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.

Paul, looking steadfastly at the council, said, "Brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day."

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

The high priest, Ananias, commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the 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. Do you sit to judge me according to the Law, and command me to be struck contrary to the law?"

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

Those who stood by said, "Do you malign 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.”

Paul said, "I did not know, brothers, that he was high priest. For it is written, 'You must 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.

But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he shouted in the council, "Men and brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. Concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged."

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 arose between the Pharisees and 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.

For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess all of these.

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.

A great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees part stood up, and contended, saying, "We find no evil in this man. What if a spirit spoke to him, or an angel?"

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.

When a great argument arose, the commanding officer, fearing that Paul would be torn in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, 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.

The following night, the Lord stood by him, and said, "Cheer up, for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so you must testify also at 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.

When it was day, the Jews formed a conspiracy, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.

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

There were more than forty people who had made this conspiracy.

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 under a great curse, to taste nothing 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 therefore, you with the council inform the commanding officer that he should bring him down to you, as though you were going to judge his case more exactly. We are ready to kill 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 Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, and he came and entered into 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.

Paul summoned one of the centurions, and said, "Bring this young man to the commanding officer, for 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 commanding officer, and said, "Paul, the prisoner, summoned me and asked me to bring this young man to you, who 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?

The commanding officer took him by the hand, and going aside, asked him 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.

And he said, "The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they intended to inquire somewhat more thoroughly 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.

Therefore do not yield to them, for more than forty men lie in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse neither to eat nor to drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, looking for the promise from you."

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.

So the commanding officer let the young man go, charging him, "Tell no one 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;

He called to himself two of the centurions, and said, "Prepare two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, with seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen, at nine tonight."

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

He asked them to provide animals, that they might set Paul on one, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.

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

He wrote a letter like this:

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, when I came with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.

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

Desiring to know the cause why they accused him, I brought 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 him to be accused about questions of their law, but not to be charged with anything worthy of death or of imprisonment.

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 there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you immediately, charging his accusers also to bring their accusations 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, carrying out 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.

But on the next day they left the horsemen to go 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 came to 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 had read it, he asked what province he was from. When he understood that he was from Cilicia, he said,

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.

"I will hear you fully when your accusers also arrive." He commanded that he be kept in Herod's palace.