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.
Paul, looking steadfastly at the council, said, “Brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience until today.”
2 And, the High-priest, Ananias, ordered them that stood by him, to be smiting him on the mouth.
The high priest, Ananias, commanded those who stood by him to strike 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 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?”
4 And, they who stood by, said—The High-priest of God, dost thou revile?
Those who stood by said, “Do you malign 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.
Paul said, “I didn’t know, brothers, that he was high priest. For it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a 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, a son of Pharisees. Concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!”
7 And, as this he was saying, there arose a dissension of the Pharisees and Sadducees; and rent asunder was the throng.
When he had said this, an argument arose between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the crowd 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, nor angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess all of these.
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…
A great clamour arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ part stood up, and contended, saying, “We find no evil in this man. But if a spirit or angel has spoken to him, let’s 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.
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 amongst them and bring him into the barracks.
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.
The following night, the Lord stood by him and said, “Cheer up, Paul, for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so you must testify 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.
When it was day, some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.
13 And they were, more than forty, who, this sworn-confederacy, had formed.
There were more than forty people who 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.
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, 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 inform the commanding officer that he should bring him down to you tomorrow, as though you were going to judge his case more exactly. We are ready to kill him before he comes near.”
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.
But Paul’s sister’s son heard they were lying in wait, and he came and entered into the barracks 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.
Paul summoned one of the centurions and said, “Bring this young man to the commanding officer, for he has something 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 commanding officer and said, “Paul, the prisoner, summoned me and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell 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?
The commanding officer took him by the hand, and going aside, asked him privately, “What is it 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.
He said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though intending to enquire somewhat more accurately concerning him.
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.
Therefore don’t yield to them, for more than forty men lie in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse to neither eat nor drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, looking for the 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 commanding officer let the young man go, charging him, “Tell no one that you have revealed 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;
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 men armed with spears, 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.
He asked them to provide mounts, that they might set Paul on one, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.
25 And he wrote a letter, after this form: —
He wrote a letter like this:
26 Claudius Lysias, unto the most excellent governor Felix, Joy!
“Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings.
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 seized by the Jews, and was about to be killed by them when I came with the soldiers and rescued him, having learnt 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],
Desiring to know the cause why they accused him, I brought him down to 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.
I found him to be accused about questions of their law, but not to be charged with anything worthy of death or of imprisonment.
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.
When I was told that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him to you immediately, charging his accusers also to bring their accusations against him before you. Farewell.”
31 So the soldiers, according to their orders, taking up Paul, brought him by night unto Antipatris;
So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, 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, —
But on the next day they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the barracks.
33 and the others, entering into Caesarea, and delivering the letter unto the governor, set, Paul also, before him.
When they came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.
34 And, when he had read it, and asked out of what province he was, and learned that he was from Cilicia,
When the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. When he understood that he was from Cilicia, he said,
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 fully when your accusers also arrive.” He commanded that he be kept in Herod’s palace.
