Acts 23

Paul before the Council

1Paul, looking intently at 1the 2Council, said, “3Brethren, 4I have 5lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day.” 2The high priest 6Ananias commanded those standing beside him 7to strike him on the mouth. 3Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, 8you whitewashed wall! Do you 9sit to try me according to the Law, and in violation of the Law order me to be struck?” 4But the bystanders said, “Do you revile God’s high priest?” 5And Paul said, “I was not aware, brethren, that he was high priest; for it is written, ‘10You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”

6But perceiving that one group were 11Sadducees and the other Pharisees, Paul began crying out in 12the 13Council, “14Brethren, 15I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for 16the hope and resurrection of the dead!” 7As he said this, there occurred a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8For 17the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. 9And there occurred a great uproar; and some of 18the scribes of the Pharisaic party stood up and began to argue heatedly, saying, “19We find nothing wrong with this man; 20suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” 10And as a great dissension was developing, the 21commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them and ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force, and bring him into 22the barracks.

11But on 23the night immediately following, the Lord stood at his side and said, “24Take courage; for 25as you have 26solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.”

A Conspiracy to Kill Paul

12When it was day, 27the Jews formed a 28conspiracy and 29bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. 13There were more than forty who formed this plot. 14They came to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have 30bound ourselves under a solemn oath to taste nothing until we have killed Paul. 15Now therefore, you 31and 32the 33Council notify the 34commander to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case by a more thorough investigation; and we for our part are ready to slay him before he comes near the place.”

16But the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush, 35and he came and entered 36the barracks and told Paul. 17Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, “Lead this young man to the 37commander, for he has something to report to him.” 18So he took him and led him to the 38commander and said, “Paul 39the prisoner called me to him and asked me to lead this young man to you since he has something to tell you.” 19The 40commander took him by the hand and stepping aside, began to inquire of him privately, “What is it that you have to report to me?” 20And he said, “41The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down tomorrow to 42the 43Council, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more thoroughly about him. 21So do not 44listen to them, for more than forty of them are 45lying in wait for him who have 46bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they slay him; and now they are ready and waiting for the promise from you.” 22So the 47commander let the young man go, instructing him, “Tell no one that you have notified me of these things.”

Paul Moved to Caesarea

23And he called to him two of the centurions and said, “Get two hundred soldiers ready by 48the third hour of the night to proceed to 49Caesarea, 50with seventy horsemen and two hundred 51spearmen.” 24They were also to provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to 52Felix the governor. 25And he wrote a letter having this form:

26“Claudius Lysias, to the 53most excellent governor Felix, 54greetings.

27When this man was arrested by the Jews and was about to be slain by them, 55I came up to them with the troops and rescued him, 56having learned that he was a Roman. 28And 57wanting to ascertain the charge for which they were accusing him, I 58brought him down to their 5960Council; 29and I found him to be accused over 61questions about their Law, but 62under 63no accusation deserving death or 64imprisonment.

30When I was 65informed that there would be 66a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, also instructing 67his accusers to 68bring charges against him before you.”

31So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32But the next day, leaving 69the horsemen to go on with him, they returned to 70the barracks. 33When these had come to 71Caesarea and delivered the letter to 72the governor, they also presented Paul to him. 34When he had read it, he asked from what 73province he was, and when he learned that 74he was from Cilicia, 35he said, “I will give you a hearing after your 75accusers arrive also,” giving orders for him to be 76kept in Herod’s 77Praetorium.