Acts 23
1 Looking intently at the Sanhedrin, Paul said, “Brothers, in all good conscience I have lived as a citizen before God to 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 At this the high priest Ananias commanded those who were standing beside Paul to strike him on the mouth.
And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.
3 Then Paul said to him, “God is about to strike yoʋ, yoʋ whitewashed wall! Are yoʋ sitting there judging me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law ordering 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 standing nearby said, “Do yoʋ dare to insult God's high priest?”
And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God’s high priest?
5 Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest. For it is written, ‘Yoʋ shall not speak evil of a ruler of yoʋr people.’”
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 Now when Paul realized that some were Sadducees and others were Pharisees, he cried out in the Sanhedrin, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. It is regarding the hope of the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”
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 When he said this, a dissension arose on the part of the Pharisees, and the assembly was divided.
And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.
8 (For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.)
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.
9 Then there arose a great clamor, and the scribes of the Pharisees' party stood up and argued vehemently, “We find no evil in this man. If a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel, let us not fight against God.”
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 When the dissension grew violent, the commander, exercising caution lest Paul be torn to pieces by them, ordered the troops to go down, take him away from them by force, and bring him 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 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage, Paul, for as yoʋ have testified about me in Jerusalem, so yoʋ must also testify in Rome.”
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 daybreak came, some of the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed 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 More than forty men had taken an oath to join this conspiracy.
And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.
14 They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have bound ourselves under a solemn curse to taste nothing until we have killed 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 then, you and the council must make an official request to the commander to bring him down to you tomorrow, as though you would be investigating the facts about his case in greater detail. And we will be ready to kill him before he draws near to this place.”
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 But when the son of Paul's sister heard about this ambush, he went into the barracks and told 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 Then Paul called one of the centurions over and said, “Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to tell 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 So he took the young man, brought him to the commander, and said, “The prisoner Paul called for me and asked me to bring this young man to yoʋ because he has something to tell yoʋ.”
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 So the commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside privately, and asked, “What is it that yoʋ have to tell 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 The young man said, “The Jews have agreed to ask yoʋ to bring Paul down to the Sanhedrin tomorrow, as though the members of the Sanhedrin would be inquiring about his case in greater detail.
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 Do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty men are lying in ambush for him. They have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are now ready, waiting for yoʋr consent.”
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 So the commander sent the young man away, ordering him, “Tell no one that yoʋ have reported this 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 Then he called over two of the centurions and said, “Get two hundred soldiers ready by the third hour of the night to go to Caesarea, along with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen.
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 Provide mounts so that they may set Paul on one and 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 Then he wrote the following letter:
And he wrote a letter after this manner:
26 “Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings.
Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.
27 This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them when I came with the troops and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman citizen.
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 Wishing to know the reason why they were accusing him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin.
And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:
29 I discovered that he was being accused about questions of their own law, but had no accusation against him that deserved death or imprisonment.
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 I was informed that a plot was about to be executed against this man by the Jews, I sent him to yoʋ at once, also ordering his accusers to state before yoʋ the charges against him. Farewell.”
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 So the soldiers took Paul and brought him to Antipatris by night, just as they had been commanded.
Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.
32 The next day, they let the horsemen go on with him, while they returned to the barracks.
On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:
33 When the horsemen came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul to him as well.
Who, when they came to Cæsarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.
34 After the governor read the letter, he asked what province Paul was from. When he 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 he said, “I will give yoʋ a hearing once yoʋr accusers have arrived.” Then he gave orders for him to be kept at Herod's headquarters.
I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s judgment hall.
