Acts 23

1 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.

Paul fixed his eyes on the Council, and began: “Brothers, for my part, I have always ordered my life before God, with a clear conscience, up to this very day.”

2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to strike him on the mouth.

At this, the high priest Ananias ordered the men standing near to strike him on the mouth;

3 Then said Paul unto him, God shall strike you, you whitewashed wall: for sit you to judge me after the law, and command me to be smitten contrary to the law?

Paul turned to him and said: “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting there to try me in accordance with law, and yet, in defiance of law, order me to be struck?”

4 And they that stood by said, Revile you God's high priest?

The people standing near said to Paul, “Do you know that you are insulting God’s high priest?”

5 Then said Paul, I know not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people.

“I did not know, brothers, that it was the high priest,” said Paul, “for scripture says – ‘Of the ruler of your people you should speak no ill’.”

6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

Noticing that some of those present were Sadducees and others Pharisees, Paul called out in the Council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee and a son of Pharisees. It is on the question of hope for the dead and of their resurrection that I am on my trial.”

7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.

As soon as he said this, a dispute arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and there was a sharp division of opinion among those present.

8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: (pneuma) but the Pharisees confess both.

(For Sadducees say there is no such thing as a resurrection, and that there is neither angel nor spirit, while Pharisees believe in both.)

9 And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit (pneuma) or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God.

So a great uproar ensued, and some of the Teachers of the Law belonging to the Pharisees’ party stood up and hotly protested, “We find nothing whatever wrong in this man. Suppose a spirit did speak to him, or an angel…”

10 And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.

The dispute was becoming so violent, that the commanding officer, fearing that Paul would be torn in pieces between them, ordered the Guard to go down and rescue him from them, and take him into the Fort.

11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as you have testified of me in Jerusalem, so must you bear witness also at Rome.

That night the Lord came and stood by Paul, and said, “Courage! You have borne witness for me in Jerusalem and you must bear witness in Rome also.”

12 And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

In the morning some Jewish men combined together, and took an oath that they would not eat or drink until they had killed Paul.

13 And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.

There were more than forty in the plot;

14 And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.

and they went to the chief priests and the elders, and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to touch food until we have killed Paul.

15 Now therefore all of you with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you tomorrow, as though all of you would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, before even he comes near, are ready to kill him.

So we want you now, with the consent of the Council, to suggest to the commanding officer that he should bring Paul down before you, as though you intended to go more fully into his case; but, before he comes here, we will be ready to make away with him.”

16 And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.

However, the son of Paul’s sister, hearing of the plot, went to the Fort, and on being admitted, told Paul about it.

17 Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he has a certain thing to tell him.

Paul called one of the garrison centurion and asked him to take the lad to the commanding officer, as he had something to tell him.

18 So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto you, who has something to say unto you.

The centurion went with the lad to the commanding officer, and said, “The prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this lad to you, as he has something to tell you.”

19 Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that you have to tell me?

The commanding officer took the lad by the hand, and, stepping aside, asked what it was he had to tell him.

20 And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire you that you would bring down Paul tomorrow into the council, as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly.

“Some men have agreed,” answered the lad, “to ask you to bring Paul down before the Council tomorrow, on the plea of your making further inquiry into his case.

21 But do not you yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from you.

But do not let them persuade you, for more than forty of them are lying in wait for him, who have taken an oath that they will not eat or drink, until they have made away with him; and they are at this very moment in readiness, counting on your promise.”

22 So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See you tell no man that you have showed these things to me.

The commanding officer then dismissed the lad, cautioning him not to mention to anybody that he had given him that information.

23 And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;

Then he called two Captains, and ordered them to have two hundred soldiers ready to go to Caesarea, as well as seventy troopers and two hundred lancers, by nine o’clock that night,

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

and to have horses ready for Paul to ride, so that they might take him safely to Felix, the Governor.

25 And he wrote a letter after this manner:

He also wrote a letter along these lines:

26 Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sends greeting.

‘Claudius Lysias sends his compliments to His Excellency Felix the Governor.

27 This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.

The man whom I send with this had been seized by some Jews, and was on the point of being killed by them, when I came upon them with the force under my command, and rescued him, as I learned that he was a Roman citizen.

28 And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:

Wanting to know exactly the ground of the charges they made against him, I brought him before their Council,

29 Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.

when I found that their charges were connected with questions of their own Law, and that there was nothing alleged involving either death or imprisonment.

30 And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent immediately to you, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before you what they had against him. Farewell.

Having, however, information of a plot against the man, which was about to be put into execution, I am sending him to you at once, and I have also directed his accusers to prosecute him before you.’

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

The soldiers, in accordance with their orders, took charge of Paul and conducted him by night to Antipatris;

32 On the next day they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:

and on the next day, leaving the troopers to go on with him, they returned to the Fort.

33 Who, when they came to Caesarea and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.

On arriving at Caesarea, the troopers delivered the letter to the Governor, and brought Paul before him.

34 And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia;

As soon as Felix had read the letter, he enquired to what province Paul belonged, and, learning that he came from Cilicia, he said,

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

“I will hear all you have to say as soon as your accusers have arrived.” And he ordered Paul to be kept under guard in Herod’s Government house.