Acts 23
New American Standard Bible
Paul before the Council
23 Now looking intently at (A)the [a]Council, Paul said, “[b](B)Brothers, (C)I have [c]lived my life with an entirely good conscience before God up to this day.” 2 But the high priest (D)Ananias commanded those standing beside him (E)to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, (F)you whitewashed wall! Do you (G)sit to try me according to the Law, and in violation of the Law, order me to be struck?” 4 But those present said, “Are you insulting God’s high priest?” 5 And Paul said, “I was not aware, brothers, that he is high priest; for it is written: ‘(H)You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”
6 But Paul, perceiving that one group were (I)Sadducees and the other Pharisees, began crying out in (J)the [d]Council, “[e](K)Brothers, (L)I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for (M)the hope and resurrection of the dead!” 7 When he said this, a dissension occurred between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 For (N)the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. 9 And a great uproar occurred; and some of (O)the scribes of the Pharisaic party stood up and started arguing heatedly, saying, “(P)We find nothing wrong with this man; (Q)suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” 10 And when a great dissension occurred, the commander was afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, and he ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force, and bring him into (R)the barracks.
11 But on (S)the following night, the Lord stood near him and said, “(T)Be courageous! For (U)as you have (V)testified to the truth about Me in Jerusalem, so you must testify in Rome also.”
A Conspiracy to Kill Paul
12 When it was day, (W)the Jews formed a [f]conspiracy and (X)put themselves under an [g]oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. 13 There were more than forty who formed this plot. 14 They came to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have (Y)put ourselves under an [h]oath to taste nothing until we have killed Paul. 15 Now therefore, you [i]and (Z)the [j]Council notify the commander to bring him down to you, as though you were going to investigate his case more thoroughly; and as for us, we are ready to kill him before he comes near the place.”
16 But the son of Paul’s sister heard about their ambush, [k]and he came and entered (AA)the barracks and told Paul. 17 Paul called one of the centurions to himself and said, “Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to him.” 18 So he took him and led him to the commander and *said, “Paul (AB)the prisoner called me over to him and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.” 19 The commander took him by the hand, and stepping aside, began to inquire of him privately, “What is it that you have to report to me?” 20 And he said, “(AC)The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down tomorrow to (AD)the [l]Council, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more thoroughly about him. 21 So do not [m]listen to them, for more than forty [n]of them are (AE)in hiding to ambush him, and these men have (AF)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 [o]the third hour of the night to proceed to (AG)Caesarea, [p]with seventy horsemen and two hundred [q]spearmen.” 24 They were also to provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to (AH)Felix the governor. 25 And he wrote a letter [r]with the following content:
26 “Claudius Lysias, to the (AI)most excellent governor Felix: (AJ)Greetings.
27 When this man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, (AK)I came up to them with the troops and rescued him, (AL)after learning that he was a Roman. 28 And (AM)wanting to ascertain the basis for the charges they were bringing against him, I (AN)brought him down to their [s](AO)Council; 29 and I found that he was being accused regarding (AP)questions in their Law, but [t]was (AQ)not charged with anything deserving death or [u]imprisonment.
30 When I was (AR)informed that there would be (AS)a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, also instructing (AT)his accusers to [v]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 (AU)the horsemen go on with him, and they returned to (AV)the barracks. 33 When these horsemen had come to (AW)Caesarea and delivered the letter to (AX)the governor, they also presented Paul to him. 34 Now when he had read it, he also asked from what (AY)province Paul was, and when he learned that (AZ)he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, “I will give you a hearing when your (BA)accusers arrive as well,” giving orders for [w]Paul to be (BB)kept in Herod’s [x]Praetorium.
Footnotes
- Acts 23:1 Or Sanhedrin
- Acts 23:1 Lit Men, brothers
- Acts 23:1 Or conducted myself as a citizen
- Acts 23:6 Or Sanhedrin
- Acts 23:6 Lit Men, brothers
- Acts 23:12 Or mob
- Acts 23:12 I.e., an oath with a self-imposed curse
- Acts 23:14 See note 2 v 12
- Acts 23:15 Lit with
- Acts 23:15 Or Sanhedrin
- Acts 23:16 Or having been present with them, and he also entered
- 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
King James Version
23 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.
2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.
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 And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest?
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 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 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 that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.
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 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 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 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 And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.
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 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 And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.
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 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 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 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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