Acts 23

1 Paul looked directlyt at the councilt and said, “Brothers, I have lived my life with a clear consciencet before God to this day.”2 At thatt the high priest Ananias ordered those standing neart Pault to striket him on the mouth.3 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall!s Dot you sit there judging me according to the law,t and in violation of the lawts you order me to be struck?”4 Those standing near himt said, “Do you dare insultts God’s high priest?”

5 Paul replied,t “I did not realize,t brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You must not speak evil about a ruler of your people.’”s
6 Then when Paul noticedt that part of them were Sadduceess and the others Pharisees,s he shouted out in the council,t “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am on trial concerning the hope of the resurrectiont of the dead!”7 When he said this,t an argumentt begant between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.8 (For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection, or angel, or spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.)ts9 There was a great commotion,t and some experts in the lawt from the party of the Pharisees stood upt and protested strongly,t “We find nothing wrongs with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”

10 When the argument becamet so great the commanding officert feared that they would tear Paul to pieces,t he ordered the detachmentt to go down, take him away from them by force,t and bring him into the barracks.t

11 The following night the Lords stood neart Pault and said, “Have courage,t for just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem,s so you must also testify in Rome.”ss

The Plot to Kill Paul

12 When morning came,t the Jews formedt a conspiracyt and bound themselves with an oatht not to eat or drink anythingt until they had killed Paul.13 There were more than forty of them who formed this conspiracy.t14 Theyt wentt to the chief priestss and the elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oatht not to partaket of anything until we have killed Paul.

15 So now you and the councilt request the commanding officert to bring him down to you, as if you were going to determinet his caset by conducting a more thorough inquiry.t We are ready to kill hims before he comes near this place.”t
16 But when the son of Paul’s sister heard about the ambush,t he came and enteredt the barrackst and told Paul.17 Paul calledt one of the centurionss and said, “Take this young man to the commanding officer,t for he has something to report to him.”18 So the centuriont took him and brought him to the commanding officert and said, “The prisoner Paul calledt me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.”19 The commanding officert took him by the hand, withdrew privately, and asked, “What is it that you wantt to report to me?”20 He replied,t “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the councilt tomorrow, as if they were going to inquire more thoroughly about him.21 So do not let them persuade you to do this,t because more than forty of themt are lying in ambusht for him. Theyt have bound themselves with an oatht not to eat or drink anythingt until they have killed him, and now they are ready, waiting for you to agree to their request.”t22 Then the commanding officert sent the young man away, directing him,t “Tell no one that you have reportedt these things to me.”23 Thent he summonedt two of the centurionss and said, “Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesareass along with seventy horsement and two hundred spearments byt nine o’clock tonight,t24 and provide mounts for Paul to ridets so that he may be brought safely to Felixs the governor.”t

25 He wrotet a letter that went like this:t
26 Claudius Lysias to His Excellency Governort Felix,s greetings.27 This man was seizedt by the Jews and they were about to kill him,t when I came upt with the detachmentt and rescued him, because I had learned that he wast a Roman citizen.ts28 Since I wanted to knowt what charge they were accusing him of,t I brought him down to their council.t29 I found het was accused with reference to controversial questionsts about their law, but no charge against him deserved death or imprisonment.ts

30 When I was informedt there would be a plott against this man, I sent him to you at once, also ordering his accusers to state their chargest against him before you.
31 So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders,t tookt Paul and brought him to Antipatriss during the night.32 The next day they lett the horsement go on with him, and they returned to the barracks.t33 When the horsement came to Caesareas and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presentedt Paul to him.34 When the governort had readt the letter,t he askedt what province he was from.s When he learnedt that he was from Cilicia,s

35 he said, “I will give you a hearingt when your accusers arrive too.” Thent he ordered that Pault be kept under guard in Herod’s palace.s

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.