Acts of the Apostles 23
23
1Paul stared at the council and said, “Brothers, I have lived my life with an altogether clear conscience right up to this very day.” 2The high priest Ananias ordered those standing beside Paul to strike him in the mouth. 3Then Paul said to him, “God is about to strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit and judge me according to the Law, yet disobey the Law by ordering that I be struck.”
4Those standing near him asked, “You dare to insult God’s high priest?”
5Paul replied, “Brothers, I wasn’t aware that he was the high priest. It is written, “You will not speak evil about a ruler of your people”.”#23.5 Exod 22:28
6Knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, Paul exclaimed in the council, “Brothers, I’m a Pharisee and a descendant of Pharisees. I am on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead!”
7These words aroused a dispute between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8This is because Sadducees say that there’s no resurrection, angel, or spirit, but Pharisees affirm them all. 9Council members were shouting loudly. Some Pharisees who were legal experts stood up and insisted forcefully, “We find nothing wrong with this man! What if a spirit or angel has spoken to him?” 10The dispute became so heated that the commander feared they might tear Paul to pieces. He ordered soldiers to go down and remove him by force from their midst. Then they took him back to the military headquarters.
11The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Be encouraged! Just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so too you must testify in Rome.”
A murder plot discovered
12The next morning some Jewish leaders formulated a plot and solemnly promised that they wouldn’t eat or drink until they had killed Paul. 13More than forty people were involved in the conspiracy. 14They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have solemnly promised to eat nothing until we have killed Paul. 15You and the council must explain to the commander that you need Paul brought down to you. Pretend that you want to examine his case more closely. We’re prepared to kill him before he arrives.”
16Paul’s sister had a son who heard about the ambush and he came to the military headquarters and reported it to Paul. 17Paul called for one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander because he has something to report to him.”
18He took him to the commander and said, “The prisoner Paul asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.”
19The commander took him by the hand and withdrew to a place where they could speak privately. He asked, “What do you have to report to me?”
20He replied, “The Jewish leaders have conspired to ask that you bring Paul down to the council tomorrow. They will pretend that they want to investigate his case more closely. 21Don’t fall for it! More than forty of them are waiting to ambush him. They have solemnly promised not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are ready now, awaiting your consent.”
22The commander dismissed the young man, ordering him, “Don’t tell anyone that you brought this to my attention.”
23The commander called two centurions and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to leave for Caesarea at nine o’clock tonight. 24Have horses ready for Paul to ride, so they may take him safely to Governor Felix.” 25He wrote the following letter:
26Claudius Lysias, to the most honorable Governor Felix: Greetings. 27This man was seized by the Jews and was almost killed by them. I was nearby with a unit of soldiers, and I rescued him when I discovered that he was a Roman citizen. 28I wanted to find out why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their council. 29I discovered that they were accusing him about questions related to their Law. I found no charge deserving of death or imprisonment. 30When I was informed of a conspiracy against his life, I sent him to you at once and ordered his accusers to bring their case against him before you.
31Following their orders, the soldiers took Paul during the night and brought him to Antipatris. 32The following day they let the horsemen continue on with Paul while they returned to the military headquarters in Jerusalem. 33The horsemen entered Caesarea, delivered the letter to the governor, and brought Paul before him. 34After he read the letter, he asked Paul about his home province. When he learned that he was from Cilicia, 35the governor said, “I will hear your case when your accusers arrive.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept in custody in Herod’s palace.
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Acts of the Apostles 23: CEB
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Acts of the Apostles 23
23
1Paul stared at the council and said, “Brothers, I have lived my life with an altogether clear conscience right up to this very day.” 2The high priest Ananias ordered those standing beside Paul to strike him in the mouth. 3Then Paul said to him, “God is about to strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit and judge me according to the Law, yet disobey the Law by ordering that I be struck.”
4Those standing near him asked, “You dare to insult God’s high priest?”
5Paul replied, “Brothers, I wasn’t aware that he was the high priest. It is written, “You will not speak evil about a ruler of your people”.”#23.5 Exod 22:28
6Knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, Paul exclaimed in the council, “Brothers, I’m a Pharisee and a descendant of Pharisees. I am on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead!”
7These words aroused a dispute between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8This is because Sadducees say that there’s no resurrection, angel, or spirit, but Pharisees affirm them all. 9Council members were shouting loudly. Some Pharisees who were legal experts stood up and insisted forcefully, “We find nothing wrong with this man! What if a spirit or angel has spoken to him?” 10The dispute became so heated that the commander feared they might tear Paul to pieces. He ordered soldiers to go down and remove him by force from their midst. Then they took him back to the military headquarters.
11The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Be encouraged! Just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so too you must testify in Rome.”
A murder plot discovered
12The next morning some Jewish leaders formulated a plot and solemnly promised that they wouldn’t eat or drink until they had killed Paul. 13More than forty people were involved in the conspiracy. 14They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have solemnly promised to eat nothing until we have killed Paul. 15You and the council must explain to the commander that you need Paul brought down to you. Pretend that you want to examine his case more closely. We’re prepared to kill him before he arrives.”
16Paul’s sister had a son who heard about the ambush and he came to the military headquarters and reported it to Paul. 17Paul called for one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander because he has something to report to him.”
18He took him to the commander and said, “The prisoner Paul asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.”
19The commander took him by the hand and withdrew to a place where they could speak privately. He asked, “What do you have to report to me?”
20He replied, “The Jewish leaders have conspired to ask that you bring Paul down to the council tomorrow. They will pretend that they want to investigate his case more closely. 21Don’t fall for it! More than forty of them are waiting to ambush him. They have solemnly promised not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are ready now, awaiting your consent.”
22The commander dismissed the young man, ordering him, “Don’t tell anyone that you brought this to my attention.”
23The commander called two centurions and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to leave for Caesarea at nine o’clock tonight. 24Have horses ready for Paul to ride, so they may take him safely to Governor Felix.” 25He wrote the following letter:
26Claudius Lysias, to the most honorable Governor Felix: Greetings. 27This man was seized by the Jews and was almost killed by them. I was nearby with a unit of soldiers, and I rescued him when I discovered that he was a Roman citizen. 28I wanted to find out why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their council. 29I discovered that they were accusing him about questions related to their Law. I found no charge deserving of death or imprisonment. 30When I was informed of a conspiracy against his life, I sent him to you at once and ordered his accusers to bring their case against him before you.
31Following their orders, the soldiers took Paul during the night and brought him to Antipatris. 32The following day they let the horsemen continue on with Paul while they returned to the military headquarters in Jerusalem. 33The horsemen entered Caesarea, delivered the letter to the governor, and brought Paul before him. 34After he read the letter, he asked Paul about his home province. When he learned that he was from Cilicia, 35the governor said, “I will hear your case when your accusers arrive.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept in custody in Herod’s palace.
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