3 Then said Paul unto him, God is ready to smite thee, thou whited wall: for art thou sitting to judge me according to the law, and violating that law, commandest me to be smitten?

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!”

4 Then they who stood by, said, Revilest thou God’s high-priest?

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

5 And Paul said, I had not observed, brethren, that he was high-priest: for it is written, “Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.”

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.’”

6 Now when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried in the sanhedrim, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: for the hope and resurrection of the dead am I brought to this bar.

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!”

7 So when he had said this, a great dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.

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

8 For the Sadducees say indeed, that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.

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

9 And a great clamour arose: and the scribes rising up who were of the party of the Pharisees, contended stoutly, saying, We find no fault in this man: but if a spirit have spoken to him, or an angel, let us not fight against God.

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!”

10 Then a great tumult arising, the tribune, apprehensive that Paul might be pulled in pieces by them, commanded the guard to go down, and take him by force from the midst of them, and bring him into the fortress.

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.

11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good courage, Paul: for as thou hast borne testimony of the things concerning me at Jerusalem, so must thou bear a testimony at Rome also.

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.”

12 Then as soon as it was day, some of the Jews forming a conspiracy, bound themselves under the direst imprecation, declaring that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

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.

13 Now there were more than forty who had on oath formed this conspiracy.

Now there were more than forty who formed this plot.

14 So they came to the high-priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves by the direst imprecation, to taste nothing till we have killed Paul.

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.

15 Now therefore do ye with the sanhedrim give notice to the military tribune, that to-morrow he bring him down to you, as if intending to make more accurate inquiries into the things concerning him: but we, ere he come nigh, are ready to kill him.

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.”

16 Now Paul’s sister’s son having heard of their lying in wait, came, and entering into the fortress told Paul.

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

17 Then Paul calling to him one of the centurions, said, Carry this young man to the tribune: for he hath something to communicate to him.

So Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander, because he has something to tell him.”

18 Then he took him, and brought him to the tribune, and said, The prisoner Paul calling me to him, entreated me to bring this young man to thee, having something to say to thee.

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.”

19 Hereupon the tribune taking him by the hand, and leading him aside, inquired, What is it that thou hast to communicate to me?

So taking him by the hand, the commander went aside and asked privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?”

20 And he said, The Jews have agreed together to entreat thee that to-morrow thou wouldest bring down Paul into the sanhedrim, as about to make some more accurate inquiry concerning him.

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.

21 But do not thou consent to them: for more than forty men of them are lying in wait for him, who have bound themselves under an anathema, neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now they are in readiness, waiting only to procure the promise from thee.

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.”

22 Hereupon the tribune dismissed the youth, with an injunction, not to mention it to any body that thou hast discovered these things to me.

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

23 And calling to him two certain persons of the centurions, he said, Get ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen, at the third hour of the night;

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;

24 and provide beasts, that setting Paul thereon, you may convey him safely to Felix the governor.

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

25 And he wrote a letter containing this form of words:

He wrote a letter with this content:

26 Claudius Lysias to his excellence the governor Felix, greeting.

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

27 This person had been seized by the Jews, and was ready to be slain by them: but coming on them with the guard, I rescued him out of their hands, having understood that he was a Roman citizen.

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.

28 And desirous of knowing the crime of which they accused him, I brought him down into their sanhedrim

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

29 and found him accused of some disputed points of their law; but to have no charge laid against him worthy of death or of bonds.

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

30 But it being discovered to me that a design was forming against the man’s life by the Jews, immediately I sent him to thee, commanding his accusers also to produce what they have against him before thee. Farewel.

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.”

31 Hereupon then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night unto Antipatris.

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

32 And on the morrow, leaving the horsemen to go on with him, they returned to the fortress.

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

33 So when they came to Caesarea, and had delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also to him.

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

34 Then when the governor had read it, and asked of what province he was, and understood he was of Cilicia;

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

35 I will give thee a thorough hearing, said he, when thy accusers are also come hither. And he commanded them to be kept under guard in Herod’s praetorium.

he said, “I will give you a hearing when your accusers also arrive.” And he commanded him to be guarded in Herod's Praetorium.