Acts 23

1 And Paul, looking steadfastly, at the High-council, said—Brethren! I, in all good conscience have used my citizenship for God until this day.

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

2 And, the High-priest, Ananias, ordered them that stood by him, to be smiting him on the mouth.

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

3 Then, Paul, unto him, said—God is about to be smiting thee, thou whited wall! Dost, thou, then sit to judge me according to the law, and, unlawfully, orderest me to be smitten?

Then said Paul to him, God shall smite you, you white washed wall: for sit you to judge me after the law, and command me to be smitten contrary to the law?

4 And, they who stood by, said—The High-priest of God, dost thou revile?

And they that stood by said, Revile you God’s high priest?

5 And Paul said—I was not aware, brethren, that he was high-priest; because it is written—Of a ruler of thy people, shalt thou not speak injuriously.

Then said Paul, I knew not, brothers, that he was the high priest: for it is written, You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people.

6 But Paul, getting to know that, the one part, were Sadducees and, the other, Pharisees, began to cry aloud in the council—Brethren! I, am, a Pharisee, son of Pharisees: —Concerning a hope, even of a rising again of the dead, am I to be judged.

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

7 And, as this he was saying, there arose a dissension of the Pharisees and Sadducees; and rent asunder was the throng.

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

8 For, Sadducees, say, there is no rising again, nor messenger, nor spirit, whereas, Pharisees, confess them both.

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

9 And there arose a great outcry, and certain of the Scribes of the party of the Pharisees, standing up, began to strive, saying—Nothing bad, find we in this man; —but, if a spirit hath spoken unto him, or a messenger…

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 has spoken to him, let us not fight against God.

10 And, great dissension arising, the captain, fearing lest Paul would be torn in pieces by them, ordered the troop to go down, and take him by force out of their midst, to bring him into the castle.

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.

11 But, on the following night, the Lord, standing over him, said—Be of good courage! for, as thou hast fully borne witness of the things concerning me in Jerusalem, so must thou, in Rome also, bear witness.

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

12 And, when it became day, the Jews, forming a conspiracy, bound themselves under a curse, saying, that they would neither eat nor drink till they had slain 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, this sworn-confederacy, had formed.

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

14 And they went unto the High-priests and Elders, and said—With a curse have we bound ourselves, to taste, nothing, until we have slain 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, do, ye, with the High-council, make it appear unto the captain, that he should bring him down unto you, as though about to ascertain more exactly the things that concern him; and, we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.

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

16 But Paul’s sister’s son hearing of the lying-in-wait, happening to be near, and coming into the castle, —reported it unto Paul.

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

17 And Paul, calling unto him one of the centurions, said—This young man, lead thou away unto the captain, for he hath somewhat to report unto him.

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

18 He, therefore, taking him with him, brought him unto the captain, and saith—The prisoner Paul, calling me unto him, requested me to bring this young man unto thee, as having somewhat to tell thee.

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

19 And the captain, taking him by the hand, and going aside, began, privately, to ask—What is it which thou hast to report unto me?

Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that you have to tell me?

20 And he said—The Jews, have agreed to request thee, that, to-morrow, thou wouldst bring, Paul, down into the High-council, as though about to ascertain something, more exact, concerning him.

And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire you that you would bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would inquire somewhat of him more perfectly.

21 Thou, therefore, do not be persuaded by them, for there are lying in wait for him, from among them, more than forty men, —who, indeed, have bound themselves under a curse, neither to eat nor drink, till they have killed him; and, now, are they ready, awaiting the promise, from thee.

But do not you yield to 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 you.

22 the captain, therefore, dismissed the young man, charging him—Unto no one, divulge thou, that, these things, thou hast shewed unto me.

So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See you tell no man that you have showed these things to me.

23 And calling certain two of the centurions he said—Make ye ready two hundred soldiers, that they may journey as far as Caesarea, —and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen, by the third hour of the night;

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

24 beasts also provide, in order that, seating Paul thereon, they may bring him safely through unto Felix the governor.

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

25 And he wrote a letter, after this form: —

And he wrote a letter after this manner:

26 Claudius Lysias, unto the most excellent governor Felix, Joy!

Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix sends greeting.

27 This man, having been apprehended by the Jews, and being about to be killed by them, I went down with the troop, and rescued; having learned that he was, a Roman.

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.

28 And, being minded to find out the cause for which they were accusing him, [I took him down into their High-council],

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

29 whom I found to be accused concerning questions of their law, but, of nothing worthy of death or bonds, to be charged.

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 But, when I was informed there would be a plot against the man, forthwith, I sent him unto thee, charging, his accusers also, to be speaking against him before thee.

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

31 So the soldiers, according to their orders, taking up Paul, brought him by night unto Antipatris;

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

32 and, on the morrow, leaving the horsemen to go on with him, returned to the castle, —

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

33 and the others, entering into Caesarea, and delivering the letter unto the governor, set, Paul also, before him.

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

34 And, when he had read it, and asked out of what province he was, and learned that he was 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 myself will hear thee in full, said he, whensoever, thine accusers also, are come; and gave orders that, in the palace of Herod, he should be kept under guard.

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