23:1 Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.”
23:2 At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.
23:3 Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!”
23:4 Those who were standing near Paul said, “You dare to insult God’s high priest?”
23:5 Paul replied, “Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’”
23:6 Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead.”
23:7 When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.
23:8 (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.)
23:9 There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. “We find nothing wrong with this man,” they said. “What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”
23:10 The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.
23:11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”
23:12 The next morning the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
23:13 More than forty men were involved in this plot.
23:14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.
23:15 Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.”
23:16 But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.
23:17 Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.”
23:18 So he took him to the commander. The centurion said, “Paul, the prisoner, sent for me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.”
23:19 The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside and asked, “What is it you want to tell me?”
23:20 He said: “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about him.
23:21 Don’t give in to them, because more than forty of them are waiting in ambush for him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are ready now, waiting for your consent to their request.”
23:22 The commander dismissed the young man and cautioned him, “Don’t tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”
23:23 Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, “Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight.
23:24 Provide mounts for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”
23:25 He wrote a letter as follows:
23:26 Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings.
23:27 This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him, but I came with my troops and rescued him, for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen.
23:28 I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin.
23:29 I found that the accusation had to do with questions about their law, but there was no charge against him that deserved death or imprisonment.
23:30 When I was informed of a plot to be carried out against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also ordered his accusers to present to you their case against him.
23:31 So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul with them during the night and brought him as far as Antipatris.
23:32 The next day they let the cavalry go on with him, while they returned to the barracks.
23:33 When the cavalry arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and handed Paul over to him.
23:34 The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,
23:35 he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers get here.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s palace.
23:1 And Paul, looking intently at the Sanhedrin, said, Men, brothers, I have conducted myself in all good conscience before God until this day.
23:2 And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.
23:3 Then Paul said to him, God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall. And do you sit to judge me according to the law, and contrary to the law you order me to be struck?
23:4 And those standing by said, Do you revile the high priest of God?
23:5 And Paul said, I did not know, brothers, that he is the high priest; for it is written, You shall not speak evilly of the ruler of your people.
23:6 And Paul, knowing that one part was Sadducees and the other Pharisees, cried out in the Sanhedrin, Men, brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!
23:7 And when he spoke this, a dissension took place between the Pharisees and Sadducees; and the multitude was divided.
23:8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.
23:9 And there was a great outcry; and some of the scribes of the Pharisees party rose up and contended, saying, We find nothing evil in this man. And what if a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel?
23:10 And when much dissension had taken place, the commander, fearing that Paul might be torn to pieces by them, ordered the detachment of soldiers to go down and seize him from their midst and bring him into the barracks.
23:11 But in the night following, the Lord stood by him and said, Take courage, for as you have solemnly testified to the things concerning Me in Jerusalem, so also you must testify in Rome.
23:12 And when it became day, the Jews formed a plot and put themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.
23:13 And there were more than forty who swore to this conspiracy.
23:14 They came to the chief priests and the elders and said, We have bound ourselves with a curse to taste nothing until we kill Paul.
23:15 Now therefore you, with the Sanhedrin, notify the commander to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine more accurately the things concerning him; and we, before he draws near, are ready to do away with him.
23:16 But the son of Paul s sister heard of the ambush, and he came and entered into the barracks and reported it to Paul.
23:17 And Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, Bring this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to him.
23:18 So he took him and brought him to the commander and said, The prisoner Paul called me to him and asked me to bring this young man to you, because he has something to tell you.
23:19 And the commander took him by the hand and, withdrawing privately, inquired, What is it that you have to report to me?
23:20 And he said, The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down tomorrow to the Sanhedrin, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more accurately concerning him.
23:21 So you should not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush for him; they have put themselves under a curse neither to eat nor to drink until they have done away with him. And now they are ready, awaiting the promise from you.
23:22 So the commander dismissed the young man, charging him, Do not tell anyone that you have informed me of these things.
23:23 And he called to him a certain two of the centurions and said, Prepare two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, as well as seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen, by the third hour of the night;
23:24 And they were also to provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to Felix the governor.
23:25 And he wrote a letter having this form:
23:26 Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency, Governor Felix, rejoice.
23:27 This man, having been seized by the Jews and about to be done away with by them, I came upon with my detachment of soldiers and rescued, when I learned that he was a Roman.
23:28 And intending to ascertain the cause for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin,
23:29 And found him to be accused concerning questions of their law, but having nothing worthy of death or of bonds laid to his charge.
23:30 And when it was disclosed to me that there was a plot against the man, I sent him at once to you, charging the accusers also to speak the things against him before you.
23:31 So the soldiers, according to what they had been directed, took up Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.
23:32 And on the next day, leaving the horsemen to depart with him, they returned to the barracks.
23:33 And when they entered into Caesarea and handed over the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also to him.
23:34 And when he had read it, he asked from what province he was; and learning that he was from Cilicia,
23:35 He said, I will hear your case fully when your accusers also arrive. And he ordered him to be guarded in Herod s praetorium.