Acts, 23

1. Paul looked steadily at the Sanhedrin and began to speak, 'My brothers, to this day I have conducted myself before God with a perfectly clear conscience.'

1. And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men [and] brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.

2. At this the high priest Ananias ordered his attendants to strike him on the mouth.

2. And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.

3. Then Paul said to him, 'God will surely strike you, you whitewashed wall! How can you sit there to judge me according to the Law, and then break the Law by ordering a man to strike me?'

3. Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, [thou] whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?

4. The attendants said, 'Are you insulting the high priest of God?

4. And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest?

5. Paul answered, 'Brothers, I did not realise it was the high priest; certainly scripture says, "You will not curse your people's leader." '

5. Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.

6. Now Paul was well aware that one party was made up of Sadducees and the other of Pharisees, so he called out in the Sanhedrin, 'Brothers, I am a Pharisee and the son of Pharisees. It is for our 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] brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

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

7. And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.

8. For the Sadducees say there is neither resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, while the Pharisees accept all three.

8. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.

9. The shouting grew louder, and some of the scribes from the Pharisees' party stood up and protested strongly, 'We find nothing wrong with this man. Suppose a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel?'

9. And there arose a great cry: and the scribes [that were] of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.

10. Feeling was running high, and the tribune, afraid that they would tear Paul to pieces, ordered his troops to go down and haul him out and bring him into the fortress.

10. And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring [him] into the castle.

11. Next night, the Lord appeared to him and said, 'Courage! You have borne witness for me in Jerusalem, now you must do the same in Rome.'

11. And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

12. When it was day, the Jews held a secret meeting at which they made a vow not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.

12. And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

13. More than forty of them entered this pact,

13. And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.

14. and they went to the chief priests and elders and told them, 'We have made a solemn vow to let nothing pass our lips until we have killed Paul.

14. And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.

15. Now it is up to you and the Sanhedrin together to apply to the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you meant to examine his case more closely; we, on our side, are prepared to dispose of him before he reaches you.'

15. Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.

16. But the son of Paul's sister heard of the ambush they were laying and made his way into the fortress and told Paul,

16. And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.

17. who called one of the centurions and said, 'Take this young man to the tribune; he has something to tell him.'

17. Then Paul called one of the centurions unto [him], and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him.

18. So the man took him to the tribune, and reported, 'The prisoner Paul summoned me and requested me to bring this young man to you; he has something to tell you.'

18. So he took him, and brought [him] to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto [him], and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee.

19. Then the tribune took him by the hand and drew him aside and questioned him in private, 'What is it you have to tell me?'

19. Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went [with him] aside privately, and asked [him], What is that thou hast to tell me?

20. He replied, 'The Jews have made a plan to ask you to take Paul down to the Sanhedrin tomorrow, as though they meant to enquire more closely into his case.

20. And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly.

21. Do not believe them. There are more than forty of them lying in wait for him, and they have vowed not to eat or drink until they have got rid of him. They are ready now and only waiting for your order to be given.'

21. But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee.

22. The tribune let the young man go with this order, 'Tell no one that you have given me this information.'

22. So the chief captain [then] let the young man depart, and charged [him, See thou] tell no man that thou hast shewed these things to me.

23. Then he summoned two of the centurions and said, 'Get two hundred soldiers ready to leave for Caesarea by the third hour of the night with seventy cavalry and two hundred auxiliaries;

23. And he called unto [him] two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;

24. provide horses for Paul, and deliver him unharmed to Felix the governor.'

24. And provide [them] beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring [him] safe unto Felix the governor.

25. He also wrote a letter in these terms:

25. And he wrote a letter after this manner:

26. 'Claudius Lysias to his Excellency the governor Felix, greetings.

26. Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix [sendeth] greeting.

27. This man had been seized by the Jews and would have been murdered by them; but I came on the scene with my troops and got him away, having discovered that he was a Roman citizen.

27. This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.

28. Wanting to find out what charge they were making against him, I brought him before their Sanhedrin.

28. And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:

29. I found that the accusation concerned disputed points of their Law, but that there was no charge deserving death or imprisonment.

29. Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.

30. Acting on information that there was a conspiracy against the man, I hasten to send him to you, and have notified his accusers that they must state their case against him in your presence.'

30. And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what [they had] against him. Farewell.

31. The soldiers carried out their orders; they took Paul and escorted him by night to Antipatris.

31. Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought [him] by night to Antipatris.

32. Next day they left the mounted escort to go on with him and returned to the fortress.

32. On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:

33. On arriving at Caesarea the escort delivered the letter to the governor and handed Paul over to him.

33. Who, when they came to Caesarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.

34. When he had read it, he asked Paul what province he came from. Learning that he was from Cilicia he said,

34. And when the governor had read [the letter], he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that [he was] of Cilicia;

35. 'I will hear your case as soon as your accusers are here too.' Then he ordered him to be held in Herod's praetorium.

35. I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment hall.