Acts 23

1 And Paul, looking the sanhedrim in the face, said, Men, brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God unto this day.

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

2 And the high priest Ananias commanded those standing near him to smite him in the mouth.

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

3 Then Paul said to him, God is about to smite thee, thou whitewashed wall: indeed thou art sitting judging me according to the law, and dost thou command me to be smitten contrary to the law?

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 standing by said, Do you revile the high priest of God?

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

5 And Paul said, Brethren, I did not know that he is the high priest; for it is written, You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your 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 And Paul knowing that one part of them belongs to the Sadducees, and another to the Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men, brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of the Pharisees: concerning the hope and the resurrection of the dead I am judged.

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 he speaking this, there was a dissension of the Pharisees and 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 the Sadducees indeed say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.

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 clamor: and certain ones of the scribes on the part of the Pharisees, rising up, continued to strive, saying, We find nothing evil in this man: but has a spirit or an angel spoken to him?

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 the dissension being great, the chiliarch fearing lest Paul may be torn to pieces by them, commanded the army, having gone down, to take him from their midst, and lead him into the castle.

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 And on the following night, the Lord standing over him, said, Take courage: for as thou hast testified to the things concerning me in Jerusalem, so it behooveth thee also to testify to me in Rome.

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 it being day, the Jews having formed a conspiracy, obligated themselves by an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they might 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 there were more than forty having made this plot:

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

14 who, having come to the chief priests and elders, said, We have anathematized ourselves with an anathema, to taste nothing until we may 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 you appeal to the chiliarch along with the sanhedrim, that he may lead him down to you, as about to investigate matters concerning him more thoroughly: and we are ready to kill him before he comes nigh.

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 And the son of Paul's sister, having heard of ambuscade, coming and entering into the castle, 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, Lead this young man to the chiliarch: for he has something to tell 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 Then indeed taking him, he led him to the chiliarch, and says, Paul the prisoner, having called me, requested me to lead this young man to you, having something to tell you.

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 taking him by the hand, and having gone away privately, asked him, What is that which you have to tell 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 entered into an agreement to ask you that to-morrow you may lead Paul to the sanhedrim, as about to make inquiry as to something more definite 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 Therefore do not be persuaded by them: for more than forty of them lie in wait for him, who have obligated themselves by an oath, neither to eat nor drink until they may kill him: and now they are ready, awaiting the promise from you.

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 Then indeed the chiliarch sent away the young man, having commanded him to Tell no one that you have revealed 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 a certain two of the centurions, he said, Get ready two hundred soldiers that they may go unto Caesarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen, from 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 prepare beasts of burden, that, having carried away Paul, you may deliver him safe 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 Writing a letter having this form:

He wrote a letter like this:

26 Claudius Lysias to the most noble 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 put to death by them, having interposed with my army, I took out of their hands, having learned that he is 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 wishing to know the cause on account of which they clamored against him, I led him into their sanhedrim:

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

29 whom I found accused concerning questions of their law, having no charge worthy of death or 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 And a plot from them being revealed to me to be against the man, I sent him to thee, having commanded his accusers also to speak in thy presence.

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 Then indeed the soldiers, according to that which had been commanded them, taking Paul led 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 following day letting the cavalry go on with him, they returned to the castle.

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

33 Who, having come into Caesarea, and delivered the letter to the governor, also committed Paul to him.

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

34 And having read, and made inquiry of what jurisdiction,

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

35 and ascertaining that he is from Cilicia, said, I will hear thee, when thy accusers may also be present, having commanded that he should be kept in Herod's judgment hall.

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