Acts 23

1 And Paul having earnestly beheld the Sanhedrin, said, “Men, brothers, I have lived to God in all good conscience to this day”;

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

2 and the chief priest Ananias commanded those standing by him to strike him on the mouth,

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

3 then Paul said to him, “God is about to strike you, you whitewashed wall, and you sit judging me according to the Law, and violating law, order me to be struck!”

Then said Paul to him, God shall smite thee, thou whitewashed wall: for sittest thou to judge me according to the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?

4 And those who stood by said, “Do you revile the chief priest of God?”

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

5 And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he is chief priest, for it has been written: You will not speak evil of the ruler of your people”;

Then said Paul, I knew not, brethren, that he is the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.

6 and Paul having known that one part are Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, cried out in the Sanhedrin, “Men, brothers, I am a Pharisee—son of a Pharisee—concerning [the] hope and resurrection of [the] dead I am judged.”

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

7 And he having spoken this, there came a dissension of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees, and the crowd was divided,

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

8 for Sadducees, indeed, say there is no resurrection, nor messenger, nor spirit, but Pharisees confess both.

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

9 And there came a great cry, and the scribes of the Pharisees’ part having arisen, were striving, saying, “We find no evil in this man; and if a spirit spoke to him, or a messenger, we may not fight against God”;

And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees’ part arose, 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 a great dissension having come, the chief captain having been afraid lest Paul may be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the army, having gone down, to seize him out of their midst, and to bring [him] into the stronghold.

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

11 And on the following night, the LORD having stood by him, said, “Take courage, Paul, for as you fully testified [to] the things concerning Me at Jerusalem, so you must also testify at Rome.”

And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified concerning me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear testimony also at Rome.

12 And day having come, certain of the Jews having made a concourse, cursed themselves, saying neither to eat nor to drink until they may kill Paul;

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.

13 and they were more than forty who made this conspiracy by oath,

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

14 who having come near to the chief priests and to the elders said, “With a curse we accursed ourselves—to taste nothing until we have killed Paul;

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.

15 now, therefore, you, signify to the chief captain, with the Sanhedrin, that tomorrow he may bring him down to you, as being about to know more exactly the things concerning him; and we, before his coming near, are ready to put him to death.”

Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down to you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, before he shall come near, are ready to kill him.

16 And the son of Paul’s sister having heard of the lying in wait, having gone and entered into the stronghold, told Paul,

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

17 and Paul having called near one of the centurions, said, “Lead this young man to the chief captain, for he has something to tell him.”

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

18 He indeed, then, having taken him, brought him to the chief captain and says, “The prisoner Paul, having called me near, asked [me] to bring to you this young man, having something to say to you.”

So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me to him, and asked me to bring this young man to thee, who hath something to say to thee.

19 And the chief captain having taken him by the hand, and having withdrawn by themselves, inquired, “What is that which you have to tell me?”

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?

20 And he said, “The Jews agreed to request you, that tomorrow you may bring down Paul to the Sanhedrin, as being about to inquire something more exactly concerning him;

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 concerning him more perfectly.

21 you, therefore, may you not yield to them, for there more than forty men of them lie in wait for him, who cursed themselves—not to eat nor to drink until they kill him, and now they are ready, waiting for the promise from you.”

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

22 The chief captain, then, indeed, let the young man go, having charged [him], “Tell no one that you have shown these things to me”;

So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast shown these things to me.

23 and having called a certain two of the centurions near, he said, “Make ready two hundred soldiers, that they may go on to Caesarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen, from the third hour of the night;

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

24 also provide beasts, that, having set Paul on, they may bring him safe to Felix the governor”;

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

25 he having written a letter after this description:

And he wrote a letter after this manner:

26 “Claudius Lysias, to the most noble governor Felix, greetings:

Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.

27 This man having been taken by the Jews, and being about to be killed by them—having come with the army, I rescued him, having learned that he is a Roman;

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

28 and intending to know the cause for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin,

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

29 whom I found accused concerning questions of their law, and having no accusation worthy of death or bonds;

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.

30 and a plot having been intimated to me against this man—about to be of the Jews—I sent to you at once, having also given command to the accusers to say the things against him before you; be strong.”

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

31 Then, indeed, the soldiers according to that directed them, having taken up Paul, brought him through the night to Antipatris,

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

32 and on the next day, having permitted the horsemen to go on with him, they returned to the stronghold;

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

33 those having entered into Caesarea, and delivered the letter to the governor, also presented Paul to him.

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

34 And the governor having read [it], and inquired of what province he is, and understood that [he is] from Cilicia;

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

35 “I will hear you,” he said, “when your accusers may also have come”; he also commanded him to be kept in the Praetorium of Herod.

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