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 Paul, looking steadfastly at the council, said, “Brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience until today.”

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

2 The high priest, Ananias, commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.

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 Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to judge me according to the law, and command me to be struck contrary to the law?”

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

4 Those who stood by said, “Do you malign God’s high priest?”

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 Paul said, “I didn’t know, brothers, that he was high priest. For it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”

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 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. Concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!”

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

7 When he had said this, an argument arose between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the crowd was divided.

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

8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess all of these.

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 A great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ part stood up, and contended, saying, “We find no evil in this man. But if a spirit or angel has spoken to him, let’s not fight against God!”

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 When a great argument arose, the commanding officer, fearing that Paul would 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 barracks.

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 The following night, the Lord stood by him and said, “Cheer up, Paul, for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so you must testify also at Rome.”

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 When it was day, some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.

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

13 There were more than forty people who had made this conspiracy.

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 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 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 Now therefore, you with the council inform the commanding officer that he should bring him down to you tomorrow, as though you were going to judge his case more exactly. We are ready to kill him before he comes near.”

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

16 But Paul’s sister’s son heard they were lying in wait, and he came and entered into the barracks and told Paul.

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

17 Paul summoned one of the centurions and said, “Bring this young man to the commanding officer, for he has something to tell him.”

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 So he took him and brought him to the commanding officer and said, “Paul, the prisoner, summoned me and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.”

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

19 The commanding officer took him by the hand, and going aside, asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?”

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 He said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though intending to inquire somewhat more accurately concerning him.

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 Therefore don’t yield to them, for more than forty men lie in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse to neither eat nor drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, looking for the promise from you.”

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

22 So the commanding officer let the young man go, charging him, “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.”

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 He called to himself two of the centurions, and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred men armed with spears, at the third hour of the night.”

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

24 He asked them to provide mounts, that they might set Paul on one, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.

25 And he wrote the following letter:

25 He wrote a letter like this:

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

26 “Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings.

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 “This man was seized by the Jews, and was about to be killed by them when I came with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.

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

28 Desiring to know the cause why they accused him, I brought him down to their council.

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

29 I found him to be accused about questions of their law, but not to be charged with anything worthy of death or of imprisonment.

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 When I was told that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him to you immediately, charging his accusers also to bring their accusations against him before you. Farewell.”

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

31 So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.

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

32 But on the next day they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the barracks.

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

33 When they came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.

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

34 When the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. When he understood that he was from Cilicia, he said,

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 “I will hear you fully when your accusers also arrive.” He commanded that he be kept in Herod’s palace.