Acts 23

Paul before the Council

1Now looking intently at 1the 2Council, Paul said, “34Brothers, 5I have 6lived my life with an entirely good conscience before God up to this day.” 2But the high priest 7Ananias commanded those standing beside him 8to strike him on the mouth. 3Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, 9you whitewashed wall! Do you 10sit to try me according to the Law, and in violation of the Law, order me to be struck?” 4But those present said, “Are you insulting God’s high priest?” 5And Paul said, “I was not aware, brothers, that he is high priest; for it is written: ‘11You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”

6But Paul, perceiving that one group were 12Sadducees and the other Pharisees, began crying out in 13the 14Council, “1516Brothers, 17I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for 18the hope and resurrection of the dead!” 7When he said this, a dissension occurred between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8For 19the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. 9And a great uproar occurred; and some of 20the scribes of the Pharisaic party stood up and started arguing heatedly, saying, “21We find nothing wrong with this man; 22suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” 10And when a great dissension occurred, the commander was afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, and he ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force, and bring him into 23the barracks.

11But on 24the following night, the Lord stood near him and said, “25Be courageous! For 26as you have 27testified to the truth about Me in Jerusalem, so you must testify in Rome also.”

A Conspiracy to Kill Paul

12When it was day, 28the Jews formed a 29conspiracy and 30put themselves under an 31oath, 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 32put ourselves under an 33oath to taste nothing until we have killed Paul. 15Now therefore, you 34and 35the 36Council notify the commander to bring him down to you, as though you were going to investigate his case more thoroughly; and as for us, we are ready to kill him before he comes near the place.”

16But the son of Paul’s sister heard about their ambush, 37and he came and entered 38the barracks and told Paul. 17Paul called one of the centurions to himself and said, “Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to him.” 18So he took him and led him to the commander and said, “Paul 39the prisoner called me over to him and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.” 19The commander 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, “40The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down tomorrow to 41the 42Council, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more thoroughly about him. 21So do not 43listen to them, for more than forty 44of them are 45in hiding to ambush him, and these men have 46put themselves under an oath not to eat or drink until they kill him; and now they are ready and waiting for assurance from you.” 22Then the commander 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 47the third hour of the night to proceed to 48Caesarea, 49with seventy horsemen and two hundred 50spearmen.” 24They were also to provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to 51Felix the governor. 25And he wrote a letter 52with the following content:

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

27When this man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, 55I came up to them with the troops and rescued him, 56after learning that he was a Roman. 28And 57wanting to ascertain the basis for the charges they were bringing against him, I 58brought him down to their 5960Council; 29and I found that he was being accused regarding 61questions in their Law, but 62was 63not charged with anything 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 on the next day they let 69the horsemen go on with him, and they returned to 70the barracks. 33When these horsemen had come to 71Caesarea and delivered the letter to 72the governor, they also presented Paul to him. 34Now when he had read it, he also asked from what 73province Paul was, and when he learned that 74he was from Cilicia, 35he said, “I will give you a hearing when your 75accusers arrive as well,” giving orders for 76Paul to be 77kept in Herod’s 78Praetorium.