Actuum Apostolorum 23
1 Intendens autem in concilium Paulus ait: Viri fratres, ego omni conscientia bona conversatus sum ante Deum usque in hodiernum diem.
Paul looked directly at the Sanhedrin and said, “Brothers, I have conducted myself before God in all good conscience to this day.”
2 Princeps autem sacerdotum Ananias praecepit astantibus sibi percutere os eius.
At this, the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on 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 will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit here to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck.”
4 Et qui astabant dixerunt: Summum sacerdotem Dei maledicis.
But those standing nearby said, “How dare you insult the high priest of God!”
5 Dixit autem Paulus: Nesciebam fratres quia princeps est sacerdotum. Scriptum est enim: Principem populi tui non maledices.
“Brothers,” Paul replied, “I was not aware that he was the high priest, for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’”
6 Sciens autem Paulus quia una pars esset Sadducaeorum, et altera Pharisaeorum, exclamavit in concilio: Viri fratres, ego Pharisaeus sum, filius Pharisaeorum, de spe et resurrectione mortuorum ego iudicor.
Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. It is because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”
7 Et cum haec dixisset, facta est dissensio inter Pharisaeos, et Sadducaeos, et soluta est multitudo.
As soon as he had said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.
8 Sadducaei enim dicunt, non esse resurrectionem, neque Angelum, neque Spiritum: Pharisaei autem utraque confitentur.
For the Sadducees say that there is neither a resurrection, nor angels, nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.
9 Factus est autem clamor magnus. Et surgentes quidam Pharisaeorum, pugnabant, dicentes: Nihil mali invenimus in homine isto: quid si Spiritus locutus est ei, aut Angelus?
A great clamor arose, and some scribes from the party of the Pharisees got up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”
10 Et cum magna dissensio facta esset, timens tribunus ne discerperetur Paulus ab ipsis, iussit milites descendere, et rapere eum de medio eorum, ac deducere eum in castra.
The dispute grew so violent that the commander was afraid they would tear Paul to pieces. He ordered the soldiers to go down and remove him by force and bring him into the barracks.
11 Sequenti autem nocte assistens ei Dominus, ait: Constans esto: sicut enim testificatus es de me in Ierusalem, sic te oportet et Romae testificari.
The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so also you must testify in Rome.”
12 Facta autem die collegerunt se quidam ex Iudaeis, et devoverunt se dicentes, neque manducaturos, neque bibituros donec occiderent Paulum.
When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
13 Erant autem plus quam quadraginta viri, qui hanc coniurationem fecerant:
More than forty of them were involved in this plot.
14 qui accesserunt ad principes sacerdotum, et seniores, et dixerunt: Devotione devovimus nos nihil gustaturos, donec occidamus Paulum.
They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed 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 then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him down to you on the pretext of examining his case more carefully. We are ready to kill him on the way.”
16 Quod cum audisset filius sororis Pauli insidias, venit, et intravit in castra, nunciavitque Paulo.
But when the son of Paul’s sister heard about the plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.
17 Vocans autem Paulus ad se unum ex Centurionibus, ait: Adolescentem hunc perduc ad tribunum, habet enim aliquid indicare illi.
Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; 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.
So the centurion took him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner sent and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.”
19 Apprehendens autem tribunus manum illius, secessit cum eo seorsum, et interrogavit illum: Quid est, quod habes indicare mihi?
The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside, and asked, “What do you need to tell me?”
20 Ille autem dixit: Iudaeis convenit rogare te, ut crastina die producas Paulum in concilium, quasi aliquid certius inquisituri sint de illo:
He answered, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul to the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of acquiring more information about 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, expectantes promissum tuum.
Do not let them persuade you, because more than forty men are waiting to ambush him. They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him; they are ready now, awaiting your consent.”
22 Tribunus igitur dimisit adolescentem, praecipiens ei ne cui loqueretur quoniam haec nota sibi fecisset.
So the commander dismissed the young man and instructed him, “Do not tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”
23 Et vocatis duobus Centurionibus, dixit illis: Parate milites ducentos ut eant usque Caesaream, et equites septuaginta, et lancearios ducentos a tertia hora noctis:
Then he called two of his centurions and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea in the third hour of the night.
24 et iumenta praeparate ut imponentes Paulum, salvum perducerent ad Felicem praesidem,
Provide mounts for Paul to take him safely to Governor Felix.”
25 (Timuit enim ne forte raperent eum Iudaei, et occiderent, et ipse postea calumniam sustineret, tamquam accepturus pecuniam)
And he wrote the following letter:
26 scribens ei epistolam continentem haec: CLAUDIUS Lysias optimo Praesidi, Felici salutem.
Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings.
27 Virum hunc comprehensum a Iudaeis, et incipientem interfici ab eis, superveniens cum exercitu eripui, cognito quia Romanus est:
This man was seized by the Jews, and they were about to kill him when I came with my troops to rescue him. For I had learned that he is a Roman citizen,
28 Volensque scire causam, quam obiiciebant illi, deduxi eum in concilium eorum.
and since I wanted to understand their charges against him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin.
29 Quem inveni accusari de quaestionibus legis ipsorum, nullum vero dignum morte aut vinculis habentem crimen.
I found that the accusation involved questions about their own law, but there was no charge worthy of death or imprisonment.
30 Et cum mihi perlatum esset de insidiis, quas paraverant illi, misi eum ad te denuncians: et accusatoribus ut dicant apud te, Vale.
When I was informed that there was a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also instructed his accusers to present their case against him before you.
31 Milites ergo secundum praeceptum sibi, assumentes Paulum, duxerunt per noctem in Antipatridem.
So the soldiers followed their orders and brought Paul by night to Antipatris.
32 Et postera die dimissis equitibus ut cum eo irent, reversi sunt ad castra.
The next day they returned to the barracks and let the horsemen go on with him.
33 Qui cum venissent Caesaream, et tradidissent epistolam praesidi, statuerunt ante illum et Paulum.
When the horsemen arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and presented Paul to him.
34 Cum legisset autem, et interrogasset de qua provincia esset: et cognoscens quia de Cilicia,
The governor read the letter and asked what province Paul was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,
35 Audiam te, inquit, cum accusatores tui venerint. Iussitque in praetorio Herodis custodiri eum.
he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers arrive.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s Praetorium.
