Acts 23

1 And Paul, looking steadfastly, at the High-council, said—Brethren! I, in all good conscience have used my citizenship for God until this day.

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

2 And, the High-priest, Ananias, ordered them that stood by him, to be smiting him on the mouth.

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

3 Then, Paul, unto him, said—God is about to be smiting thee, thou whited wall! Dost, thou, then sit to judge me according to the law, and, unlawfully, orderest me to be smitten?

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?

4 And, they who stood by, said—The High-priest of God, dost thou revile?

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

5 And Paul said—I was not aware, brethren, that he was high-priest; because it is written—Of a ruler of thy people, shalt thou not speak injuriously.

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.

6 But Paul, getting to know that, the one part, were Sadducees and, the other, Pharisees, began to cry aloud in the council—Brethren! I, am, a Pharisee, son of Pharisees: —Concerning a hope, even of a rising again of the dead, am I to be judged.

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.

7 And, as this he was saying, there arose a dissension of the Pharisees and Sadducees; and rent asunder was the throng.

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

8 For, Sadducees, say, there is no rising again, nor messenger, nor spirit, whereas, Pharisees, confess them both.

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

9 And there arose a great outcry, and certain of the Scribes of the party of the Pharisees, standing up, began to strive, saying—Nothing bad, find we in this man; —but, if a spirit hath spoken unto him, or a messenger…

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?

10 And, great dissension arising, the captain, fearing lest Paul would be torn in pieces by them, ordered the troop to go down, and take him by force out of their midst, to bring him into the castle.

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.

11 But, on the following night, the Lord, standing over him, said—Be of good courage! for, as thou hast fully borne witness of the things concerning me in Jerusalem, so must thou, in Rome also, bear witness.

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.

12 And, when it became day, the Jews, forming a conspiracy, bound themselves under a curse, saying, that they would neither eat nor drink till they had slain Paul.

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.

13 And they were, more than forty, who, this sworn-confederacy, had formed.

And they were more than forty that made this conspiracy.

14 And they went unto the High-priests and Elders, and said—With a curse have we bound ourselves, to taste, nothing, until we have slain Paul.

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.

15 Now, therefore, do, ye, with the High-council, make it appear unto the captain, that he should bring him down unto you, as though about to ascertain more exactly the things that concern him; and, we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.

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.

16 But Paul’s sister’s son hearing of the lying-in-wait, happening to be near, and coming into the castle, —reported it unto Paul.

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

17 And Paul, calling unto him one of the centurions, said—This young man, lead thou away unto the captain, for he hath somewhat to report unto him.

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.

18 He, therefore, taking him with him, brought him unto the captain, and saith—The prisoner Paul, calling me unto him, requested me to bring this young man unto thee, as having somewhat to tell thee.

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.

19 And the captain, taking him by the hand, and going aside, began, privately, to ask—What is it which thou hast to report unto me?

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

20 And he said—The Jews, have agreed to request thee, that, to-morrow, thou wouldst bring, Paul, down into the High-council, as though about to ascertain something, more exact, concerning him.

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.

21 Thou, therefore, do not be persuaded by them, for there are lying in wait for him, from among them, more than forty men, —who, indeed, have bound themselves under a curse, neither to eat nor drink, till they have killed him; and, now, are they ready, awaiting the promise, from thee.

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.

22 the captain, therefore, dismissed the young man, charging him—Unto no one, divulge thou, that, these things, thou hast shewed unto me.

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

23 And calling certain two of the centurions he said—Make ye ready two hundred soldiers, that they may journey as far as Caesarea, —and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen, by the third hour of the night;

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:

24 beasts also provide, in order that, seating Paul thereon, they may bring him safely through unto Felix the governor.

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

25 And he wrote a letter, after this form: —

And he wrote a letter after this form:

26 Claudius Lysias, unto the most excellent governor Felix, Joy!

Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix, greeting.

27 This man, having been apprehended by the Jews, and being about to be killed by them, I went down with the troop, and rescued; having learned that he was, a Roman.

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.

28 And, being minded to find out the cause for which they were accusing him, [I took him down into their High-council],

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

29 whom I found to be accused concerning questions of their law, but, of nothing worthy of death or bonds, to be charged.

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.

30 But, when I was informed there would be a plot against the man, forthwith, I sent him unto thee, charging, his accusers also, to be speaking against him before thee.

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.

31 So the soldiers, according to their orders, taking up Paul, brought him by night unto Antipatris;

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

32 and, on the morrow, leaving the horsemen to go on with him, returned to the castle, —

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

33 and the others, entering into Caesarea, and delivering the letter unto the governor, set, Paul also, before him.

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

34 And, when he had read it, and asked out of what province he was, and learned that he was from Cilicia,

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

35 I myself will hear thee in full, said he, whensoever, thine accusers also, are come; and gave orders that, in the palace of Herod, he should be kept under guard.

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