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.

Paul, looking steadfastly at the council, said, “Brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience until today.”

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

The high priest, Ananias, commanded those who stood by him to strike 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 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 Those who now standing by said; The high priest of God do you insult?

Those who stood by said, “Do you malign 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].’

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 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 brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. Concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being 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.

When he had said this, an argument arose between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the crowd 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, nor angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess all of these.

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*)

A great clamor 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 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.

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 among them and bring him into the barracks.

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.

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 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.

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

There were more than forty people who 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.

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 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, 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 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 Paul’s sister’s son heard they were lying in wait, and he came and entered into the barracks 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.

Paul summoned one of the centurions and said, “Bring this young man to the commanding 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 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 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?

The commanding officer took him by the hand, and going aside, asked him privately, “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 said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though intending to inquire somewhat 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.

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 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 commanding officer let the young man go, charging him, “Tell no one that you have revealed 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,

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 Mounts then providing so that having set upon [them] Paul they may bring [him] safely to 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 having written a letter (having *N(k)O*) form this:

He wrote a letter like this:

26 Claudius Lysias To the most excellent governor Felix Greeting.

“Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings.

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 seized by the Jews, and was about to be killed by them when I came with the 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;

Desiring to know the cause why they accused him, I brought him down to 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.

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 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*)

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

So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, 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;

But on the next day they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the barracks.

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

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

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

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 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 you fully when your accusers also arrive.” He commanded that he be kept in Herod’s palace.