Acts 23

1 And Paul, looking fixedly at the Sanhedrin, said, My brothers, my life has been upright before God till this day.

And Paul looking upon the council, said: Men, brethren, I have conversed with all good conscience before God until this present day.

2 And the high priest, Ananias, gave orders to those who were near him to give him a blow on the mouth.

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

3 Then Paul said to him, God will give blows to you, you whitewashed wall: are you here to be my judge by law, and by your orders am I given blows against the law?

Then Paul said to him: God shall strike thee, thou whited wall. For sittest thou to judge me according to the law, and contrary to the law commandest me to be struck?

4 And those who were near said, Do you say such words against God's high priest?

And they that stood by said: Dost thou revile the high priest of God?

5 And Paul said, Brother, I had no idea that he was the high priest: for it has been said, You may not say evil about the ruler of your people.

And Paul said: I knew not, brethren, that he is the high priest. For it is written: Thou shalt not speak evil of the prince of thy people.

6 But when Paul saw that half of them were Sadducees and the rest Pharisees, he said in the Sanhedrin, Brothers, I am a Pharisee, and the son of Pharisees: I am here to be judged on the question of the hope of the coming back from the dead.

And Paul knowing that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, cried out in the council: Men, brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees: concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

7 And when he had said this, there was an argument between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and a division in the meeting.

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

8 For the Sadducees say that there is no coming back from the dead, and no angels or spirits: but the Pharisees have belief in all these.

For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.

9 And there was a great outcry: and some of the scribes on the side of the Pharisees got up and took part in the discussion, saying, We see no evil in this man: what if he has had a revelation from an angel or a spirit?

And there arose a great cry. And some of the Pharisees rising up, strove, saying: We find no evil in this man. What if a spirit hath spoken to him, or an angel?

10 And when the argument became very violent, the chief captain, fearing that Paul would be pulled in two by them, gave orders to the armed men to take him by force from among them, and take him into the army building.

And when there arose a great dissension, the tribune fearing lest Paul should be pulled in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.

11 And the night after, the Lord came to his side and said, Be of good heart, for as you have been witnessing for me in Jerusalem, so will you be my witness in Rome.

And the night following the Lord standing by him, said: Be constant; for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

12 And when it was day, the Jews came together and put themselves under an oath that they would take no food or drink till they had put Paul to death.

And when day was come, some of the Jews gathered together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying, that they would neither eat, nor drink, till they killed Paul.

13 And more than forty of them took this oath.

And they were more than forty men that had made this conspiracy.

14 And they came to the chief priests and the rulers and said, We have taken a great oath to take no food till we have put Paul to death

Who came to the chief priests and the ancients, and said: We have bound ourselves under a great curse that we will eat nothing till we have slain Paul.

15 So now, will you and the Sanhedrin make a request to the military authorities to have him sent down to you, as if you were desiring to go into the business in greater detail; and we, before ever he gets to you, will be waiting to put him to death.

Now therefore do you with the council signify to the tribune, that he bring him forth to you, as if you meant to know something more certain touching him. And we, before he come near, are ready to kill him.

16 But Paul's sister's son had word of their design, and he came into the army building and gave news of it to Paul.

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

17 And Paul sent for a captain and said, Take this young man to your chief, for he has news for him.

And Paul, calling to him one of the centurions, said: Bring this young man to the tribune, for he hath some thing to tell him.

18 So he took him to the chief captain and said, Paul, the prisoner, made a request to me to take this young man to you, for he has something to say to you.

And he taking him, brought him to the tribune, and said: Paul, the prisoner, desired me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath some thing to say to thee.

19 And the chief took him by the hand and, going on one side, said to him privately, What is it you have to say to me?

And the tribune taking him by the hand, went aside with him privately, and asked him: What is it that thou hast to tell me?

20 And he said, The Jews are in agreement together to make a request to you for Paul to be taken, on the day after this, into the Sanhedrin, to be questioned in greater detail.

And he said: The Jews have agreed to desire thee, that thou wouldst bring forth Paul tomorrow into the council, as if they meant to inquire some thing more certain touching him.

21 But do not give way to them, for more than forty of them are waiting for him, having taken an oath not to take food or drink till they have put him to death: and now they are ready, waiting for your order.

But do not thou give credit to them; for there lie in wait for him more than forty men of them, who have bound themselves by oath neither to eat, nor to drink, till they have killed him: and they are now ready, looking for a promise from thee.

22 So the chief captain let the young man go, saying to him, Do not say to anyone that you have given me word of these things.

The tribune therefore dismissed the young man, charging him that he should tell no man, that he had made known these things unto him.

23 And he sent for two captains and said, Make ready two hundred men, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen, to go to Caesarea, at the third hour of the night:

Then having called two centurions, he said to them: Make ready two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen for the third hour of the night:

24 And get beasts so that they may put Paul on them, and take him safely to Felix, the ruler.

And provide beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe to Felix the governor.

25 And he sent a letter in these words:

(For he feared lest perhaps the Jews might take him away by force and kill him, and he should afterwards be slandered, as if he was to take money.) And he wrote a letter after this manner:

26 Claudius Lysias, to the most noble ruler, Felix, peace be with you.

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

27 This man was taken by the Jews, and was about to be put to death by them, when I came on them with the army and took him out of danger, having knowledge that he was a Roman.

This man being taken by the Jews, and ready to be killed by them, I rescued coming in with an army, understanding that he is a Roman:

28 And, desiring to get at the reason for their attack on him, I took him down to their Sanhedrin:

And meaning to know the cause which they objected unto him, I brought him forth into their council.

29 Then it became clear to me that it was a question of their law, and that nothing was said against him which might be a reason for prison or death.

Whom I found to be accused concerning questions of their law; but having nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bands.

30 And when news was given to me that a secret design was being made against the man, I sent him straight away to you, giving orders to those who are against him to make their statements before you.

And when I was told of ambushes that they had prepared for him, I sent him to thee, signifying also to his accusers to plead before thee. Farewell.

31 So the armed men, as they were ordered, took Paul and came by night to Antipatris.

Then the soldiers, according as it was commanded them, taking Paul, brought him by night to Antipatris.

32 But on the day after, they sent the horsemen on with him, and went back to their place:

And the next day, leaving the horsemen to go with him, they returned to the castle.

33 And they, when they came to Caesarea, gave the letter to the ruler, and took Paul before him.

Who, when they were come to Caesarea, and had delivered the letter to the governor, did also present Paul before him.

34 And after reading it, he said, What part of the country do you come from? And, hearing that he was from Cilicia,

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

35 I will give hearing to your cause, he said, when those who are against you have come. And he gave orders for him to be kept in Herod's Praetorium.

I will hear thee, said he, when thy accusers come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s judgment hall.