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Acts 23:11-35
Contemporary English Version
Acts 23:11-35
Contemporary English Version
11 That night the Lord stood beside Paul and said, “Don't worry! Just as you have told others about me in Jerusalem, you must also tell about me in Rome.”
A Plot To Kill Paul
12-13 The next morning more than 40 Jewish men got together and vowed that they would not eat or drink anything until they had killed Paul. 14 Then some of them went to the chief priests and the nation's leaders and said, “We have promised God that we would not eat a thing until we have killed Paul. 15 You and everyone in the council must go to the commander and pretend that you want to find out more about the charges against Paul. Ask for him to be brought before your court. Meanwhile, we will be waiting to kill him before he gets there.”
16 When Paul's nephew heard about the plot, he went to the fortress and told Paul about it. 17 So Paul said to one of the army officers, “Take this young man to the commander. He has something to tell him.”
18 The officer took him to the commander and said, “The prisoner named Paul asked me to bring this young man to you, because he has something to tell you.”
19 The commander took the young man aside and asked him in private, “What do you want to tell me?”
20 He answered, “Some men are planning to ask you to bring Paul down to the Jewish council tomorrow. They will claim they want to find out more about him. 21 But please don't do what they say. More than 40 men are going to attack Paul. They have made a vow not to eat or drink anything until they have killed him. Even now they are waiting to hear what you decide.”
22 The commander sent the young man away after saying to him, “Don't let anyone know you told me this.”
Paul Is Sent to Felix the Governor
23 The commander called in two of his officers and told them, “By nine o'clock tonight have 200 soldiers ready to go to Caesarea. Take along 70 men on horseback and 200 foot soldiers with spears. 24 Get a horse ready for Paul and make sure he gets safely through to Felix the governor.”
25 The commander wrote a letter that said:
26 Greetings from Claudius Lysias to the Honorable Governor Felix:
27 Some Jews grabbed this man and were about to kill him. But when I found out that he was a Roman citizen, I took some soldiers and rescued him.
28 I wanted to find out what they had against him. So I brought him before their council 29 and learned that the charges concern only their religious laws. This man isn't guilty of anything for which he should die or even be put in jail.
30 As soon as I learned that there was a plot against him, I sent him to you and told their leaders to bring charges against him in your court.
31 The soldiers obeyed the commander's orders, and that same night they took Paul to the city of Antipatris. 32 The next day the foot soldiers returned to the fortress and let the soldiers on horseback take him the rest of the way. 33 When they came to Caesarea, they gave the letter to the governor and handed Paul over to him.
34 The governor read the letter. Then he asked Paul and found out that he was from Cilicia. 35 The governor said, “I will listen to your case as soon as the people come to bring their charges against you.” After saying this, he gave orders for Paul to be kept as a prisoner in Herod's palace.[a]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 23.35 Herod's palace: The palace built by Herod the Great and used by the Roman governors of Palestine.
Acts 23:11-35
New International Version
Acts 23:11-35
New International Version
11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage!(A) As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”(B)
The Plot to Kill Paul
12 The next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy(C) and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.(D) 13 More than forty men were involved in this plot. 14 They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.(E) 15 Now then, you and the Sanhedrin(F) 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.”
16 But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks(G) 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.” 18 So he took him to the commander.
The centurion said, “Paul, the prisoner,(H) sent for me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.”
19 The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside and asked, “What is it you want to tell me?”
20 He said: “Some Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin(I) tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about him.(J) 21 Don’t give in to them, because more than forty(K) of them are waiting in ambush for him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him.(L) They are ready now, waiting for your consent to their request.”
22 The commander dismissed the young man with this warning: “Don’t tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”
Paul Transferred to Caesarea
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[a] to go to Caesarea(M) at nine tonight.(N) 24 Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”(O)
25 He wrote a letter as follows:
26 Claudius Lysias,
To His Excellency,(P) Governor Felix:
Greetings.(Q)
27 This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him,(R) but I came with my troops and rescued him,(S) for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen.(T) 28 I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin.(U) 29 I found that the accusation had to do with questions about their law,(V) but there was no charge against him(W) that deserved death or imprisonment. 30 When I was informed(X) of a plot(Y) to be carried out against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also ordered his accusers(Z) to present to you their case against him.
31 So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul with them during the night and brought him as far as Antipatris. 32 The next day they let the cavalry(AA) go on with him, while they returned to the barracks.(AB) 33 When the cavalry(AC) arrived in Caesarea,(AD) they delivered the letter to the governor(AE) and handed Paul over to him. 34 The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,(AF) 35 he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers(AG) get here.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard(AH) in Herod’s palace.
Footnotes
- Acts 23:23 The meaning of the Greek for this word is uncertain.
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