Acts of the Apostles 23

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 And Paul looking upon the council, said: Men, brethren, I have conversed with all good conscience before God until this present 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 strike him on the mouth.	2 The high priest Ananias ordered his attendants to strike his mouth.
3 Then Paul said to him: God shall strike thee, thou whited wall. For sittest thou to judge me according to the law, and contrary to the law commandest me to be struck?	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: Dost thou revile the high priest of God?	4 The attendants said, "Would you revile God's high priest?"
5 And Paul said: I knew not, brethren, that he is the high priest. For it is written: Thou shalt not speak evil of the prince 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 And Paul knowing that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, cried out in the council: Men, brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees: concerning 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 some of the Pharisees rising up, strove, saying: We find no evil in this man. What if a spirit hath spoken to him, or an angel?	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 tribune fearing lest Paul should be pulled in pieces by 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 standing by him, said: Be constant; 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 day was come, some of the Jews gathered together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying, that they would neither eat, nor drink, till they 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 men that had made this conspiracy.	13 There were more than forty who formed this conspiracy.
14 Who came to the chief priests and the ancients, and said: We have bound ourselves under a great curse that we will eat nothing till 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 do you with the council signify to the tribune, that he bring him forth to you, as if you meant to know something more certain touching him. And we, before 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 Which when Paul's sister's son had heard, of their lying in wait, he came 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 And Paul, calling to him one of the centurions, said: Bring this young man to the tribune, for he hath some 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 And he taking him, brought him to the tribune, and said: Paul, the prisoner, desired me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath some thing to say to 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 And the tribune taking him by the hand, went aside with him privately, and asked him: What is it 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 wouldst bring forth Paul to morrow into the council, as if they meant to inquire some thing more certain touching him.	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 give credit to them; for there lie in wait for him more than forty men of them, who have bound themselves by oath neither to eat, nor to drink, till they have killed him: and they are now 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 The tribune therefore dismissed the young man, charging him that he should tell no man, that he had made known these things unto him.	22 As the commander dismissed the young man he directed him, "Tell no one that you gave me this information."
23 Then having called two centurions, he said to them: Make ready two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen for 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 beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe to Felix the governor.	24 Provide mounts for Paul to ride and give him safe conduct to Felix the governor."
25 (For he feared lest perhaps the Jews might take him away by force and kill him, and he should afterwards be slandered, as if he was to take money.) And he wrote a letter after this manner:	25 Then he wrote a letter with this content:
26 Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor, Felix, greeting.	26 "Claudius Lysias to his excellency the governor Felix, greetings.
27 This man being taken by the Jews, and ready to be killed by them, I rescued coming in with an army, understanding that he is 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 meaning to know the cause which they objected unto 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 found to be accused concerning questions of their law; but having nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bands.	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 I was told of ambushes that they had prepared for him, I sent him to thee, signifying also to his accusers to plead before thee. 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, according as it was commanded them, taking Paul, brought him by night to Antipatris.	31 So the soldiers, according to their orders, took Paul and escorted him by night to Antipatris.
32 And the next day, leaving the horsemen to go with him, they 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 were come to Caesarea, and had delivered the letter to the governor, did also present Paul before him.	33 When they arrived in Caesarea they delivered the letter to the governor and presented Paul to him.
34 And when he had read it, and had asked of what province he was, and 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 thy accusers 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.