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 when Paul had looked on the assembly of them, he said: Men, my brethren; I have lived in all good conscience before God up to this day.
2 And, the High-priest, Ananias, ordered them that stood by him, to be smiting him on the mouth.
And Ananias, the priest, commanded those who stood by his side, to smite Paul 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?
And Paul said to him: God is here-after to smite thee, thou Whited Wall! For, sittest thou judging me agreeably to law, while thou transgressest the law, and commandest to smite me?
4 And, they who stood by, said—The High-priest of God, dost thou revile?
And those standing by, said to him: Dost thou reproach the priest of God!
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.
Paul said to them: I was not aware, my brethren, that he was the priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not curse the 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.
And, as Paul knew that a part of the people were of the Sadducees, and a part of the Pharisees, he cried out, in the assembly: Men, my brethren; I am a Pharisee the son of a Pharisee; and for the hope of the resurrection of the dead, I am judged.
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 said this, the Pharisees and Sadducees fell upon one another, and the people were 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, nor angels, nor a spirit: but the Pharisees confess all these.
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 was great vociferation. And some Scribes of the party of the Pharisees rose up, and contended with them, and said. We have found nothing evil in this man: for if a spirit or an angel hath conversed with him, what is there in that?
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, as there was great commotion among them, the Chiliarch was afraid lest they should tear Paul in pieces. And he sent Romans, to go and pluck him from their midst, 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 when night came, our Lord appeared to Paul, and said to him: Be strong; for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so also art thou to testify 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 morning, several of the Jews assembled together, and bound themselves by imprecations that they would neither eat nor drink until they had slain Paul.
13 And they were, more than forty, who, this sworn-confederacy, had formed.
And they who had established this compact by oath, were more than forty persons.
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 went to the priests and Elders, and said: We have bound ourselves by imprecations, that we will taste of nothing, until we shall have slain 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.
And now, do ye and the chiefs of the congregation request of the Chiliarch, that he would bring him unto you, as if ye were desirous to investigate truly his conduct: and we are prepared to slay him, ere he shall come to you.
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.
And the son of Paul's sister, heard of this plot: and he went into the castle, and informed 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 sent and called one of the centurions, and said to him: Conduct this youth to the Chiliarch; 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.
And the centurion took the young man, and introduced him to the Chiliarch, and said: Paul the prisoner called me, and requested me to bring this youth to thee, for he hath something to tell 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 Chiliarch took the young man by his hand, and led him one side, and asked him: What hast thou 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 the young man said to him: The Jews have projected to ask thee to bring down Paul to-morrow to their assembly, as if wishing to learn something more from 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.
But be not thou persuaded by them: for, lo, more than forty persons of them watch for him in ambush, and have bound themselves by imprecations, that they will neither eat nor drink until they shall have slain him: and lo, they are prepared, and are waiting for thy promise
22 the captain, therefore, dismissed the young man, charging him—Unto no one, divulge thou, that, these things, thou hast shewed unto me.
And the Chiliarch dismissed the young man, after charging him: Let no man know, that thou hast showed me these things.
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 two centurions, and said to them: Go and prepare two hundred Romans to go to Caesarea, and seventy horsemen, and shooters with the right hand two hundred; and let them set out 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 provide also a saddle beast, that they may set Paul on it, and carry him safely to Felix the governor.
25 And he wrote a letter, after this form: —
And he wrote a letter and gave them, in which was, thus:
26 Claudius Lysias, unto the most excellent governor Felix, Joy!
Claudius Lysias to the 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.
The Jews seized this man, in order to kill him; but I came with Romans, and rescued him, when I 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 as I wished to know the offence, for which they criminated him, I brought him to their assembly.
29 whom I found to be accused concerning questions of their law, but, of nothing worthy of death or bonds, to be charged.
And I found, that it was about questions of their law they accused him, and that an offence worthy of bonds or of death, was not upon him.
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 the wiles of a plot formed by the Jews against him came to my knowledge, I forthwith sent him to thee. And I have directed his accusers, to go and contend with him, before thee. Farewell.
31 So the soldiers, according to their orders, taking up Paul, brought him by night unto Antipatris;
Then the Romans, as they had been commanded, took Paul by night, and brought him to the city of Antipatris.
32 and, on the morrow, leaving the horsemen to go on with him, returned to the castle, —
And the next day, the horsemen dismissed the footmen their associates, that they might return to the castle.
33 and the others, entering into Caesarea, and delivering the letter unto the governor, set, Paul also, before him.
And they brought him to Caesarea: and they delivered the letter to the governor, and set Paul 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 the letter, he asked him of what province he was? And when he learned 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.
he said to him: I will give thee audience, when thy accusers arrive. And he ordered him to be kept in the Praetorium of Herod.
