Acts 23

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

Then Paul, gazing intently at the council, said, “Noble brothers, I have spoken with all good conscience before God, even to this present day.”

2 The high priest, Ananias, commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.

And the high priest, Ananias, instructed those who were standing nearby to strike him on the mouth.

3 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?”

Then Paul said to him: “God shall strike you, you whitewashed wall! For would you sit and judge me according to the law, when, contrary to the law, you order me to be struck?”

4 Those who stood by said, “Do you malign God’s high priest?”

And those who were standing nearby said, “Are you speaking evil about the high priest of God?”

5 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.’”

And Paul said: “I did not know, brothers, that he is the high priest. For it is written: ‘You shall not speak evil of the leader of your people.’”

6 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!”

Now Paul, knowing that one group were Sadducees and the other were Pharisees, exclaimed in the council: “Noble brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees! It is over the hope and resurrection of the dead that I am being judged.”

7 When he had said this, an argument arose between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the crowd was divided.

And when he had said this, a dissension occurred between the Pharisees and the Sadducees. And the multitude was divided.

8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess all of these.

For the Sadducees claim that there is no resurrection, and neither angels, nor spirits. But the Pharisees confess both of these.

9 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!”

Then there occurred a great clamor. And some of the Pharisees, rising up, were fighting, saying: “We find nothing evil in this man. What if a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel?”

10 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.

And since a great dissension had been made, the tribune, fearing that Paul might be torn apart by them, ordered the soldiers to descend and to seize him from their midst, and to bring him into the fortress.

11 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.”

Then, on the following night, the Lord stood near him and said: “Be constant. For just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so also it is necessary for you to testify at Rome.”

12 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.

And when daylight arrived, some of the Jews gathered together and bound themselves with an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.

13 There were more than forty people who had made this conspiracy.

Now there were more than forty men who had taken this oath together.

14 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.

And they approached the leaders of the priests, and the elders, and they said: “We have sworn ourselves by an oath, so that we will taste nothing, until we have killed Paul.

15 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.”

Therefore, with the council, you should now give notice to the tribune, so that he may bring him to you, as if you intended to determine something else about him. But before he approaches, we have made preparations to put him to death.”

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

But when Paul’s sister’s son had heard of this, about their treachery, he went and entered into the fortress, and he reported it to Paul.

17 Paul summoned one of the centurions and said, “Bring this young man to the commanding officer, for he has something to tell him.”

And Paul, calling to him one of the centurions, said: “Lead this young man to the tribune. For he has something to tell him.”

18 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.”

And indeed, he took him and led him to the tribune, and he said, “Paul, the prisoner, asked me to lead this young man to you, since he has something to say to you.”

19 The commanding officer took him by the hand, and going aside, asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?”

Then the tribune, taking him by the hand, withdrew with him by themselves, and he asked him: “What is it that you have to tell me?”

20 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.

Then he said: “The Jews have met to ask you to bring Paul tomorrow to the council, as if they intended to question him about something else.

21 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.”

But truly, you should not believe them, for they would ambush him with more than forty men from among them, who have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat, nor to drink, until they have put him to death. And they are now prepared, hoping for an affirmation from you.”

22 So the commanding officer let the young man go, charging him, “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.”

And then the tribune dismissed the young man, instructing him not to tell anyone that he had made known these things to him.

23 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.”

Then, having called two centurions, he said to them: “Prepare two hundred soldiers, so that they may go as far as Caesarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen, for the third hour of the night.

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

And prepare beasts of burden to carry Paul, so that they may lead him safely to Felix, the governor.”

25 He wrote a letter like this:

For he was afraid, lest perhaps the Jews might seize him and kill him, and that afterwards he would be falsely accused, as if he had accepted a bribe. And so he wrote a letter containing the following:

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 soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.

This man, having been apprehended by the Jews and being about to be put to death by them, I rescued, overwhelming them with soldiers, since I realized that he is a Roman.

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

And wanting to know the reason that they objected to him, I brought him into their council.

29 I found him to be accused about questions of their law, but not to be charged with anything worthy of death or of imprisonment.

And I discovered him to be accused about questions of their law. Yet truly, nothing deserving of death or imprisonment was within the accusation.

30 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.”

And when I had been given news of ambushes, which they had prepared against him, I sent him to you, notifying his accusers also, so that they may plead their accusations before you. Farewell.”

31 So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.

Therefore the soldiers, taking Paul according to their orders, brought him by night to Antipatris.

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

And the next day, sending the horsemen to go with him, they returned to the fortress.

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

And when they had arrived at Caesarea and had delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul before him.

34 When the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. When he understood that he was from Cilicia, he said,

And when he had read it and had asked which province he was from, realizing that he was from Cilicia, he said:

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

“I will hear you, when your accusers have arrived.” And he ordered him to be kept in the praetorium of Herod.