Acts 23

1 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.”

Paul looked directly at the Sanhedrin and said, “Brothers, I have conducted myself before God in all good conscience to this day.”

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

At this, the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.

3 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?”

Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit here to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck.”

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

But those standing nearby said, “How dare you insult the high priest of God!”

5 “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’.”

“Brothers,” Paul replied, “I was not aware that he was the high priest, for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’”

6 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.”

Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. It is because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”

7 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.

As soon as he had said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.

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

For the Sadducees say that there is neither a resurrection, nor angels, nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.

9 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…”

A great clamor arose, and some scribes from the party of the Pharisees got up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”

10 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.

The dispute grew so violent that the commander was afraid they would tear Paul to pieces. He ordered the soldiers to go down and remove him by force and bring him into the barracks.

11 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.”

The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so also you must testify in Rome.”

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

When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.

13 There were more than forty in the plot;

More than forty of them were involved in this plot.

14 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.

They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.

15 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.”

Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him down to you on the pretext of examining his case more carefully. We are ready to kill him on the way.”

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

But when the son of Paul’s sister heard about the plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.

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

Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.”

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

So the centurion took him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner sent and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.”

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

The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside, and asked, “What do you need to tell me?”

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

He answered, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul to the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of acquiring more information about him.

21 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.”

Do not let them persuade you, because more than forty men are waiting to ambush him. They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him; they are ready now, awaiting your consent.”

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

So the commander dismissed the young man and instructed him, “Do not tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”

23 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,

Then he called two of his centurions and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea in the third hour of the night.

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

Provide mounts for Paul to take him safely to Governor Felix.”

25 He also wrote a letter along these lines:

And he wrote the following letter:

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

Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings.

27 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.

This man was seized by the Jews, and they were about to kill him when I came with my troops to rescue him. For I had learned that he is a Roman citizen,

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

and since I wanted to understand their charges against him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin.

29 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.

I found that the accusation involved questions about their own law, but there was no charge worthy of death or imprisonment.

30 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.’

When I was informed that there was a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also instructed his accusers to present their case against him before you.

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

So the soldiers followed their orders and brought Paul by night to Antipatris.

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

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

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

When the horsemen arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and presented Paul to him.

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

The governor read the letter and asked what province Paul was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,

35 “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.

he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers arrive.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s Praetorium.