Acts 23

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

And Paul looking earnestly upon the council, said: Brethren! I have ordered my life in all good conscience before God to this day.

2 The high priest, Ananias, commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.

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

3 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?"

Then Paul said to him, God will smite thee, thou whited wall! Art thou then sitting to judge me according to the law, and dost thou command me to be smitten contrary to the law?

4 Those who stood by said, "Do you malign God's high priest?"

And they that stood by said, Dost thou revile God's high-priest?

5 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.'"

Then said Paul, I knew not, brethren, that he was high-priest; for it is written, “Thou shalt not speak evil of a ruler of thy people.”

6 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."

But Paul, perceiving one part to be Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, cried aloud in the council, Brethren! I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees; for the hope of the resurrection of the dead I am now tried.

7 When he had said this, an argument arose between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.

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

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

For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees affirm both.

9 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?"

And there arose a great clamor; and scribes of the party of the Pharisees arose, and contended, saying, We find nothing amiss in this man; but if a spirit hath spoken to him or an angel—

10 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.

And a great dissension arising, the chief captain, fearing that Paul would be torn in pieces by them, ordered the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the castle.

11 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."

And the night following, the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good courage; for as thou hast borne witness concerning me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

12 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.

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

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

And there were more than forty who took this oath together.

14 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.

And 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, 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."

Now therefore do ye with the council give notice to the chief captain, that he bring him down to you, as though ye were about to examine his case more thoroughly; and we are ready to kill him before he cometh near you.

16 But Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, and he came and entered into the barracks and told Paul.

But Paul's sister's son hearing of the plot went, and entering the castle, told Paul.

17 Paul summoned one of the centurions, and said, "Bring this young man to the commanding officer, for he has something to tell him."

Then Paul called one of the centurions to him, and said, Take this young man to the chief captain; for he hath something to tell him.

18 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."

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, as he hath something to say to thee.

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

Then the chief captain took him by the hand and went aside privately, and asked him, What is it that thou hast to tell me?

20 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.

And he said, The Jews have agreed to ask thee to bring down Paul tomorrow into the council, as though thou wert about to inquire more thoroughly concerning him.

21 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."

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

22 So the commanding officer let the young man go, charging him, "Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me."

The chief captain then dismissed the young man with the charge, Tell no one that thou hast disclosed these things to me.

23 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."

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

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

and provide beasts, whereon they may set Paul, and carry him safe to Felix the governor.

25 He wrote a letter like this:

And he wrote a letter after this manner:

26 "Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings.

Claudius Lysias to the moss excellent governor Felix, greeting.

27 "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.

This man was taken by the Jews, and was about to be killed by them; but I came upon them with the soldiery, and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.

28 Desiring to know the cause why they accused him, I brought him down to their council.

And wishing to know the crime of which they accused him, I brought him down to their council;

29 I found him to be accused about questions of their law, but not to be charged with anything worthy of death or of imprisonment.

but I found him to be accused only on account of questions of their law, and to have nothing laid to his charge deserving death or bonds.

30 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."

And having been informed of a plot against the man, I sent him at once to thee, and directed his accusers also to bring their charges against him before thee.

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

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

32 But on the next day they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the barracks.

But on the morrow they left the horsemen to go on with him, and returned to the castle.

33 When they came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.

And they, when they had come to Caesarea, and delivered the letter to the governor, presented Paul also before him.

34 When the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. When he understood that he was from Cilicia, he said,

And having read the letter, he asked of what province he was; and when he understood that he was of Cilicia,

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

he said, I will hear thee fully, when thy accusers also have arrived. And he ordered him to be kept in Herod's palace.