Acts 23

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

and Paul looking earnestly at the sanhedrim, said, "Brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God even to this day:"

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

but the high priest Ananias ordered those that stood next him, to smite 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 said Paul to him, "God will smite thee, thou whited wall: dost thou sit to judge me according to the law, and contrary to the law commandest me to be smitten?"

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

But they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high-priest?

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 was not aware, brethren, that it was the high-priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy 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!”

But Paul, knowing that the one part were sadducees, and the other pharisees, cried out in the sanhedrim, "Brethren, I am a pharisee, the son of a pharisee: for the hope of a resurrection of the dead I am now prosecuted."

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

Upon his saying this, there rose a contention between the pharisees and the sadducees; and the people were 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 say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but the pharisees acknowledge both.

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!”

So there was a great clamor: and the scribes that were of the party of the pharisees rose up and contended, 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 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.

But as there arose much contention, the tribune fearing least Paul should be torn in pieces by them, ordered a party of soldiers to go down, and take him by force out of the midst of them, and to bring him into the castle.

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.”

And the following night, the Lord standing by him said, Paul, be of good courage; for as thou hast testified concerning me at Jerusalem, so must thou also bear testimony 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 it was day, some of the Jews, having formed a conspiracy, bound themselves with a curse, saying, that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

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

And they were more than forty that had made this oath:

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.

who came to the chief priests and the elders, and said, "We have bound ourselves by a curse to eat nothing till 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.”

Now therefore do ye with the rest of the sanhedrim signify to the tribune, that he would bring him down to you to-morrow, as if you would examine more accurately some things concerning him: and we are ready to dispatch him before he come near you."

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 Paul's sister's son, hearing of the ambush, came and entered into the castle, and told 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.”

Then Paul called one of the centurions to him, and said, Introduce this young man to the tribune; for he hath 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.”

So he took him and brought him to the tribune, and said, Paul the prisoner called me to him, and desired me to introduce this young man unto thee, as having something to say to thee.

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

And the tribune took him by the hand, and retiring into a private apartment asked him, What is it which thou hast 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.

And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee, that thou wouldest bring down Paul to-morrow to the council, as if they would inquire something more strictly concerning him.

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 do not thou comply with them: for there lie in wait for him more than forty men of them, who have bound themselves with a curse neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him: and they are now ready, waiting for an order from thee.

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

Then the tribune dismissed the young man, charging him, Tell no one that thou hast discovered these things to me.

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.”

And he called two of the centurions to him, and said, Get ready two hundred soldiers to go to Cesarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen, by 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 provide beasts, that they may set Paul on and bring him safe to Felix the governor.

25 He wrote a letter like this:

And he wrote a letter to this effect:

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

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

This man being seized by the Jews, and about to be killed by them, I came upon them with some soldiers and rescued him: for I understand that he is a Roman.

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

But desiring to know the cause for which they accused him, I brought him down 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 found he was accused about questions of their law, but had no charge against him deserving death or bonds.

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.”

But an ambush, which was going to be laid for the man by the Jews, being discovered to me, immediately I sent him to thee, telling his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell.

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

The soldiers therefore, according to the orders given them, took up Paul, and 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 they returned to the castle, leaving the horsemen to go with him;

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

who, when they came into Cesarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also 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 the governor had read the letter, and asked of what province he was; being informed that he was of 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 thee, when thine accusers are also come. And he ordered him to be kept in Herod's palace.