Acts 23

1 Having looked intently then Paul at the Council he said; Men brothers, I myself in all conscience good have lived as a citizen to God unto this day.

And Paul, looking earnestly upon the Sanhedrim, said: Brethren, I have lived in all good conscience toward God to this day.

2 Then the high priest Ananias commanded to those standing by him to strike of him the mouth.

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

3 Then Paul to him said; To strike you is about God, wall whitewashed! And you yourself do you sit judging me according to the law, and violating law you command me to be struck?

Then Paul said to him: God will smite you, you whitened wall! for do you sit to judge me according to the law, and yet violate the law by commanding me to be smitten?

4 Those who now standing by said; The high priest of God do you insult?

And those who stood by said: Do you revile God’s chief priest?

5 Was saying then Paul; Not I had known, brothers, that he is high priest; it has been written for (that *no*) [The] ruler of the people of you not you will speak evil [of].’

And Paul replied: I did not know, brethren, that he was the chief priest: for it is written, You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people.

6 Having known then Paul that the one part consists of Sadducees but the other of Pharisees (he was crying out *N(k)O*) in the Council; Men brothers, I myself a Pharisee am, [the] son (of Pharisees; *N(K)O*) concerning [the] hope and resurrection of [the] dead I myself am judged.

But when Paul perceived that one part belonged to the Sadducees, and the other to the Pharisees, he cried out, in the Sanhedrim: Brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; for the hope of the resurrection of the dead am I judged.

7 This then of him (saying *N(k)(o)*) arose a dissension between the Pharisees and (of the *k*) Sadducees, and was divided the crowd.

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

8 Sadducees indeed for say not there to be resurrection (neither [to be] *N(k)O*) angel nor [to be] spirit; Pharisees however confess both.

For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection; neither angel nor spirit: but the Pharisees acknowledge both. And there arose a great clamor. And the scribes, on the part of the Pharisees, arose and contended, saying:

9 Arose then a clamor great; and having risen up (some *NO*) (of the scribes *N(k)O*) of the party of the Pharisees they were contending saying; No [thing] evil we find in man this; What if now a spirit has spoken to him or an angel (Surely we shall be fighting God? *K*)

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 great then (is becoming *N(k)O*) dissension, (having feared *N(k)O*) the commander lest may be torn to pieces Paul by them he commanded the troop (having gone down *NK(o)*) (and *k*) to take by force him from midst of them, to bring [him] then into the barracks.

And when there arose a great dissension, the officer, fearing that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the fortress.

11 But on the following night having stood by him the Lord said; Take courage (Paul; *k*) as for you have fully testified about Me at Jerusalem, thus you it behooves also in Rome to testify.

And on the following night, the Lord stood by him, and said: Take courage; for as you have testified of me in Jerusalem, so must you testify also in Rome.

12 When it was becoming then day having made a conspiracy (the Jews *N(k)O*) put under an oath themselves declaring neither to eat nor to drink until that they may kill Paul.

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

13 There were now more than forty this plot (having made; *N(k)O*)

And there were more than forty who formed this conspiracy.

14 who having come to the chief priests and to the elders said; With an oath we have bound ourselves nothing to eat until that we may kill Paul.

And they went to the chief priests and elders, and said: We have surely bound ourselves under a curse, that we will taste nothing till we have killed Paul.

15 Now therefore you yourselves do make a report to the commander along with the Council, so that (tomorrow *K*) he may bring down him (to *N(k)O*) you as being about to examine more earnestly the [things] about him; we ourselves then before drawing near of him ready we are to execute him.

Now, therefore, do you, together with the Sanhedrim, give notice to the officer, that he bring him down to you to-morrow, as if you intended to inquire more accurately into the matters concerning him: and before he comes near, we are ready to kill him.

16 Having heard however the son of the sister of Paul (of the ambush, *N(k)O*) having come near and having entered into the barracks he reported [it] to Paul.

But the son of Paul’s sister heard of the plot, and he went and entered the fortress, and told Paul.

17 Having called to [him] then Paul one of the centurions he was saying; young man this (do take *NK(o)*) to the commander; he has for to report something to him.

And Paul called one of the centurions to him, and said: Conduct this young man to the officer, for he has something to tell him.

18 The [one] indeed therefore having taken him he brought [him] to the commander and he says; The prisoner Paul having called to me he asked [me] this (young man *N(k)O*) to lead to you having something to say to you.

So he took him, and led him to the officer, and said: The prisoner Paul called me to him, and requested me to conduct this young man to you; for he has something to tell you.

19 Having taken hold then of the hand of him the commander and having withdrawn in private he was inquiring: What is it that you have to report to me?

And the officer took him by the hand, and went aside with him privately, and inquired: What is it that you have to tell me?

20 He said then that The Jews have agreed to ask you that tomorrow Paul you may bring down into the Council as (it being about *N(K)(O)*) something more earnestly to inquire about him.

He answered: The Jews have agreed to request you to bring Paul down into the Sanhedrim to-morrow, as if they intended to inquire something more accurately concerning him.

21 You yourself therefore not may be persuaded by them, Lie in wait indeed for him of them men more than forty, who was put under an oath themselves neither to eat nor to drink until that they may execute him and now they are ready awaiting the from you promise.

Do not, however, be persuaded by them; for more than forty men of them are lying in wait for him; and they have bound themselves under a curse, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him. And now they are ready, waiting for a promise from you.

22 Indeed therefore [the] commander dismissed the (young man *N(k)O*) having instructed [him] No one to tell that these things you reported to me.

Then the officer sent the young man away, with this charge: Tell no one that you have made these things known to me.

23 And having called to [him] two certain of the centurions he said; do prepare soldiers two hundred so that they may go as far as Caesarea and horsemen seventy and spearmen two hundred for [the] third hour of the night,

And he called to him two centurions, and said: Make ready two hundred soldiers, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen, that they may depart to Cæsarea at the third hour of the night.

24 Mounts then providing so that having set upon [them] Paul they may bring [him] safely to Felix the governor;

And provide beasts on which they may set Paul, and take him in safety to Felix the governor.

25 having written a letter (having *N(k)O*) form this:

And he wrote a letter in this form:

26 Claudius Lysias To the most excellent governor Felix Greeting.

Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor, Felix, greeting:

27 man this having been seized by the Jews and being about to be executed by them, having come up with the troop I rescued (him *k*) having learned that a Roman he is;

This man was taken by the Jews, and was about to be killed by them. Then I went with soldiers, and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.

28 Resolving (then to know *N(k)O*) the charge on account of which they were accusing him I brought down (him *k*) to the council of them;

But wishing to know the cause for which they accused him, I brought him down into their Sanhedrim.

29 whom I found being accused concerning questions of the law of them, not however [of anything] worthy of death or of chains having accusation.

And I found that he was accused about questions of their law, but had nothing worthy of death or of bonds charged against him.

30 When was being disclosed then to me a plot that against the man (to be about to *k*) going to happen (by the Jews *K*) (at once *NK(O)*) I sent [him] to you having instructed also to the accusers to speak the [things] against him before you. (Farewell! *KO*)

And as I was informed that a plot was about to be laid against the man by the Jews, I immediately sent him to you, and commanded his accusers to say in your presence what they had against him. Farewell.

31 Indeed therefore [the] soldiers according to that ordered them having taken Paul brought [him] through (*k*) night to Antipatris.

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

32 On the now next day having allowed the horsemen (to go *N(k)O*) with him they returned to the barracks;

And, on the morrow, they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the fortress.

33 who having entered into Caesarea and having delivered the letter to the governor presented also Paul to him.

When they came to Cæsarea, and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him.

34 Having read [it] then (governor *k*) and having asked from what province he is and having learned that from Cilicia [he is],

And when he had read the letter, he inquired to what province he belonged. And learning that he was from Cilicia,

35 I will hear fully you, he was saying, when also the accusers of you may have arrived. (having commanded *N(k)O*) (then *k*) in the Praetorium of Herod to be guarded him.

he said: I will hear you when your accusers also have come. And he ordered him to be kept under guard in Herod’s palace.