Acts 23

1 And Paul, looking stedfastly on the council, said, Brethren, I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day.

And when Paul had looked on the assembly of them, he said: Men, my brethren; I have lived in all good conscience before God up to this day.

2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.

And Ananias, the priest, commanded those who stood by his side, to smite Paul on the mouth.

3 Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: and sittest thou to judge me according to the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?

And Paul said to him: God is here-after to smite thee, thou Whited Wall! For, sittest thou judging me agreeably to law, while thou transgressest the law, and commandest to smite me?

4 And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God’s high priest?

And those standing by, said to him: Dost thou reproach the priest of God!

5 And Paul said, I knew not, brethren, that he was high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of a ruler of thy people.

Paul said to them: I was not aware, my brethren, that he was the priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not curse 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, Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees: touching the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

And, as Paul knew that a part of the people were of the Sadducees, and a part of the Pharisees, he cried out, in the assembly: Men, my brethren; I am a Pharisee the son of a Pharisee; and for the hope of the resurrection of the dead, I am judged.

7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees; and the assembly was divided.

And when he had said this, the Pharisees and Sadducees fell upon one another, and the people were divided

8 For the Sadducees 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 angels, nor a spirit: but the Pharisees confess all these.

9 And there arose a great clamor: and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ part stood up, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: and what if a spirit hath spoken to him, or an angel?

And there was great vociferation. And some Scribes of the party of the Pharisees rose up, and contended with them, and said. We have found nothing evil in this man: for if a spirit or an angel hath conversed with him, what is there in that?

10 And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should 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 castle.

And, as there was great commotion among them, the Chiliarch was afraid lest they should tear Paul in pieces. And he sent Romans, to go and pluck him from their midst, and bring him into the castle.

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

And when night came, our Lord appeared to Paul, and said to him: Be strong; for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so also art thou to testify at Rome.

12 And when it was day, the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

And when it was morning, several of the Jews assembled together, and bound themselves by imprecations that they would neither eat nor drink until they had slain Paul.

13 And they were more than forty that made this conspiracy.

And they who had established this compact by oath, were more than forty persons.

14 And 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 priests and Elders, and said: We have bound ourselves by imprecations, that we will taste of nothing, until we shall have slain Paul.

15 Now therefore do ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you, as though ye would judge of his case more exactly: and we, before he comes near, are ready to slay him.

And now, do ye and the chiefs of the congregation request of the Chiliarch, that he would bring him unto you, as if ye were desirous to investigate truly his conduct: and we are prepared to slay him, ere he shall come to you.

16 But Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, and he came and entered into the castle and told Paul.

And the son of Paul's sister, heard of this plot: and he went into the castle, and informed Paul.

17 And Paul called unto him one of the centurions, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain; for he hath something to tell him.

And Paul sent and called one of the centurions, and said to him: Conduct this youth to the Chiliarch; for he hath something to tell him.

18 So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and saith, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and asked me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say to thee.

And the centurion took the young man, and introduced him to the Chiliarch, and said: Paul the prisoner called me, and requested me to bring this youth to thee, for he hath something to tell thee.

19 And the chief captain took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, What is it that thou hast to tell me?

And the Chiliarch took the young man by his hand, and led him one side, and asked him: What hast thou to tell me?

20 And he said, The Jews have agreed to ask thee to bring down Paul to-morrow unto the council, as though thou wouldest inquire somewhat more exactly concerning him.

And the young man said to him: The Jews have projected to ask thee to bring down Paul to-morrow to their assembly, as if wishing to learn something more from him.

21 Do not thou therefore yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, who have bound themselves under a curse, neither to eat nor to drink till they have slain him: and now are they ready, looking for the promise from thee.

But be not thou persuaded by them: for, lo, more than forty persons of them watch for him in ambush, and have bound themselves by imprecations, that they will neither eat nor drink until they shall have slain him: and lo, they are prepared, and are waiting for thy promise

22 So the chief captain let the young man go, charging him, Tell no man that thou hast signified these things to me.

And the Chiliarch dismissed the young man, after charging him: Let no man know, that thou hast showed me these things.

23 And he called unto him two of the centurions, and said, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go as far as Cæsarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night:

And he called two centurions, and said to them: Go and prepare two hundred Romans to go to Caesarea, and seventy horsemen, and shooters with the right hand two hundred; and let them set out at the third hour of the night.

24 and [he bade them] provide beasts, that they might set Paul thereon, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.

And provide also a saddle beast, that they may set Paul on it, and carry him safely to Felix the governor.

25 And he wrote a letter after this form:

And he wrote a letter and gave them, in which was, thus:

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

Claudius Lysias to the excellent governor Felix; greeting.

27 This man was seized by the Jews, and was about to be slain of them, when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.

The Jews seized this man, in order to kill him; but I came with Romans, and rescued him, when I learned that he was a Roman.

28 And desiring to know the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him down unto their council:

And as I wished to know the offence, for which they criminated him, I brought him to their assembly.

29 whom I found to be accused about questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.

And I found, that it was about questions of their law they accused him, and that an offence worthy of bonds or of death, was not upon him.

30 And when it was shown to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to thee forthwith, charging his accusers also to speak against him before thee.

And when the wiles of a plot formed by the Jews against him came to my knowledge, I forthwith sent him to thee. And I have directed his accusers, to go and contend with him, before thee. Farewell.

31 So the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.

Then the Romans, as they had been commanded, took Paul by night, and brought him to the city of Antipatris.

32 But on the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:

And the next day, the horsemen dismissed the footmen their associates, that they might return to the castle.

33 and they, when they came to Cæsarea and delivered the letter to the governor, presented Paul also before him.

And they brought him to Caesarea: and they delivered the letter to the governor, and set Paul before him.

34 And when he had read it, he asked of what province he was; and when he understood that he was of Cilicia,

And when he had read the letter, he asked him of what province he was? And when he learned that he was of Cilicia,

35 I will hear thee fully, said he, when thine accusers also are come: and he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s palace.

he said to him: I will give thee audience, when thy accusers arrive. And he ordered him to be kept in the Praetorium of Herod.