Acts 23

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

With a stedfast gaze at the Sanhedrin, Paul said, "Brothers, I have lived with a good conscience before God to this day."

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

Then the High Priest Ananias ordered those who stood near Paul to strike him on the mouth.

3 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?

"You whited sepulcher," exclaimed Paul, "God will strike you! You are sitting there to judge me according to the law, are you? And do you command me to be struck, contrary to the Law?"

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

"Do you rail at God’s high priest?" said the bystanders.

5 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.

"Brothers, I did not know that he was the high priest," exclaimed Paul, "for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of a ruler of my people."

6 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.

Then perceiving that half the Sanhedrin were Sadducees and the other half Pharisee, he cried out in the Sanhedrin. "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees! It is for the hope of the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial!"

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

When he said this, there arose a quarrel between the Pharisees and Sadducees; the meeting was 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, neither angel nor spirit; the Pharisees affirm them all.

9 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.

Then a great clamor arose; some of the scribes who belonged to the Pharisaic party stood up, and contended. "We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel?"

10 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.

But when the dissension became violent, the tribune, fearing that they would tear Paul in pieces, ordered the troops to march down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks.

11 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.

And the following night the Lord stood by him and said. "Be of good courage; for as you have borne faithful witness concerning me at Jerusalem, so you must testify at Rome also."

12 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.

When day dawned the Jews made a conspiracy, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

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

And there were more than forty who had sworn this oath.

14 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.

They went to the high priests and elders, and said to them. "We have bound ourselves by a solemn oath to eat nothing until we have killed Paul.

15 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.

"Now do you and the Sanhedrin ask the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you would judge his case more exactly; and we are ready to kill him, before he comes near the place."

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

But Paul’s sister’s son heard of their intended attack, and he went and got into the barracks, and told Paul.

17 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.

And Paul called one of the centurions, and said, "Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to tell him."

18 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.

So he took him, and brought his to the tribune, and said, "Paul, the prisoner, called me to him, and begged me to bring this young man to you, because he has something to tell you."

19 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?

And the tribune 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 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.

"The Jews," he answered, "have agreed to ask you to bring down Paul tomorrow to the Sanhedrin, as though they wish to examine his case in detail.

21 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.

"Now do not let them persuade, for more than forty men are lying in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse, not to eat nor drink until they have killed him; even now they are all ready, awaiting your consent."

22 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.

So the tribune sent the young man home with the injunction, "Tell no man that you have given me this information."

23 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;

Then he called two centurions to him and said. "Get ready by nine o’clock tonight two hundred infantry to march as far as Caesarea, and also seventy troopers and two hundred spearmen."

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

He further ordered them to provide horses on which to mount Paul, so as to bring him safely to Felix, the governor.

25 And he wrote a letter after this manner:

He also wrote a letter in the following terms.

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

"Claudius Lysais unto the Most Excellent Governor Felix, greeting.

27 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.

"This man Paul had been seized by the Jews, and was about to be killed by them, when I came upon them with the troops, and rescued him, as I had learned that he was a Roman citizen.

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

"Anxious to find out why they had accused him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin.

29 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.

"Here I learned that he was accused about questions of their law, but was not charged with anything worthy of death or imprisonment.

30 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.

"Now when I received information that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him at once to you, charging his accusers also to speak against him before you."

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

So the soldiers took Paul, as they were bid, and brought him by night to Antipatris.

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

Next day the infantry returned to the barracks, leaving the troopers to ride on with him.

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

They reached Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, and also presented Paul before him.

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

After reading the letter, he asked to what province he belonged, and when he understood that he was of Cilicia, he said,

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

"I will hear your case when your accusers also are come." And he ordered him to be kept in custody in Herod’s palace.