Acts 23

1 And Paul, fixing his eyes on the council, said, Brethren, I have walked in all good conscience with God unto this day.

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

2 But the high priest Ananias ordered those standing by him to smite his mouth.

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

3 Then Paul said to him, God will smite thee, whited wall. And thou, dost thou sit judging me according to the law, and breaking the law commandest me to be smitten?

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?”

4 And those that stood by said, Dost thou rail against the high priest of God?

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

5 And Paul said, I was not conscious, brethren, that he was high priest; for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evilly of the ruler of thy people.

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.’”

6 But Paul, knowing that the one part [of them] were of the Sadducees and the other of the Pharisees, cried out in the council, Brethren, I am a Pharisee, son of Pharisees: I am judged concerning the hope and resurrection of [the] dead.

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!”

7 And when he had spoken this, there was a tumult of the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the multitude was divided.

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

8 For Sadducees say there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but Pharisees confess both of them.

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

9 And there was a great clamour, and the scribes of the Pharisees' part rising up contended, saying, We find nothing evil in this man; and if a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel...

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!”

10 And a great tumult having arisen, the chiliarch, fearing lest Paul should have been torn in pieces by them, commanded the troop to come down and take him by force from the midst of them, and to bring [him] into the fortress.

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.

11 But the following night the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good courage; for as thou hast testified the things concerning me at Jerusalem, so thou must bear witness at Rome also.

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.”

12 And when it was day, the Jews, having banded together, put themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they should kill Paul.

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.

13 And they were more than forty who had joined together in this oath;

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

14 and they went to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have cursed ourselves with a curse to taste nothing until we kill Paul.

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.

15 Now therefore do ye with the council make a representation to the chiliarch so that he may bring him down to you, as about to determine more precisely what concerns him, and we, before he draws near, are ready to kill him.

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.”

16 But Paul's sister's son, having heard of the lying in wait, came and entered into the fortress and reported [it] to Paul.

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

17 And Paul, having called one of the centurions, said, Take this youth to the chiliarch, for he has something to report to him.

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

18 He therefore, having taken him with [him], led him to the chiliarch, and says, The prisoner Paul called me to [him] and asked me to lead this youth to thee, who has something to say to thee.

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.”

19 And the chiliarch having taken him by the hand, and having gone apart in private, inquired, What is it that thou hast to report to me?

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

20 And he said, The Jews have agreed together to make a request to thee, that thou mayest bring Paul down to-morrow into the council, as about to inquire something more precise concerning him.

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.

21 Do not thou then be persuaded by them, for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, who have put themselves under a curse neither to eat nor drink till they kill him; and now they are ready waiting the promise from thee.

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.”

22 The chiliarch then dismissed the youth, commanding [him], Utter to no one that thou hast represented these things to me.

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

23 And having called to [him] certain two of the centurions, he said, Prepare two hundred soldiers that they may go as far as Caesarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred light-armed footmen, for the third hour of the night.

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.”

24 And [he ordered them] to provide beasts, that they might set Paul on them and carry [him] safe through to Felix the governor,

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

25 having written a letter, couched in this form:

He wrote a letter like this:

26 Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix, greeting.

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

27 This man, having been taken by the Jews, and being about to be killed by them, I came up with the military and took out [of their hands], having learned that he was a Roman.

“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.

28 And desiring to know the charge on which they accused him, I brought him down to their council;

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

29 whom I found to be accused of questions of their law, but to have no charge laid against him [making him] worthy of death or of bonds.

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

30 But having received information of a plot about to be put in execution against the man [by the Jews], I have immediately sent him to thee, commanding also his accusers to say before thee the things that are against him. [Farewell.]

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.”

31 The soldiers therefore, according to what was ordered them, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris,

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

32 and on the morrow, having left the horsemen to go with him, returned to the fortress.

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

33 And these, having entered into Caesarea, and given up the letter to the governor, presented Paul also to him.

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

34 And having read [it], and asked of what eparchy he was, and learned that [he was] of Cilicia,

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

35 he said, I will hear thee fully when thine accusers also are arrived. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's praetorium.

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