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.”

Paul, looking steadfastly at the council, said, "Brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day."

2 At this the high priest Ananias commanded those who were standing beside Paul to strike him on the mouth.

The cohen hagadol, Ananias, commanded those who stood by him to strike 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 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 standing nearby said, “Do yoʋ dare to insult God's high priest?”

Those who stood by said, "Do you malign God's cohen hagadol?"

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.’”

Paul said, "I did not know, brothers, that he was cohen hagadol. For it is written, 'You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your 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 shouted 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 When he said this, a dissension arose on the part of the Pharisees, and the assembly was divided.

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

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.”

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. What if a spirit spoke to him, or an angel?"

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.

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 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.”

The following night, the Lord stood by him, and said, "Cheer up, for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so you must testify 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.

When it was day, the Judeans formed a conspiracy, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.

13 More than forty men had taken an oath to join this conspiracy.

There were more than forty people who 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.

They came to the chief cohanim and the elders, and said, "We have bound ourselves under a great curse, to taste nothing until we have killed 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, you with the council inform the commanding officer that he should bring him down to you, as though you were going to judge his case more exactly. We are ready to kill him before he comes near."

16 But when the son of Paul's sister heard about this ambush, he went into the barracks and told Paul.

But Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, and he came and entered into the barracks 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.”

Paul summoned one of the centurions, and said, "Bring this young man to the commanding officer, for he has something 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 commanding officer, and said, "Paul, the prisoner, summoned me and asked me to bring this young man to you, who has something to tell you."

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?”

The commanding officer took him by the hand, and going aside, asked him privately, "What is it that you have 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 Judeans have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they intended to inquire somewhat more thoroughly concerning him.

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.”

Therefore do not yield to them, for more than forty men lie in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse neither to eat nor to drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, looking for the promise from you."

22 So the commander sent the young man away, ordering him, “Tell no one that yoʋ have reported this 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 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.

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 spearmen, at nine tonight."

24 Provide mounts so that they may set Paul on one and bring him safely to Felix the governor.”

He asked them to provide animals, that they might set Paul on one, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.

25 Then he wrote the following letter:

He wrote a letter like this:

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

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

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 seized by the Judeans, 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 Wishing to know the reason why they were accusing him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin.

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

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 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.”

When I was told that there would be a plot against 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 took Paul and brought him to Antipatris by night, just as they had been commanded.

So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, 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.

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

33 When the horsemen came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul to him as well.

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

34 After the governor read the letter, he asked what province Paul was from. When he 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 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 you fully when your accusers also arrive." He commanded that he be kept in Herod's palace.