Acts 23

1 Then Paul, gazing intently at the council, said, “Noble brothers, I have spoken with all good conscience before God, even to this present day.”

Paul looked directly at the Sanhedrin and said, “Brothers, I have conducted myself before God in all good conscience to this day.”

2 And the high priest, Ananias, instructed those who were standing nearby to strike him on the mouth.

At this, the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.

3 Then Paul said to him: “God shall strike you, you whitewashed wall! For would you sit and judge me according to the law, when, contrary to the law, you order me to be struck?”

Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit here to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck.”

4 And those who were standing nearby said, “Are you speaking evil about the high priest of God?”

But those standing nearby said, “How dare you insult the high priest of God!”

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

“Brothers,” Paul replied, “I was not aware that he was the high priest, for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’”

6 Now Paul, knowing that one group were Sadducees and the other were Pharisees, exclaimed in the council: “Noble brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees! It is over the hope and resurrection of the dead that I am being judged.”

Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. It is because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”

7 And when he had said this, a dissension occurred between the Pharisees and the Sadducees. And the multitude was divided.

As soon as he had said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.

8 For the Sadducees claim that there is no resurrection, and neither angels, nor spirits. But the Pharisees confess both of these.

For the Sadducees say that there is neither a resurrection, nor angels, nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.

9 Then there occurred a great clamor. And some of the Pharisees, rising up, were fighting, saying: “We find nothing evil in this man. What if a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel?”

A great clamor arose, and some scribes from the party of the Pharisees got up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”

10 And since a great dissension had been made, the tribune, fearing that Paul might be torn apart by them, ordered the soldiers to descend and to seize him from their midst, and to bring him into the fortress.

The dispute grew so violent that the commander was afraid they would tear Paul to pieces. He ordered the soldiers to go down and remove him by force and bring him into the barracks.

11 Then, on the following night, the Lord stood near him and said: “Be constant. For just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so also it is necessary for you to testify at Rome.”

The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so also you must testify in Rome.”

12 And when daylight arrived, some of the Jews gathered together and bound themselves with an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.

When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.

13 Now there were more than forty men who had taken this oath together.

More than forty of them were involved in this plot.

14 And they approached the leaders of the priests, and the elders, and they said: “We have sworn ourselves by an oath, so that we will taste nothing, until we have killed Paul.

They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.

15 Therefore, with the council, you should now give notice to the tribune, so that he may bring him to you, as if you intended to determine something else about him. But before he approaches, we have made preparations to put him to death.”

Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him down to you on the pretext of examining his case more carefully. We are ready to kill him on the way.”

16 But when Paul’s sister’s son had heard of this, about their treachery, he went and entered into the fortress, and he reported it to Paul.

But when the son of Paul’s sister heard about the plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.

17 And Paul, calling to him one of the centurions, said: “Lead this young man to the tribune. For he has something to tell him.”

Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.”

18 And indeed, he took him and led him to the tribune, and he said, “Paul, the prisoner, asked me to lead this young man to you, since he has something to say to you.”

So the centurion took him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner sent and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.”

19 Then the tribune, taking him by the hand, withdrew with him by themselves, and he asked him: “What is it that you have to tell me?”

The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside, and asked, “What do you need to tell me?”

20 Then he said: “The Jews have met to ask you to bring Paul tomorrow to the council, as if they intended to question him about something else.

He answered, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul to the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of acquiring more information about him.

21 But truly, you should not believe them, for they would ambush him with more than forty men from among them, who have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat, nor to drink, until they have put him to death. And they are now prepared, hoping for an affirmation from you.”

Do not let them persuade you, because more than forty men are waiting to ambush him. They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him; they are ready now, awaiting your consent.”

22 And then the tribune dismissed the young man, instructing him not to tell anyone that he had made known these things to him.

So the commander dismissed the young man and instructed him, “Do not tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”

23 Then, having called two centurions, he said to them: “Prepare two hundred soldiers, so that they may go as far as Caesarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen, for the third hour of the night.

Then he called two of his centurions and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea in the third hour of the night.

24 And prepare beasts of burden to carry Paul, so that they may lead him safely to Felix, the governor.”

Provide mounts for Paul to take him safely to Governor Felix.”

25 For he was afraid, lest perhaps the Jews might seize him and kill him, and that afterwards he would be falsely accused, as if he had accepted a bribe. And so he wrote a letter containing the following:

And he wrote the following letter:

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

Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings.

27 This man, having been apprehended by the Jews and being about to be put to death by them, I rescued, overwhelming them with soldiers, since I realized that he is a Roman.

This man was seized by the Jews, and they were about to kill him when I came with my troops to rescue him. For I had learned that he is a Roman citizen,

28 And wanting to know the reason that they objected to him, I brought him into their council.

and since I wanted to understand their charges against him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin.

29 And I discovered him to be accused about questions of their law. Yet truly, nothing deserving of death or imprisonment was within the accusation.

I found that the accusation involved questions about their own law, but there was no charge worthy of death or imprisonment.

30 And when I had been given news of ambushes, which they had prepared against him, I sent him to you, notifying his accusers also, so that they may plead their accusations before you. Farewell.”

When I was informed that there was a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also instructed his accusers to present their case against him before you.

31 Therefore the soldiers, taking Paul according to their orders, brought him by night to Antipatris.

So the soldiers followed their orders and brought Paul by night to Antipatris.

32 And the next day, sending the horsemen to go with him, they returned to the fortress.

The next day they returned to the barracks and let the horsemen go on with him.

33 And when they had arrived at Caesarea and had delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul before him.

When the horsemen arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and presented Paul to him.

34 And when he had read it and had asked which province he was from, realizing that he was from Cilicia, he said:

The governor read the letter and asked what province Paul was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,

35 “I will hear you, when your accusers have arrived.” And he ordered him to be kept in the praetorium of Herod.

he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers arrive.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s Praetorium.