Acts of the Apostles 23

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.	1 Paul looked intently at the Sanhedrin and said, "My brothers, I have conducted myself with a perfectly clear conscience before God to this day."
2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.	2 The high priest Ananias ordered his attendants to strike his 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?	3 Then Paul said to him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall. Do you indeed sit in judgment upon me according to the law and yet in violation of the law order me to be struck?"
4 And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest?	4 The attendants said, "Would you revile 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.	5 Paul answered, "Brothers, I did not realize he was the high priest. For it is written, 'You shall not curse a ruler of your 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.	6 Paul was aware that some were Sadducees and some Pharisees, so he called out before the Sanhedrin, "My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees; (I) am on trial for hope in the resurrection of the dead."
7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.	7 When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the group became divided.
8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.	8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection or angels or spirits, while the Pharisees acknowledge all three.
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.	9 A great uproar occurred, and some scribes belonging to the Pharisee party stood up and sharply argued, "We find nothing wrong with this man. Suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?"
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.	10 The dispute was so serious that the commander, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, ordered his troops to go down and rescue him from their midst and take him into the compound.
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.	11 The following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Take courage. For just as you have borne witness to my cause in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness in 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.	12 When day came, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
13 And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.	13 There were more than forty who formed 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.	14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, "We have bound ourselves by a solemn oath to taste nothing until we have killed 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 inquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.	15 You, together with the Sanhedrin, must now make an official request to the commander to have him bring him down to you, as though you meant to investigate his case more thoroughly. We on our part are prepared to kill him before he arrives."
16 And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.	16 The son of Paul's sister, however, heard about the ambush; so he went and entered the compound and reported it to 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.	17 Paul then called one of the centurions and requested, "Take this young man to the commander; he has something to report to 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.	18 So he took him and brought him to the commander and explained, "The prisoner Paul called me and asked that I bring this young man to you; he has something to say to you."
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?	19 The commander took him by the hand, drew him aside, and asked him privately, "What is it you have to report to 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 inquire somewhat of him more perfectly.	20 He replied, "The Jews have conspired to ask you to bring Paul down to the Sanhedrin tomor row, as though they meant to inquire about him more thoroughly,
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.	21 but do not believe them. More than forty of them are lying in wait for him; they have bound themselves by oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are now ready and only wait for your consent."
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.	22 As the commander dismissed the young man he directed him, "Tell no one that you gave me this information."
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;	23 Then he summoned two of the centurions and said, "Get two hundred soldiers ready to go to Caesarea by nine o'clock tonight, along with seventy horsemen and two hundred auxiliaries.
24 And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.	24 Provide mounts for Paul to ride and give him safe conduct to Felix the governor."
25 And he wrote a letter after this manner:	25 Then he wrote a letter with this content:
26 Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.	26 "Claudius Lysias to his excellency the governor Felix, greetings.
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.	27 This man, seized by the Jews and about to be murdered by them, I rescued after intervening with my troops when I learned that he was a Roman citizen.
28 And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:	28 I wanted to learn the reason for their accusations against him so I brought him down to their Sanhedrin.
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.	29 I discovered that he was accused in matters of controversial questions of their law and not of any charge deserving death or imprisonment.
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.	30 Since it was brought to my attention that there will be a plot against the man, I am sending him to you at once, and have also notified his accusers to state (their case) against him before you."
31 Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.	31 So the soldiers, according to their orders, took Paul and escorted him by night to Antipatris.
32 On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:	32 The next day they re turned to the compound, leaving the horsemen to complete the journey with him.
33 Who, when they came to Caesarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.	33 When they arrived in Caesarea they delivered the letter to the governor and presented Paul to 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;	34 When he had read it and asked to what province he belonged, and learned that he was from 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.	35 he said, "I shall hear your case when your accusers arrive." Then he ordered that he be held in custody in Herod's praetorium.