Actuum Apostolorum 23

1 Intendens autem in concilium Paulus ait: Viri fratres, ego omni conscientia bona conversatus sum ante Deum usque in hodiernum diem.

And Paul, looking the sanhedrim in the face, said, Men, brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God unto this day.

2 Princeps autem sacerdotum Ananias præcepit astantibus sibi percutere os eius.

And the high priest Ananias commanded those standing near him to smite him in the mouth.

3 Tunc Paulus dixit ad eum: Percutiet te Deus, paries dealbate. Et tu sedens iudicas me secundum legem, et contra legem iubes me percuti?

Then Paul said to him, God is about to smite thee, thou whitewashed wall: indeed thou art sitting judging me according to the law, and dost thou command me to be smitten contrary to the law?

4 Et qui astabant dixerunt: Summum sacerdotem Dei maledicis.

And those standing by said, Do you revile the high priest of God?

5 Dixit autem Paulus: Nesciebam fratres quia princeps est sacerdotum. Scriptum est enim: Principem populi tui non maledices.

And Paul said, Brethren, I did not know that he is the high priest; for it is written, You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people.

6 Sciens autem Paulus quia una pars esset Sadducæorum, et altera Pharisæorum, exclamavit in concilio: Viri fratres, ego Pharisæus sum, filius Pharisæorum, de spe et resurrectione mortuorum ego iudicor.

And Paul knowing that one part of them belongs to the Sadducees, and another to the Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men, brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of the Pharisees: concerning the hope and the resurrection of the dead I am judged.

7 Et cum hæc dixisset, facta est dissensio inter Pharisæos, et Sadducæos, et soluta est multitudo.

And he speaking this, there was a dissension of the Pharisees and Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.

8 Sadducæi enim dicunt, non esse resurrectionem, neque Angelum, neque spiritum: Pharisæi autem utraque confitentur.

For the Sadducees indeed say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.

9 Factus est autem clamor magnus. Et surgentes quidam Pharisæorum, pugnabant, dicentes: Nihil mali invenimus in homine isto: quid si spiritus locutus est ei, aut angelus?

And there was a great clamor: and certain ones of the scribes on the part of the Pharisees, rising up, continued to strive, saying, We find nothing evil in this man: but has a spirit or an angel spoken to him?

10 Et cum magna dissensio facta esset, timens Tribunus ne discerperetur Paulus ab ipsis, iussit milities descendere, et rapere eum de medio eorum, ac deducere eum in castra.

And the dissension being great, the chiliarch fearing lest Paul may be torn to pieces by them, commanded the army, having gone down, to take him from their midst, and lead him into the castle.

11 Sequenti autem nocte assistens ei Dominus, ait: Constans esto: sicut enim testificatus es de me in Ierusalem, sic te oportet et Romæ testificari.

And on the following night, the Lord standing over him, said, Take courage: for as thou hast testified to the things concerning me in Jerusalem, so it behooveth thee also to testify to me in Rome.

12 Facta autem die collegerunt se quidam ex Iudæis, et devoverunt se dicentes, neque manducaturos, neque bibaturos donec occiderent Paulum.

And it being day, the Jews having formed a conspiracy, obligated themselves by an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they might kill Paul.

13 Erant autem plus quam quadraginta viri, qui hanc coniurationem fecerant:

And there were more than forty having made this plot:

14 qui accesserunt ad principes sacerdotum, et seniores, et dixerunt: Devotione devovimus nos nihil gustaturos, donec occidamus Paulum.

who, having come to the chief priests and elders, said, We have anathematized ourselves with an anathema, to taste nothing until we may kill Paul.

15 Nunc ergo vos notum facite Tribuno cum concilio, ut producat illum ad vos, tamquam aliquid certius cognituri de eo. Nos vero prius quam appropiet, parati sumus interficere illum.

Now therefore do you appeal to the chiliarch along with the sanhedrim, that he may lead him down to you, as about to investigate matters concerning him more thoroughly: and we are ready to kill him before he comes nigh.

16 Quod cum audisset filius sororis Pauli insidias, venit, et intravit in castra, nunciavitque Paulo.

And the son of Paul's sister, having heard of ambuscade, coming and entering into the castle, reported it to Paul.

17 Vocans autem Paulus ad se unum ex Centurionibus, ait: Adolescentem hunc perduc ad Tribunum, habet enim aliquid indicare illi.

And Paul, having called one of the centurions, said, Lead this young man to the chiliarch: for he has something to tell him.

18 Et ille quidem assumens eum duxit ad Tribunum, et ait: Vinctus Paulus rogavit me hunc adolescentem perducere ad te, habentem aliquid loqui tibi.

Then indeed taking him, he led him to the chiliarch, and says, Paul the prisoner, having called me, requested me to lead this young man to you, having something to tell you.

19 Apprehendens autem Tribunus manum illius, secessit cum eo seorsum, et interrogavit illum: Quid est, quod habes indicare mihi?

And the chiliarch taking him by the hand, and having gone away privately, asked him, What is that which you have to tell me?

20 Ille autem dixit: Iudæis convenit rogare te, ut crastina die producas Paulum in concilium, quasi aliquid certius inquisituri sint de illo:

And he said, The Jews have entered into an agreement to ask you that to-morrow you may lead Paul to the sanhedrim, as about to make inquiry as to something more definite concerning him.

21 tu vero ne credideris illis, insidiantur enim ei ex eis viri amplius quam quadraginta, qui se devoverunt non manducare, neque bibere donec interficiant eum: et nunc parati sunt, exspectantes promissum tuum.

Therefore do not be persuaded by them: for more than forty of them lie in wait for him, who have obligated themselves by an oath, neither to eat nor drink until they may kill him: and now they are ready, awaiting the promise from you.

22 Tribunus igitur dimisit adolescentem, præcipiens ne cui loqueretur quoniam hæc nota sibi fecisset.

Then indeed the chiliarch sent away the young man, having commanded him to Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.

23 Et vocatis duobus Centurionibus, dixit illis: Parate milites ducentos ut eant usque Cæsaream, et equites septuaginta, et lancearios ducentos a tertia hora noctis:

And having called a certain two of the centurions, he said, Get ready two hundred soldiers that they may go unto Caesarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen, from the third hour of the night;

24 et iumenta præparate ut imponentes Paulum, salvum perducerent ad Felicem præsidem.

and prepare beasts of burden, that, having carried away Paul, you may deliver him safe to Felix the governor.

25 Timuit enim ne forte raperent eum Iudæi, et occiderent, et ipse postea calumniam sustineret, tamquam accepturus pecuniam,

Writing a letter having this form:

26 scribens epistolam continentem hæc: CLAUDIUS Lysias optimo Præsidi, Felici salutem.

Claudius Lysias to the most noble governor Felix, greeting.

27 Virum hunc comprehensum a Iudæis, et incipientem interfici ab eis, superveniens cum exercitu eripui, cognito quia Romanus est:

This man, having been taken by the Jews, and being about to be put to death by them, having interposed with my army, I took out of their hands, having learned that he is a Roman:

28 Volensque scire causam, quam obiiciebant illi, deduxi eum in concilium eorum.

and wishing to know the cause on account of which they clamored against him, I led him into their sanhedrim:

29 Quem inveni accusari de quæstionibus legis ipsorum, nihil vero dignum morte aut vinculis habentem criminis.

whom I found accused concerning questions of their law, having no charge worthy of death or bonds.

30 Et cum mihi perlatum esset de insidiis, quas paraverant illi, misi eum ad te: denuncians et accusatoribus ut dicant apud te, Vale.

And a plot from them being revealed to me to be against the man, I sent him to thee, having commanded his accusers also to speak in thy presence.

31 Milites ergo secundum præceptum sibi, assumentes Paulum, duxerunt per noctem in Antipatridem.

Then indeed the soldiers, according to that which had been commanded them, taking Paul led him by night to Antipatris:

32 Et postera die dimissis equitibus ut cum eo irent, reversi sunt ad castra.

And on the following day letting the cavalry go on with him, they returned to the castle.

33 Qui cum venissent Cæsaream, et tradidissent epistolam præsidi, statuerunt ante illum et Paulum.

Who, having come into Caesarea, and delivered the letter to the governor, also committed Paul to him.

34 Cum legisset autem, et interrogasset de qua provincia esset: et cognoscens quia de Cilicia,

And having read, and made inquiry of what jurisdiction,

35 Audiam te, inquit, cum accusatores tui venerint. Iussitque in prætorio Herodis custodiri eum.

and ascertaining that he is from Cilicia, said, I will hear thee, when thy accusers may also be present, having commanded that he should be kept in Herod's judgment hall.