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Acts 23

Paul before the Council

1 Paul, looking intently at the Council, said, "Brethren, I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day."2 The high priest Ananias commanded those standing beside him to strike him on the mouth.3 Then Paul said to him, "God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to try me according to the Law, and in violation of the Law order me to be struck?"4 But the bystanders said, "Do you revile God's high priest?"5 And Paul said, "I was not aware, brethren, that he was high priest; for it is written, 'YOU SHALL NOT SPEAK EVIL OF A RULER OF YOUR PEOPLE.'"

6 But perceiving that one group were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, Paul began crying out in the Council, "Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!"7 As he said this, there occurred a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.9 And there occurred a great uproar; and some of the scribes of the Pharisaic party stood up and began to argue heatedly, saying, "We find nothing wrong with this man; suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?"10 And as a great dissension was developing, the tcommander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them and ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force, and bring him into the barracks.

11 But on the night immediately following, the Lord stood at his side and said, "Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also."

A Conspiracy to Kill Paul

12 When it was day, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.13 There were more than forty who formed this plot.14 They came to the chief priests and the elders and said, "We have bound ourselves under a solemn oath to taste nothing until we have killed Paul.15 Now therefore, you and the Council notify the commander to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case by a more thorough investigation; and we for our part are ready to slay him before he comes near the place. "

16 But the son of Paul's sister heard of their ambush, and he came and entered the barracks and told Paul.17 Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, "Lead this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to him."18 So he took him and led him to the commander and *said, "Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to lead this young man to you since he has something to tell you."19 The commander took him by the hand and stepping aside, began to inquire of him privately, "What is it that you have to report to me?"20 And he said, "The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down tomorrow to the Council, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more thoroughly about him.21 So do not listen to them, for more than forty of them are lying in wait for him who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they slay him; and now they are ready and waiting for the promise from you."22 So the commander let the young man go, instructing him, "Tell no one that you have notified me of these things."

Paul Moved to Caesarea

23 And he called to him two of the centurions and said, "Get two hundred soldiers ready by tthe third hour of the night to proceed to Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen."24  They were also to provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to Felix the governor.25 And he wrote a letter having this form:

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

27 "When this man was arrested by the Jews and was about to be slain by them, I came up to them with the troops and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.

28 "And wanting to ascertain the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their Council;

29 and I found him to be accused over questions about their Law, but under no accusation deserving death or imprisonment.

30 "When I was informed that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, also instructing his accusers to bring charges against him before you."

31 So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.32 But the next day, leaving the horsemen to go on with him, they returned to the barracks.33 When these had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.34 When he had read it, he asked from what province he was, and when he learned that he was from Cilicia,35 he said, "I will give you a hearing after your accusers arrive also," giving orders for him to be kept in Herod's tPraetorium.

Acts 23

1 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 commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.3 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 that stood by said, Revilest thou God’s high priest?5 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 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 when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees; and the assembly was divided.8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.9 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 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 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 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 that made this conspiracy.14 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 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 heard of their lying in wait, and he came and entered into the castle and told Paul.17 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 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 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 ask thee to bring down Paul tomorrow unto the council, as though thou wouldest inquire somewhat more exactly concerning him.21 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 So the chief captain let the young man go, charging him, Tell no man that thou hast signified these things to me.23 And he called unto him two of the centurions, and said, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night:24 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:26 Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix, greeting.27 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 desiring to know the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him down unto their council:29 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 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, as it was commanded them, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.32 But on the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:33 and they, when they came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, presented Paul also before him.34 And when he had read it, he asked of what province he was; and when he understood that he was of Cilicia,35 I will hear thee fully, said he, when thine accusers also are come: and he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s palace.