The Acts of the Apostles

⭑ Literal Standard Version :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 23 -

And Paul having earnestly beheld the Sanhedrin, said, “Men, brothers, I have lived to God in all good conscience to this day”;

and the chief priest Ananias commanded those standing by him to strike him on the mouth,

then Paul said to him, “God is about to strike you, you whitewashed wall, and you sit judging me according to the Law, and violating law, order me to be struck!”

And those who stood by said, “Do you revile the chief priest of God?”

And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he is chief priest, for it has been written: You will not speak evil of the ruler of your people”;

and Paul having known that one part are Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, cried out in the Sanhedrin, “Men, brothers, I am a Pharisee—son of a Pharisee—concerning [the] hope and resurrection of [the] dead I am judged.”

And he having spoken this, there came a dissension of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees, and the crowd was divided,

for Sadducees, indeed, say there is no resurrection, nor messenger, nor spirit, but Pharisees confess both.

And there came a great cry, and the scribes of the Pharisees’ part having arisen, were striving, saying, “We find no evil in this man; and if a spirit spoke to him, or a messenger, we may not fight against God”;

and a great dissension having come, the chief captain having been afraid lest Paul may be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the army, having gone down, to seize him out of their midst, and to bring [him] into the stronghold.

And on the following night, the LORD having stood by him, said, “Take courage, Paul, for as you fully testified [to] the things concerning Me at Jerusalem, so you must also testify at Rome.”

The Plot to Kill Paul

(John 16:1–4)

And day having come, certain of the Jews having made a concourse, cursed themselves, saying neither to eat nor to drink until they may kill Paul;

and they were more than forty who made this conspiracy by oath,

who having come near to the chief priests and to the elders said, “With a curse we accursed ourselves—to taste nothing until we have killed Paul;

now, therefore, you, signify to the chief captain, with the Sanhedrin, that tomorrow he may bring him down to you, as being about to know more exactly the things concerning him; and we, before his coming near, are ready to put him to death.”

And the son of Paul’s sister having heard of the lying in wait, having gone and entered into the stronghold, told Paul,

and Paul having called near one of the centurions, said, “Lead this young man to the chief captain, for he has something to tell him.”

He indeed, then, having taken him, brought him to the chief captain and says, “The prisoner Paul, having called me near, asked [me] to bring to you this young man, having something to say to you.”

And the chief captain having taken him by the hand, and having withdrawn by themselves, inquired, “What is that which you have to tell me?”

And he said, “The Jews agreed to request you, that tomorrow you may bring down Paul to the Sanhedrin, as being about to inquire something more exactly concerning him;

you, therefore, may you not yield to them, for there more than forty men of them lie in wait for him, who cursed themselves—not to eat nor to drink until they kill him, and now they are ready, waiting for the promise from you.”

The chief captain, then, indeed, let the young man go, having charged [him], “Tell no one that you have shown these things to me”;

Paul Sent to Felix

and having called a certain two of the centurions near, he said, “Make ready two hundred soldiers, that they may go on to Caesarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen, from the third hour of the night;

also provide beasts, that, having set Paul on, they may bring him safe to Felix the governor”;

he having written a letter after this description:

“Claudius Lysias, to the most noble governor Felix, greetings:

This man having been taken by the Jews, and being about to be killed by them—having come with the army, I rescued him, having learned that he is a Roman;

and intending to know the cause for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin,

whom I found accused concerning questions of their law, and having no accusation worthy of death or bonds;

and a plot having been intimated to me against this man—about to be of the Jews—I sent to you at once, having also given command to the accusers to say the things against him before you; be strong.”

Then, indeed, the soldiers according to that directed them, having taken up Paul, brought him through the night to Antipatris,

and on the next day, having permitted the horsemen to go on with him, they returned to the stronghold;

those having entered into Caesarea, and delivered the letter to the governor, also presented Paul to him.

And the governor having read [it], and inquired of what province he is, and understood that [he is] from Cilicia;

“I will hear you,” he said, “when your accusers may also have come”; he also commanded him to be kept in the Praetorium of Herod.

Paul, looking steadfastly at the council, said, “Brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience until today.”

The high priest, Ananias, commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.

Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to judge me according to the law, and command me to be struck contrary to the law?”

Those who stood by said, “Do you malign God’s high priest?”

Paul said, “I didn’t know, brothers, that he was high priest. For it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”(a)

But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. Concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!”

When he had said this, an argument arose between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the crowd was divided.

For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess all of these.

A great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ part stood up, and contended, saying, “We find no evil in this man. But if a spirit or angel has spoken to him, let’s not fight against God!”

When a great argument arose, the commanding officer, fearing that Paul would be torn in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them and bring him into the barracks.

The following night, the Lord stood by him and said, “Cheer up, Paul, for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so you must testify also at Rome.”

The Plot to Kill Paul

(John 16:1–4)

When it was day, some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.

There were more than forty people who had made this conspiracy.

They came to the chief priests and the elders, and said, “We have bound ourselves under a great curse to taste nothing until we have killed Paul.

Now therefore, you with the council inform the commanding officer that he should bring him down to you tomorrow, as though you were going to judge his case more exactly. We are ready to kill him before he comes near.”

But Paul’s sister’s son heard they were lying in wait, and he came and entered into the barracks and told Paul.

Paul summoned one of the centurions and said, “Bring this young man to the commanding officer, for he has something to tell him.”

So he took him and brought him to the commanding officer and said, “Paul, the prisoner, summoned me and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.”

The commanding officer took him by the hand, and going aside, asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?”

He said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though intending to inquire somewhat more accurately concerning him.

Therefore don’t yield to them, for more than forty men lie in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse to neither eat nor drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, looking for the promise from you.”

So the commanding officer let the young man go, charging him, “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.”

Paul Sent to Felix

He called to himself two of the centurions, and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred men armed with spears, at the third hour of the night.”(b)

He asked them to provide mounts, that they might set Paul on one, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.

He wrote a letter like this:

“Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings.

“This man was seized by the Jews, and was about to be killed by them when I came with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.

Desiring to know the cause why they accused him, I brought him down to their council.

I found him to be accused about questions of their law, but not to be charged with anything worthy of death or of imprisonment.

When I was told that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him to you immediately, charging his accusers also to bring their accusations against him before you. Farewell.”

So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.

But on the next day they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the barracks.

When they came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.

When the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. When he understood that he was from Cilicia, he said,

“I will hear you fully when your accusers also arrive.” He commanded that he be kept in Herod’s palace.

Footnotes

(a)23:5 ℘ Exodus 22:28

(b)23:23 about 9:00 p.m.