Acts 23

1 Paul, looking sraight at the council, said, “Brothers, right up to now I have always conducted myself before God with a clear conscience.”

And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men [and] brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.

2 Ananias the high priest ordered the officers standing beside Paul to hit him on the mouth.

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

3 Paul said to him, “God will hit you, you whitewashed wall! You're sitting there to judge me according to the law, and you order me to be hit in contravention of the law!”

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

4 The officers standing beside Paul said, “How dare you insult the high priest!”

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

5 “Brothers, I didn't know that he was the high priest,” Paul replied. “As Scriptures say, ‘You must not speak evil of any ruler of your people.’”

Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.

6 When Paul realized that some of the council were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, he shouted out, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee! I'm on trial because of my hope in the 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] brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

7 When he said this, a tremendous argument broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees that split the council.

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

8 (The Sadducees say there is no resurrection from the dead, no angels, and no spirits, but Pharisees believe in all of these.)

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

9 A great commotion erupted and some of the Pharisee teachers of the law stood up and argued fiercely, saying, “We find this man not guilty! Maybe a spirit spoke to him, or an angel!”

And there arose a great cry: and the scribes [that were] of the Pharisees’ part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.

10 The argument was getting out of hand, so the commander, concerned that they would tear Paul to pieces, ordered the soldiers to go and rescue him from them by force, and take him back into the fortress.

And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring [him] into the castle.

11 Afterwards, during the night, the Lord stood by Paul, and told him, “Keep up your courage! Just as you have given your testimony about me in Jerusalem, so you must be my witness in Rome as well.”

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

12 Next day some Jews plotted together, and they took an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.

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

13 Over forty were part of this conspiracy.

And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.

14 They went to the chief priests and leaders and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.

And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.

15 So you and the council should send word to the commander that he should bring Paul down to meet with you, as if you wanted to examine his case in more detail. We're ready to kill him along the way.”

Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.

16 But Paul's nephew (his sister's son) heard about their planned ambush, and he went into the fortress and told Paul about it.

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

17 Paul called over one of the centurions, and told him, “Take this young man to the commander, because he has some information to share with him.”

Then Paul called one of the centurions unto [him], and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him.

18 So the centurion took Paul's nephew and brought him to the commander and told him, “The prisoner Paul called me over and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.”

So he took him, and brought [him] to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto [him], and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee.

19 The commander took the young man by the hand and drew him aside. “What do you have to tell me?” he asked quietly.

Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went [with him] aside privately, and asked [him], What is that thou hast to tell me?

20 “The Jews have arranged to ask you to bring Paul to the council tomorrow, as if they wanted to ask more detailed questions about his case,” he explained.

And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly.

21 “Please don't listen to them, because they have planned to ambush him with more than forty men who have taken an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They're ready right now, waiting for you to agree to the request.”

But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee.

22 The commander sent the young man on his way, warning him, “Don't tell anyone that you've told me about this.”

So the chief captain [then] let the young man depart, and charged [him, See thou] tell no man that thou hast shewed these things to me.

23 He summoned two centurions and told them, “Get two hundred soldiers ready to go to Caesarea, together with seventy cavalry-men and two hundred spearmen. Be ready to leave at nine p.m. tonight.

And he called unto [him] two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Cæsarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;

24 Provide horses for Paul to ride to make sure he gets to Governor Felix safely.”

And provide [them] beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring [him] safe unto Felix the governor.

25 He also wrote a letter that went like this:

And he wrote a letter after this manner:

26 “From Claudius Lysias to His Excellency Governor Felix, greetings!

Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix [sendeth] greeting.

27 This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him, when I arrived on the scene with soldiers and rescued him, because I had found out he was a Roman citizen.

This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.

28 I wanted to know the reason for their accusations, so I took him before their council.

And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:

29 I found out the charges against him had to do with issues regarding their law, but he was not guilty of anything that merited death or imprisonment.

Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.

30 When I discovered a plot against this man I sent him to you right away, ordering his accusers to make their complaints before you.”

And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what [they had] against him. Farewell.

31 So the soldiers followed their orders and took Paul overnight to Antipatris.

Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought [him] by night to Antipatris.

32 The next morning they sent him on with the cavalry, and went back to the fortress.

On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:

33 When the cavalry arrived at Caesarea they delivered the letter to the governor and brought Paul before him.

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

34 After reading the letter, the governor asked Paul what province he came from. When he learned he was from Cilicia he told Paul,

And when the governor had read [the letter], he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that [he was] of Cilicia;

35 “I will investigate your case when your accusers arrive.” He ordered Paul detained in Herod's palace.

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