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 upon the Sanhedrim, said: Brethren, I have lived in all good conscience toward God to this day.

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

And the chief priest, Ananias, commanded those who stood by 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 Paul said to him: God will smite you, you whitened wall! for do you sit to judge me according to the law, and yet violate the law by commanding me to be smitten?

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

And those who stood by said: Do you revile God’s chief priest?

5 Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was high priest. For it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”

And Paul replied: I did not know, brethren, that he was the chief priest: for it is written, You shall not speak evil of the ruler 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!”

But when Paul perceived that one part belonged to the Sadducees, and the other to the Pharisees, he cried out, in the Sanhedrim: Brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; for the hope of the resurrection of the dead am I 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, there arose a dissension 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 say that there is no resurrection; neither angel nor spirit: but the Pharisees acknowledge both. And there arose a great clamor. And the scribes, on the part of the Pharisees, arose and contended, saying:

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!”

We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or an angel has 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.

And when there arose a great dissension, the officer, fearing that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, 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.”

And on the following night, the Lord stood by him, and said: Take courage; for as you have testified of me in Jerusalem, so must you testify also in 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, the Jews combined together, and bound themselves under 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 there were more than forty who formed this conspiracy.

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 went to the chief priests and elders, and said: We have surely bound ourselves under a curse, that we will taste 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 you, together with the Sanhedrim, give notice to the officer, that he bring him down to you to-morrow, as if you intended to inquire more accurately into the matters concerning him: and before he comes near, we are ready to kill him.

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 the son of Paul’s sister heard of the plot, and he went and entered the fortress, 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.”

And Paul called one of the centurions to him, and said: Conduct this young man to the officer, 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.”

So he took him, and led him to the officer, and said: The prisoner Paul called me to him, and requested me to conduct this young man to you; for he has something to tell 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?”

And the officer took him by the hand, and went aside with him privately, and inquired: 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.

He answered: The Jews have agreed to request you to bring Paul down into the Sanhedrim to-morrow, as if they intended to inquire something more accurately concerning him.

21 Therefore do not 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.”

Do not, however, be persuaded by them; for more than forty men of them are lying in wait for him; and they have bound themselves under a curse, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him. And now they are ready, waiting for a promise 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.”

Then the officer sent the young man away, with this charge: Tell no one that you have made these things known 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 to him two centurions, and said: Make ready two hundred soldiers, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen, that they may depart to Cæsarea at 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 on which they may set Paul, and take him in safety to Felix the governor.

25 He wrote a letter like this:

And he wrote a letter in this form:

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

Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor, Felix, 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 was taken by the Jews, and was about to be killed by them. Then I went with soldiers, and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.

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

But wishing to know the cause for which they accused him, I brought him down into their Sanhedrim.

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 that he was accused about questions of their law, but had nothing worthy of death or of bonds charged against him.

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 as I was informed that a plot was about to be laid against the man by the Jews, I immediately sent him to you, and commanded his accusers to say in your presence what they had against him. Farewell.

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

Then the soldiers took Paul, as they were commanded, 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, on the morrow, they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the fortress.

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

When they came to Cæsarea, and delivered the letter to the governor, they 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 he had read the letter, he inquired to what province he belonged. And learning that he was from Cilicia,

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

he said: I will hear you when your accusers also have come. And he ordered him to be kept under guard in Herod’s palace.