Actus Apostolorum, 23

1. Intendens autem concilium Paulus ait: “Viri fratres, ego omni conscientia bona conversatus sum ante Deum usque in hodiernum diem”.

1. And Paul, looking intently at the council, said, "Brethren, I have lived before God in all good conscience up to this day."

2. Princeps autem sacerdotum Ananias praecepit astantibus sibi percutere os eius.

2. And the high priest Anani'as commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.

3. Tunc Paulus ad eum dixit: “Percutiet te Deus, paries dealbate! Et tu sedes iudicans me secundum legem et contra legem iubes me percuti?”.

3. Then Paul said to him, "God shall strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?"

4. Et, qui astabant, dixerunt: “Summum sacerdotem Dei maledicis?”.

4. Those who stood by said, "Would you revile God's high priest?"

5. Dixit autem Paulus: “Nesciebam, fratres, quia princeps est sacerdotum; scriptum est enim: “Principem populi tui non maledices””.

5. And Paul said, "I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, `You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.'"

6. Sciens autem Paulus quia una pars esset sadducaeorum, et altera pharisaeorum, exclamabat in concilio: “Viri fratres, ego pharisaeus sum, filius pharisaeorum; de spe et resurrectione mortuorum ego iudicor”.

6. But when Paul perceived that one part were Sad'ducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, "Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead I am on trial."

7. Et cum haec diceret, facta est dissensio inter pharisaeos et sadducaeos; et divisa est multitudo.

7. And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sad'ducees; and the assembly was divided.

8. Sadducaei enim dicunt non esse resurrectionem neque angelum neque spiritum; pharisaei autem utrumque confitentur.

8. For the Sad'ducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.

9. Factus est autem clamor magnus; et surgentes scribae quidam partis pharisaeorum pugnabant dicentes: “Nihil mali invenimus in homine isto: quod si spiritus locutus est ei aut angelus”;

9. Then a great clamor arose; and some of the scribes of the Pharisees' party stood up and contended, "We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?"

10. et cum magna dissensio facta esset, timens tribunus ne discerperetur Paulus ab ipsis, iussit milites descendere, ut raperent eum de medio eorum ac deducerent in castra.

10. And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid 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. Sequenti autem nocte, assistens ei Dominus ait: “Constans esto! Sicut enim testificatus es, quae sunt de me, in Ierusalem, sic te oportet et Romae testificari”.

11. The following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Take courage, for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so you must bear witness also at Rome."

12. Facta autem die, faciebant concursum Iudaei et devoverunt se dicentes neque manducaturos neque bibituros, donec occiderent Paulum.

12. When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

13. Erant autem plus quam quadraginta, qui hanc coniurationem fecerant;

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

14. qui accedentes ad principes sacerdotum et seniores dixerunt: “Devotione devovimus nos nihil gustaturos, donec occidamus Paulum.

14. And they went to the chief priests and elders, and said, "We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul.

15. Nunc ergo vos notum facite tribuno cum concilio, ut producat illum ad vos, tamquam aliquid certius cognituri de eo; nos vero, priusquam appropiet, parati sumus interficere illum”.

15. You therefore, along with the council, give notice now to the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case more exactly. And we are ready to kill him before he comes near."

16. Quod cum audisset filius sororis Pauli insidias, venit et intravit in castra nuntiavitque Paulo.

16. Now the son of Paul's sister heard of their ambush; so he went and entered the barracks and told Paul.

17. Vocans autem Paulus ad se unum ex centurionibus ait: “Adulescentem hunc perduc ad tribunum, habet enim aliquid indicare illi”.

17. And Paul called one of the centurions and said, "Take this young man to the tribune; for he has something to tell him."

18. Et ille quidem assumens eum duxit ad tribunum et ait: “Vinctus Paulus vocans rogavit me hunc adulescentem perducere ad te, habentem aliquid loqui tibi”.

18. So he took him and brought him to the tribune and said, "Paul the prisoner called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, as he has something to say to you."

19. Apprehendens autem tribunus manum illius, secessit cum eo seorsum et interrogabat: “Quid est, quod habes indicare mihi?”.

19. The tribune took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, "What is it that you have to tell me?"

20. Ille autem dixit: “Iudaei constituerunt rogare te, ut crastina die Paulum producas in concilium, quasi aliquid certius inquisiturum sit de illo.

20. And he said, "The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more closely about him.

21. Tu ergo ne credideris illis; insidiantur enim ei ex eis viri amplius quadraginta, qui se devoverunt non manducare neque bibere, donec interficiant eum; et nunc parati sunt exspectantes promissum tuum”.

21. But do not yield to them; for more than forty of their men lie in ambush for him, having bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him; and now they are ready, waiting for the promise from you."

22. Tribunus igitur dimisit adulescentem praecipiens, ne cui eloqueretur quoniam “haec nota mihi fecisti”.

22. So the tribune dismissed the young man, charging him, "Tell no one that you have informed me of this."

23. Et vocatis duobus centurionibus, dixit: “Parate milites ducentos, ut eant usque Caesaream, et equites septuaginta et lancearios ducentos, a tertia hora noctis,

23. Then he called two of the centurions and said, "At the third hour of the night get ready two hundred soldiers with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesare'a.

24. et iumenta praeparate”, ut imponentes Paulum salvum perducerent ad Felicem praesidem,

24. Also provide mounts for Paul to ride, and bring him safely to Felix the governor."

25. scribens epistulam habentem formam hanc:

25. And he wrote a letter to this effect:

26. “Claudius Lysias optimo praesidi Felici salutem.

26. "Claudius Lys'ias to his Excellency the governor Felix, greeting.

27. Virum hunc comprehensum a Iudaeis et incipientem interfici ab eis, superveniens cum exercitu eripui, cognito quia Romanus est.

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

28. Volensque scire causam, propter quam accusabant illum, deduxi in concilium eorum;

28. And desiring to know the charge on which they accused him, I brought him down to their council.

29. quem inveni accusari de quaestionibus legis ipsorum, nihil vero dignum morte aut vinculis habentem crimen.

29. I found that he was accused about questions of their law, but charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment.

30. Et cum mihi perlatum esset de insidiis, quae in virum pararentur, confestim misi ad te denuntians et accusatoribus, ut dicant adversum eum apud te”.

30. And when it was disclosed to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him."

31. Milites ergo, secundum praeceptum sibi assumentes Paulum, duxerunt per noctem in Antipatridem;

31. So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him by night to Antip'atris.

32. et postera die, dimissis equitibus, ut abirent cum eo, reversi sunt ad castra.

32. And on the morrow they returned to the barracks, leaving the horsemen to go on with him.

33. Qui cum venissent Caesaream et tradidissent epistulam praesidi, statuerunt ante illum et Paulum.

33. When they came to Caesare'a and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him.

34. Cum legisset autem et interrogasset de qua provincia esset, et cognoscens quia de Cilicia:

34. On reading the letter, he asked to what province he belonged. When he learned that he was from Cili'cia

35. “Audiam te, inquit, cum et accusatores tui venerint”; iussitque in praetorio Herodis custodiri eum.

35. he said, "I will hear you when your accusers arrive." And he commanded him to be guarded in Herod's praetorium.