Acts 23

1 With a stedfast gaze at the Sanhedrin, Paul said, "Brothers, I have lived with a good conscience before God to this day."

And Paul, looking the sanhedrim in the face, said, Men, brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God unto this day.

2 Then the High Priest Ananias ordered those who stood near Paul to strike him on the mouth.

And the high priest Ananias commanded those standing near him to smite him in the mouth.

3 "You whited sepulcher," exclaimed Paul, "God will strike you! You are sitting there to judge me according to the law, are you? And do you command me to be struck, contrary to the Law?"

Then Paul said to him, God is about to smite thee, thou whitewashed wall: indeed thou art sitting judging me according to the law, and dost thou command me to be smitten contrary to the law?

4 "Do you rail at God’s high priest?" said the bystanders.

And those standing by said, Do you revile the high priest of God?

5 "Brothers, I did not know that he was the high priest," exclaimed Paul, "for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of a ruler of my people."

And Paul said, Brethren, I did not know that he is the high priest; for it is written, You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people.

6 Then perceiving that half the Sanhedrin were Sadducees and the other half Pharisee, he cried out in the Sanhedrin. "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees! It is for the hope of the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial!"

And Paul knowing that one part of them belongs to the Sadducees, and another to the Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men, brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of the Pharisees: concerning the hope and the resurrection of the dead I am judged.

7 When he said this, there arose a quarrel between the Pharisees and Sadducees; the meeting was divided.

And he speaking this, there was a dissension of the Pharisees and Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.

8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel nor spirit; the Pharisees affirm them all.

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

9 Then a great clamor arose; some of the scribes who belonged to the Pharisaic party stood up, and contended. "We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel?"

And there was a great clamor: and certain ones of the scribes on the part of the Pharisees, rising up, continued to strive, saying, We find nothing evil in this man: but has a spirit or an angel spoken to him?

10 But when the dissension became violent, the tribune, fearing that they would tear Paul in pieces, ordered the troops to march down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks.

And the dissension being great, the chiliarch fearing lest Paul may be torn to pieces by them, commanded the army, having gone down, to take him from their midst, and lead him into the castle.

11 And the following night the Lord stood by him and said. "Be of good courage; for as you have borne faithful witness concerning me at Jerusalem, so you must testify at Rome also."

And on the following night, the Lord standing over him, said, Take courage: for as thou hast testified to the things concerning me in Jerusalem, so it behooveth thee also to testify to me in Rome.

12 When day dawned the Jews made a conspiracy, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

And it being day, the Jews having formed a conspiracy, obligated themselves by an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they might kill Paul.

13 And there were more than forty who had sworn this oath.

And there were more than forty having made this plot:

14 They went to the high priests and elders, and said to them. "We have bound ourselves by a solemn oath to eat nothing until we have killed Paul.

who, having come to the chief priests and elders, said, We have anathematized ourselves with an anathema, to taste nothing until we may kill Paul.

15 "Now do you and the Sanhedrin ask the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you would judge his case more exactly; and we are ready to kill him, before he comes near the place."

Now therefore do you appeal to the chiliarch along with the sanhedrim, that he may lead him down to you, as about to investigate matters concerning him more thoroughly: and we are ready to kill him before he comes nigh.

16 But Paul’s sister’s son heard of their intended attack, and he went and got into the barracks, and told Paul.

And the son of Paul's sister, having heard of ambuscade, coming and entering into the castle, reported it to Paul.

17 And Paul called one of the centurions, and said, "Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to tell him."

And Paul, having called one of the centurions, said, Lead this young man to the chiliarch: for he has something to tell him.

18 So he took him, and brought his to the tribune, and said, "Paul, the prisoner, called me to him, and begged me to bring this young man to you, because he has something to tell you."

Then indeed taking him, he led him to the chiliarch, and says, Paul the prisoner, having called me, requested me to lead this young man to you, having something to tell you.

19 And the tribune took him by the hand, and going aside, asked him privately, "What is it that you have to tell me?"

And the chiliarch taking him by the hand, and having gone away privately, asked him, What is that which you have to tell me?

20 "The Jews," he answered, "have agreed to ask you to bring down Paul tomorrow to the Sanhedrin, as though they wish to examine his case in detail.

And he said, The Jews have entered into an agreement to ask you that to-morrow you may lead Paul to the sanhedrim, as about to make inquiry as to something more definite concerning him.

21 "Now do not let them persuade, for more than forty men are lying in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse, not to eat nor drink until they have killed him; even now they are all ready, awaiting your consent."

Therefore do not be persuaded by them: for more than forty of them lie in wait for him, who have obligated themselves by an oath, neither to eat nor drink until they may kill him: and now they are ready, awaiting the promise from you.

22 So the tribune sent the young man home with the injunction, "Tell no man that you have given me this information."

Then indeed the chiliarch sent away the young man, having commanded him to Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.

23 Then he called two centurions to him and said. "Get ready by nine o’clock tonight two hundred infantry to march as far as Caesarea, and also seventy troopers and two hundred spearmen."

And having called a certain two of the centurions, he said, Get ready two hundred soldiers that they may go unto Caesarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen, from the third hour of the night;

24 He further ordered them to provide horses on which to mount Paul, so as to bring him safely to Felix, the governor.

and prepare beasts of burden, that, having carried away Paul, you may deliver him safe to Felix the governor.

25 He also wrote a letter in the following terms.

Writing a letter having this form:

26 "Claudius Lysais unto the Most Excellent Governor Felix, greeting.

Claudius Lysias to the most noble governor Felix, greeting.

27 "This man Paul had been seized by the Jews, and was about to be killed by them, when I came upon them with the troops, and rescued him, as I had learned that he was a Roman citizen.

This man, having been taken by the Jews, and being about to be put to death by them, having interposed with my army, I took out of their hands, having learned that he is a Roman:

28 "Anxious to find out why they had accused him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin.

and wishing to know the cause on account of which they clamored against him, I led him into their sanhedrim:

29 "Here I learned that he was accused about questions of their law, but was not charged with anything worthy of death or imprisonment.

whom I found accused concerning questions of their law, having no charge worthy of death or bonds.

30 "Now when I received information that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him at once to you, charging his accusers also to speak against him before you."

And a plot from them being revealed to me to be against the man, I sent him to thee, having commanded his accusers also to speak in thy presence.

31 So the soldiers took Paul, as they were bid, and brought him by night to Antipatris.

Then indeed the soldiers, according to that which had been commanded them, taking Paul led him by night to Antipatris:

32 Next day the infantry returned to the barracks, leaving the troopers to ride on with him.

And on the following day letting the cavalry go on with him, they returned to the castle.

33 They reached Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, and also presented Paul before him.

Who, having come into Caesarea, and delivered the letter to the governor, also committed Paul to him.

34 After reading the letter, he asked to what province he belonged, and when he understood that he was of Cilicia, he said,

And having read, and made inquiry of what jurisdiction,

35 "I will hear your case when your accusers also are come." And he ordered him to be kept in custody in Herod’s palace.

and ascertaining that he is from Cilicia, said, I will hear thee, when thy accusers may also be present, having commanded that he should be kept in Herod's judgment hall.