Acts 23

1 Paul looked directly at the Sanhedrin and said, “Brothers, I have conducted myself before God in all good conscience to this day.”

1 保羅定睛看着公會的人，說：「弟兄們，我在上帝面前行事為人都是憑着良心，直到今日。」

2 At this, the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.

2 大祭司亞拿尼亞就吩咐旁邊站着的人打他的嘴。

3 Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit here to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck.”

3 保羅對他說：「你這粉飾的牆，上帝要打你！你坐堂為的是按律法審問我，你竟違背律法，吩咐人打我嗎？」

4 But those standing nearby said, “How dare you insult the high priest of God!”

4 站在旁邊的人說：「你辱罵上帝的大祭司嗎？」

5 “Brothers,” Paul replied, “I was not aware that he was the high priest, for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’”

5 保羅說：「弟兄們，我不曉得他是大祭司；經上記着說：『不可毀謗你百姓的官長。』」

6 Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. It is because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”

6 保羅看出大眾一半是撒都該人，一半是法利賽人，就在公會中大聲說：「弟兄們，我是法利賽人，也是法利賽人的子孫。我現在受審問，是為盼望死人復活。」

7 As soon as he had said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.

7 說了這話，法利賽人和撒都該人就爭論起來，會眾分為兩黨。

8 For the Sadducees say that there is neither a resurrection nor angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.

8 因為撒都該人說，沒有復活，也沒有天使和鬼魂；法利賽人卻說，兩樣都有。

9 A great clamor arose, and some scribes from the party of the Pharisees got up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”

9 於是大大地喧嚷起來。有幾個法利賽黨的文士站起來爭辯說：「我們看不出這人有甚麼惡處，倘若有鬼魂或是天使對他說過話，怎麼樣呢？」

10 The dispute grew so violent that the commander was afraid they would tear Paul to pieces. He ordered the soldiers to go down and remove him by force and bring him into the barracks.

10 那時大起爭吵，千夫長恐怕保羅被他們扯碎了，就吩咐兵丁下去，把他從眾人當中搶出來，帶進營樓去。

11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so also you must testify in Rome.”

11 當夜，主站在保羅旁邊，說：「放心吧！你怎樣在耶路撒冷為我作見證，也必怎樣在羅馬為我作見證。」

12 When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.

12 到了天亮，猶太人同謀起誓，說：「若不先殺保羅就不吃不喝。」

13 More than forty of them were involved in this plot.

13 這樣同心起誓的有四十多人。

14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.

14 他們來見祭司長和長老，說：「我們已經起了一個大誓，若不先殺保羅就不吃甚麼。

15 Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him down to you on the pretext of examining his case more carefully. We are ready to kill him on the way.”

15 現在你們和公會要知會千夫長，叫他帶下保羅到你們這裏來，假作要詳細察考他的事；我們已經預備好了，不等他來到跟前就殺他。」

16 But when the son of Paul’s sister heard about the plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.

16 保羅的外甥聽見他們設下埋伏，就來到營樓裏告訴保羅。

17 Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.”

17 保羅請一個百夫長來，說：「你領這少年人去見千夫長，他有事告訴他。」

18 So the centurion took him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner sent and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.”

18 於是把他領去見千夫長，說：「被囚的保羅請我到他那裏，求我領這少年人來見你；他有事告訴你。」

19 The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside, and asked, “What do you need to tell me?”

19 千夫長就拉着他的手，走到一旁，私下問他說：「你有甚麼事告訴我呢？」

20 He answered, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul to the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of acquiring more information about him.

20 他說：「猶太人已經約定，要求你明天帶下保羅到公會裏去，假作要詳細查問他的事。

21 Do not let them persuade you, because more than forty men are waiting to ambush him. They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him; they are ready now, awaiting your consent.”

21 你切不要隨從他們；因為他們有四十多人埋伏，已經起誓說，若不先殺保羅就不吃不喝。現在預備好了，只等你應允。」

22 So the commander dismissed the young man and instructed him, “Do not tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”

22 於是千夫長打發少年人走，囑咐他說：「不要告訴人你將這事報給我了。」

23 Then he called two of his centurions and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea in the third hour of the night.

23 千夫長便叫了兩個百夫長來，說：「預備步兵二百，馬兵七十，長槍手二百，今夜亥初往凱撒利亞去；

24 Provide mounts for Paul to take him safely to Governor Felix.”

24 也要預備牲口叫保羅騎上，護送到巡撫腓力斯那裏去。」

25 And he wrote the following letter:

25 千夫長又寫了文書，

26 Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings.

26 大略說：「克勞第‧呂西亞，請巡撫腓力斯大人安。

27 This man was seized by the Jews, and they were about to kill him when I came with my troops to rescue him. For I had learned that he is a Roman citizen,

27 這人被猶太人拿住，將要殺害，我得知他是羅馬人，就帶兵丁下去救他出來。

28 and since I wanted to understand their charges against him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin.

28 因要知道他們告他的緣故，我就帶他下到他們的公會去，

29 I found that the accusation involved questions about their own law, but there was no charge worthy of death or imprisonment.

29 便查知他被告是因他們律法的辯論，並沒有甚麼該死該綁的罪名。

30 When I was informed that there was a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also instructed his accusers to present their case against him before you.

30 後來有人把要害他的計謀告訴我，我就立時解他到你那裏去，又吩咐告他的人在你面前告他。 」

31 So the soldiers followed their orders and brought Paul by night to Antipatris.

31 於是，兵丁照所吩咐他們的，將保羅夜裏帶到安提帕底。

32 The next day they returned to the barracks and let the horsemen go on with him.

32 第二天，讓馬兵護送，他們就回營樓去。

33 When the horsemen arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and presented Paul to him.

33 馬兵來到凱撒利亞，把文書呈給巡撫，便叫保羅站在他面前。

34 The governor read the letter and asked what province Paul was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,

34 巡撫看了文書，問保羅是哪省的人，既曉得他是基利家人，

35 he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers arrive.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s Praetorium.

35 就說：「等告你的人來到，我要細聽你的事」；便吩咐人把他看守在希律的衙門裏。