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.

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

2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that 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 shall smite thee, [thou] whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?

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 And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God’s high priest?

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

5 Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the 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 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.

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 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension 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 that there is no resurrection, neither 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 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 or an angel hath spoken to him, 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 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.

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 cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

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 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.

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

Now there were more than forty who formed this 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.

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 ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, 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 And when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and 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 called one of the centurions unto [him], and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell 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 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 thee, who hath something to say unto 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 Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went [with him] aside privately, and asked [him], What is that thou hast to tell 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 to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly.

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 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 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 So the chief captain [then] let the young man depart, and charged [him, See thou] tell no man that thou hast shewed 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 he called unto [him] two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Cæsarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, 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 [them] beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring [him] safe unto 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 after this manner:

He wrote a letter with this content:

26 Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix [sendeth] greeting.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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