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

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

And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him 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 said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?

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

And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God’s high 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].’

Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy 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 the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

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 so said, 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 confess both.

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*)

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 hath 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 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 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 the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at 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, 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 There were now more than forty this plot (having made; *N(k)O*)

And they were more than forty which had made 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 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 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 ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, 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.

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

Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing 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 brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee.

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?

Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that thou hast 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.

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

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.

But do not thou yield unto 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 thee.

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.

So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast shewed these things 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 unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Cæsarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, 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 them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.

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

And he wrote a letter after this manner:

26 Claudius Lysias To the most excellent governor Felix Greeting.

Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth 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 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 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;

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

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.

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 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 when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee 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, as it was commanded them, took Paul, 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;

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

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

Who, when they came to Cæsarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, 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 the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of 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.

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