23 保罗注视着公会的人,说:“弟兄们,我在上帝面前行事为人一向问心无愧。” 大祭司亚拿尼亚一听,就命那些站在旁边的人打保罗的嘴。 保罗对亚拿尼亚说:“你这伪君子[a],上帝要击打你!你坐在那里不是应当依法审问我吗?你怎么违法叫人打我?”

站在旁边的人说:“你竟敢辱骂上帝的大祭司?” 保罗说:“弟兄们,我不知道他是大祭司。我知道圣经上说,‘不可咒诅百姓的官长。’”

保罗发现他们一些是法利赛人,一些是撒都该人,就在公会中高声说:“弟兄们,我是法利赛人,也是法利赛人的子孙。我因为盼望死人复活,才在这里受审!” 这句话立刻引起法利赛人和撒都该人之间的争论,公会分成了两派。 因为撒都该人认为没有复活,也没有天使和灵,而法利赛人认为这些都有。

众人大声喧嚷,有几个法利赛派的律法教师站起来争辩说:“我们找不出这人有什么错处,也许真的有灵或天使跟他说过话。” 10 争论越来越激烈,千夫长怕保罗会被他们扯碎了,就派人把他从人群中救出来,带回军营。

11 当天晚上,主站在保罗身旁对他说:“要勇敢!正如你在耶路撒冷为我做了见证,你也必须在罗马为我做见证。”

阴谋杀害保罗

12 天亮后,犹太人设下阴谋,并起誓说:“不杀保罗,誓不吃喝!” 13 有四十多人参与了这个阴谋。 14 他们去见祭司长和长老,说:“我们已经发了誓,不杀保罗不吃饭。 15 请你们和公会出面通知千夫长,请他把保罗押到你们这里来,就说要进一步审讯他。我们准备在他到达之前杀掉他!”

16 保罗的外甥听到这一阴谋,就去军营通知保罗。 17 保罗请来一位百夫长,说:“请赶快带这青年去见千夫长,他有要事禀告!” 18 百夫长领那青年去见千夫长,说:“那囚犯保罗叫我带这青年来,说有要事禀告。”

19 千夫长就拉着那青年的手走到一旁,私下问他:“你有什么事要告诉我?” 20 他说:“那些犹太人约好了,要请求你明天带保罗到公会受审,假装要详细审问他的事。 21 你不要答应他们,因为他们有四十多个人会埋伏在半路,并且还起誓说,‘不杀保罗就不吃不喝’。他们现在已经准备就绪,就等你答应了。”

22 千夫长听后,就叫他回去,并叮嘱道:“你向我禀告的事,不要告诉别人。”

保罗被押往凯撒利亚

23 于是,千夫长召来两名百夫长,吩咐道:“预备二百名步兵、七十名骑兵、二百名长枪手,今晚九时出发去凯撒利亚。 24 要给保罗预备坐骑,护送他安全抵达腓利斯总督那里。”

25 千夫长写了公文给腓利斯总督,内容如下: 26 “克劳狄·吕西亚敬问腓利斯总督大人安。 27 这人被犹太人抓住,险些被他们杀害。我得知他是罗马公民,便带兵去救了他。 28 为了弄清楚他们控告他的缘由,我押他到犹太人的公会受审, 29 发现他被控告与他们的律法有关,他并没有犯该被监禁或处死的罪。 30 我得知有人准备暗杀他,便立即护送他到你那里,并通知他的控告者去你那里告他。”

31 军兵奉命行事,连夜护送保罗到安提帕底。 32 第二天,由骑兵继续护送,其余军兵返回军营。 33 他们到了凯撒利亚,将公文呈交总督,把保罗交给他。 34 总督看过公文,便问保罗是哪省的人,得知保罗是基利迦人,就说: 35 “等告你的人来了,我会审理你的案子。”于是下令把保罗关在希律的王府里。

Footnotes

  1. 23:3 伪君子”希腊文是“粉饰的墙”。

23 保羅注視著公會的人,說:「弟兄們,我在上帝面前行事為人一向問心無愧。」 大祭司亞拿尼亞一聽,就命那些站在旁邊的人打保羅的嘴。 保羅對亞拿尼亞說:「你這偽君子[a],上帝要擊打你!你坐在那裡不是應當依法審問我嗎?你怎麼違法叫人打我?」

站在旁邊的人說:「你竟敢辱罵上帝的大祭司?」 保羅說:「弟兄們,我不知道他是大祭司。我知道聖經上說,『不可咒詛百姓的官長。』」

保羅發現他們一些是法利賽人,一些是撒都該人,就在公會中高聲說:「弟兄們,我是法利賽人,也是法利賽人的子孫。我因為盼望死人復活,才在這裡受審!」 這句話立刻引起法利賽人和撒都該人之間的爭論,公會分成了兩派。 因為撒都該人認為沒有復活,也沒有天使和靈,而法利賽人認為這些都有。

眾人大聲喧嚷,有幾個法利賽派的律法教師站起來爭辯說:「我們找不出這人有什麼錯處,也許真的有靈或天使跟他說過話。」 10 爭論越來越激烈,千夫長怕保羅會被他們扯碎了,就派人把他從人群中救出來,帶回軍營。

11 當天晚上,主站在保羅身旁對他說:「要勇敢!正如你在耶路撒冷為我作了見證,你也必須在羅馬為我做見證。」

陰謀殺害保羅

12 天亮後,猶太人設下陰謀,並起誓說:「不殺保羅,誓不吃喝!」 13 有四十多人參與了這個陰謀。 14 他們去見祭司長和長老,說:「我們已經發了誓,不殺保羅不吃飯。 15 請你們和公會出面通知千夫長,請他把保羅押到你們這裡來,就說要進一步審訊他。我們準備在他到達之前殺掉他!」

16 保羅的外甥聽到這一陰謀,就去軍營通知保羅。 17 保羅請來一位百夫長,說:「請趕快帶這青年去見千夫長,他有要事稟告!」 18 百夫長領那青年去見千夫長,說:「那囚犯保羅叫我帶這青年來,說有要事稟告。」

19 千夫長就拉著那青年的手走到一旁,私下問他:「你有什麼事要告訴我?」 20 他說:「那些猶太人約好了,要請求你明天帶保羅到公會受審,假裝要詳細審問他的事。 21 你不要答應他們,因為他們有四十多個人會埋伏在半路,並且還起誓說,『不殺保羅就不吃不喝』。他們現在已經準備就緒,就等你答應了。」

22 千夫長聽後,就叫他回去,並叮囑道:「你向我稟告的事,不要告訴別人。」

保羅被押往凱撒利亞

23 於是,千夫長召來兩名百夫長,吩咐道:「預備二百名步兵、七十名騎兵、二百名長槍手,今晚九時出發去凱撒利亞。 24 要給保羅預備坐騎,護送他安全抵達腓利斯總督那裡。」

25 千夫長寫了公文給腓利斯總督,內容如下: 26 「克勞狄·呂西亞敬問腓利斯總督大人安。 27 這人被猶太人抓住,險些被他們殺害。我得知他是羅馬公民,便帶兵去救了他。 28 為了弄清楚他們控告他的緣由,我押他到猶太人的公會受審, 29 發現他被控告與他們的律法有關,他並沒有犯該被監禁或處死的罪。 30 我得知有人準備暗殺他,便立即護送他到你那裡,並通知他的控告者去你那裡告他。」

31 軍兵奉命行事,連夜護送保羅到安提帕底。 32 第二天,由騎兵繼續護送,其餘軍兵返回軍營。 33 他們到了凱撒利亞,將公文呈交總督,把保羅交給他。 34 總督看過公文,便問保羅是哪省的人,得知保羅是基利迦人,就說: 35 「等告你的人來了,我會審理你的案子。」於是下令把保羅關在希律的王府裡。

Footnotes

  1. 23·3 偽君子」希臘文是「粉飾的牆」。

23 保罗的目光直视议会的人们,说∶“同胞们,时至今日,我在上帝的面前,一直过着清白良知的生活。” 听罢,大祭司亚拿尼亚命令站在保罗旁边的人,骟他的嘴巴。 保罗却对他说∶“上帝会打你的,你这堵白粉墙!你坐在那里,依法审判我,可却下令让人打我,你自己就违犯了律法。”

站在保罗周围的人说∶“你竟敢侮辱上帝的大祭司吗?”

保罗说∶“同胞们,我不知道他是大祭司。因为经上写着∶‘你不许讲自己的民族的统治者的坏话。’”

当保罗发觉在场的人中间一部分人是撒都该人,另一部分则是法利赛人时,就在议会里大声说道∶“同胞们,我是法利赛人,是法利赛人的儿子!我受审,仅仅是因为我盼望死者复活。”

当他说到这里时,法利赛人和撒都该人之间开始了辩论,议会也分裂了。 (撒都该人相信人死后不会成为天使和灵而复活,而法利赛人则相信二者。) 喧吵声越来越大,法利赛人中的一些律法师站起身来,激烈地辩论道∶“我们没有发现这个人有任何过错,也许有一位灵或天使的确对他说过话。”

10 争论愈加激烈了。指挥官甚至担心保罗会被他们扯成碎片。于是便命令士兵把保罗从他们中间夺过来,带进军营。

11 那天夜里,主站在保罗的身旁说∶“要有勇气。就像你曾在耶路撒冷为我做见证一样,你也必须在罗马作见证。”

一些犹太人秘谋杀害保罗

12 天亮的时候,一些犹太人聚在一起密谋,他们起誓说,直到杀死保罗,他们才吃才喝。 13 参与这个阴谋的人有四十多人, 14 他们去见祭司长和年长的犹太首领说∶“我们已经起誓,直到杀死保罗,我们不吃任何食物。 15 那么现在,你们和议会可以请求指挥官把保罗带到你们这里来,装作要更加仔细地审查这个案子,我们将准备好在他到这儿之前,杀掉他。”

16 保罗的外甥得知了这个阴谋,就进了兵营,把这个消息告诉了他。 17 保罗叫过来一个军官,对他说∶“把这个年轻人带到指挥官那里,他有话要对他说。” 18 军官把他带到指挥官面前,说∶“犯人保罗让我把这个年青人带到你这里来,他有话要对你说。”

19 指挥官拉着他的手,把他带到一边,问他∶“你有什么事要告诉我?”

20 年轻人说∶“犹太人商量好了,明天请求你把保罗带到议会,假装是他们要更加仔细地审问他。 21 不要听他们的,因为他们有四十多个人要埋伏好,等着他,他们发誓说直到杀死保罗,他们才吃才喝。现在他们已经准备好了,只等你同意了。”

22 指挥官让他下去,并嘱咐他道∶“不要向任何人提起你向我汇报过这些事情。”

保罗被押往该撒利亚

23 指挥官叫来两个军官,对他们说∶“预备二百个步兵,连同七十个骑兵和二百个长矛手,准备去该撒利亚。今晚九点出发, 24 给保罗备些马去骑,让他安全地到达腓力斯总督那里。” 25 他又写了一封信,内容如下:

26 “克劳迪吕西亚向腓力斯总督大人请安!

27 此人被犹太人捉拿,就要被害时,我和我的士兵前去营救了他, 28 因为我了解到他是一位罗马公民,所以我想查清他们控告他的原因,就把他带到了他们的议会。 29 我并没有发现他犯有什么该死或该囚禁的罪状,他们对他的起诉,无非是一些涉及到关于他们自己律法上的问题。 30 我得知有人设计谋对付他,所以,立即将他送到你处,我下令,让控告他的人,在你的面前陈述对他的起诉。”

31 士兵们执行了命令。他们带着保罗连夜前往安提帕底。 32 第二天,步兵返回了兵营。骑兵继续护送保罗。 33 到达该撒利亚后,他们便把信交给了总督,并把保罗也交给了他。 34 总督读了那封信后,问保罗是哪一个省的人,当得知他的籍贯是基利家时, 35 就说∶“指控你的那些人一到,我就会听你的案子。”他命令,把保罗看管在希律的宫殿里。

23 Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin(A) and said, “My brothers,(B) I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience(C) to this day.” At this the high priest Ananias(D) ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.(E) Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall!(F) You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!”(G)

Those who were standing near Paul said, “How dare you insult God’s high priest!”

Paul replied, “Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’[a](H)

Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees(I) and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers,(J) I am a Pharisee,(K) descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead.”(L) When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection,(M) and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe all these things.)

There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees(N) stood up and argued vigorously. “We find nothing wrong with this man,”(O) they said. “What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”(P) 10 The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.(Q)

11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage!(R) As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”(S)

The Plot to Kill Paul

12 The next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy(T) and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.(U) 13 More than forty men were involved in this plot. 14 They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.(V) 15 Now then, you and the Sanhedrin(W) petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.”

16 But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks(X) and told Paul.

17 Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.” 18 So he took him to the commander.

The centurion said, “Paul, the prisoner,(Y) sent for me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.”

19 The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside and asked, “What is it you want to tell me?”

20 He said: “Some Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin(Z) tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about him.(AA) 21 Don’t give in to them, because more than forty(AB) of them are waiting in ambush for him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him.(AC) They are ready now, waiting for your consent to their request.”

22 The commander dismissed the young man with this warning: “Don’t tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”

Paul Transferred to Caesarea

23 Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, “Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen[b] to go to Caesarea(AD) at nine tonight.(AE) 24 Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”(AF)

25 He wrote a letter as follows:

26 Claudius Lysias,

To His Excellency,(AG) Governor Felix:

Greetings.(AH)

27 This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him,(AI) but I came with my troops and rescued him,(AJ) for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen.(AK) 28 I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin.(AL) 29 I found that the accusation had to do with questions about their law,(AM) but there was no charge against him(AN) that deserved death or imprisonment. 30 When I was informed(AO) of a plot(AP) to be carried out against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also ordered his accusers(AQ) to present to you their case against him.

31 So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul with them during the night and brought him as far as Antipatris. 32 The next day they let the cavalry(AR) go on with him, while they returned to the barracks.(AS) 33 When the cavalry(AT) arrived in Caesarea,(AU) they delivered the letter to the governor(AV) and handed Paul over to him. 34 The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,(AW) 35 he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers(AX) get here.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard(AY) in Herod’s palace.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 23:5 Exodus 22:28
  2. Acts 23:23 The meaning of the Greek for this word is uncertain.