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Acts 23:20-35
New American Standard Bible
Acts 23:20-35
New American Standard Bible
20 And he said, “(A)The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down tomorrow to (B)the [a]Council, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more thoroughly about him. 21 So do not [b]listen to them, for more than forty [c]of them are (C)in hiding to ambush him, and these men have (D)put themselves under an oath not to eat or drink until they kill him; and now they are ready and waiting for assurance from you.” 22 Then the commander let the young man go, instructing him, “Tell no one that you have notified me of these things.”
Paul Moved to Caesarea
23 And he called to him two of the centurions and said, “Get two hundred soldiers ready by [d]the third hour of the night to proceed to (E)Caesarea, [e]with seventy horsemen and two hundred [f]spearmen.” 24 They were also to provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to (F)Felix the governor. 25 And he wrote a letter [g]with the following content:
26 “Claudius Lysias, to the (G)most excellent governor Felix: (H)Greetings.
27 When this man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, (I)I came up to them with the troops and rescued him, (J)after learning that he was a Roman. 28 And (K)wanting to ascertain the basis for the charges they were bringing against him, I (L)brought him down to their [h](M)Council; 29 and I found that he was being accused regarding (N)questions in their Law, but [i]was (O)not charged with anything deserving death or [j]imprisonment.
30 When I was (P)informed that there would be (Q)a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, also instructing (R)his accusers to [k]bring charges against him before you.”
31 So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 But on the next day they let (S)the horsemen go on with him, and they returned to (T)the barracks. 33 When these horsemen had come to (U)Caesarea and delivered the letter to (V)the governor, they also presented Paul to him. 34 Now when he had read it, he also asked from what (W)province Paul was, and when he learned that (X)he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, “I will give you a hearing when your (Y)accusers arrive as well,” giving orders for [l]Paul to be (Z)kept in Herod’s [m]Praetorium.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Acts 23:20 Or Sanhedrin
- Acts 23:21 Lit be persuaded by them
- Acts 23:21 Lit men of them
- Acts 23:23 I.e., 9 p.m.
- Acts 23:23 Lit and
- Acts 23:23 Or slingers; or bowmen
- Acts 23:25 Or to this effect
- Acts 23:28 Or Sanhedrin
- Acts 23:29 Lit had no charge of
- Acts 23:29 Lit bonds
- Acts 23:30 Lit speak against him
- Acts 23:35 Lit him
- Acts 23:35 I.e., governor’s official residence
Acts 23:20-35
New International Version
Acts 23:20-35
New International Version
20 He said: “Some Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin(A) tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about him.(B) 21 Don’t give in to them, because more than forty(C) of them are waiting in ambush for him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him.(D) 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(E) at nine tonight.(F) 24 Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”(G)
25 He wrote a letter as follows:
26 Claudius Lysias,
To His Excellency,(H) Governor Felix:
Greetings.(I)
27 This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him,(J) but I came with my troops and rescued him,(K) for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen.(L) 28 I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin.(M) 29 I found that the accusation had to do with questions about their law,(N) but there was no charge against him(O) that deserved death or imprisonment. 30 When I was informed(P) of a plot(Q) to be carried out against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also ordered his accusers(R) 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(S) go on with him, while they returned to the barracks.(T) 33 When the cavalry(U) arrived in Caesarea,(V) they delivered the letter to the governor(W) 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,(X) 35 he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers(Y) get here.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard(Z) in Herod’s palace.
Footnotes
- Acts 23:23 The meaning of the Greek for this word is uncertain.
Acts 23:20-35
King James Version
Acts 23:20-35
King James Version
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 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 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 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 And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.
25 And he wrote a letter after this manner:
26 Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.
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 And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:
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 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 Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.
32 On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:
33 Who, when they came to Caesarea and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.
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 thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment hall.
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