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23 保羅定睛看著公議會的各人,說:“各位弟兄,我在 神面前,行事為人一向都是憑著良心的。” 大祭司亞拿尼亞就吩咐站在他旁邊的人打保羅的嘴巴。 保羅對他說:“你這粉飾的牆啊, 神要擊打你!你坐堂要按著律法審問我,現在你竟然違背律法吩咐人打我嗎?” 站在旁邊的人民說:“你敢辱罵 神的大祭司嗎?” 保羅說:“弟兄們,我不知道他是大祭司。經上說:‘不可咒詛你人民的領袖。’”

保羅看出其中一部分是撒都該人,另一部分是法利賽人,就在公議會中大聲說:“我是法利賽人,也是法利賽人的子孫,我現在受審,是為了盼望死人復活!” 他說了這話,法利賽人和撒都該人就起了爭論,會眾也分裂了,成為兩派。 原來撒都該人說沒有復活,沒有天使,也沒有鬼靈,法利賽人卻認定這些都有。 於是眾人大嚷大鬧,有幾個法利賽派的經學家站起來辯論說:“我們看不出這個人作過甚麼壞事;說不定有靈或天使對他說過話。” 10 爭論越來越大,千夫長怕保羅被他們撕碎了,就吩咐士兵下去,把他從人群中搶救出來,帶到營樓去。

11 當天晚上,主站在保羅身邊,說:“你要壯起膽來,你怎樣在耶路撒冷作見證,也必照樣在羅馬為我作見證。”

猶太人設計謀害保羅

12 到了天亮,猶太人在一起祕密計謀,並且發誓說,不殺保羅,就不吃不喝。 13 一同策劃這項陰謀的有四十多人。 14 他們來見眾祭司長和長老,說:“我們已經發了誓,不殺保羅,就不吃東西。 15 現在你們和公議會要通知千夫長,帶保羅到你們這裡來,裝作要詳細審查他。我們已經預備好了,不等他走近,就把他殺了。” 16 但保羅的外甥聽見這項埋伏的詭計,就到營樓去,告訴保羅。 17 保羅請了一個百夫長來,說:“請你帶這個青年人去見千夫長,他有事要報告。” 18 百夫長就帶保羅的外甥去見千夫長,說:“囚犯保羅請了我去,求我帶這個青年人來見你,他有事要向你報告。” 19 千夫長拉著他的手,走到一邊,私下問他:“你有甚麼事要向我報告?” 20 他說:“猶太人已經約好了,要求你明天把保羅帶到公議會裡去,裝作要詳細審查他。 21 你不要聽他們,因為他們有四十多人正在埋伏起來等著保羅;他們發了誓,不殺保羅,就不吃不喝。現在他們已經準備好了,只等你答應。” 22 千夫長囑咐那青年人:“不要告訴人你把這事告訴了我。”然後就打發他走了。

保羅被交送腓力斯

23 千夫長叫了兩個百夫長來,說:“預備兩百個步兵,七十個騎兵、兩百個長槍手,晚上九點鐘往該撒利亞去。 24 也要預備好牲口,好讓保羅騎上,護送他安全到達腓力斯總督那裡。” 25 千夫長寫了一封信,大意如下:

26 “革老丟.呂西亞問候總督腓力斯大人。 27 這個人被猶太人捉住,快要遭害的時候,我聽說他是羅馬公民,就帶兵去把他救出來。 28 為要知道猶太人控告他的原因,我就帶他到他們的公議會那裡去。 29 我發現他被控告,是為了他們律法上的問題,並沒有甚麼該死該綁的罪名。 30 後來我接到密報,得知害他的陰謀,就立刻把他送到你那裡去,並且吩咐原告到你面前來控告他。”

31 於是士兵照著吩咐,把保羅提出來,連夜帶到安提帕底。 32 第二天,他們把保羅交給騎兵隊護送,就回營樓去了。 33 騎兵到了該撒利亞,把信呈上總督,同時把保羅也交給他。 34 總督讀了信,就問保羅是哪一省的人;知道了他是基利家人, 35 就說:“等到原告也來了,我才審問你。”於是吩咐人把他拘留在希律的王府裡。

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”。

Before the High Council

23 1-3 Paul surveyed the members of the council with a steady gaze, and then said his piece: “Friends, I’ve lived with a clear conscience before God all my life, up to this very moment.” That set the Chief Priest Ananias off. He ordered his aides to slap Paul in the face. Paul shot back, “God will slap you down! What a fake you are! You sit there and judge me by the Law and then break the Law by ordering me slapped around!”

The aides were scandalized: “How dare you talk to God’s Chief Priest like that!”

Paul acted surprised. “How was I to know he was Chief Priest? He doesn’t act like a Chief Priest. You’re right, the Scripture does say, ‘Don’t speak abusively to a ruler of the people.’ Sorry.”

Paul, knowing some of the council was made up of Sadducees and others of Pharisees and how they hated each other, decided to exploit their antagonism: “Friends, I am a stalwart Pharisee from a long line of Pharisees. It’s because of my Pharisee convictions—the hope and resurrection of the dead—that I’ve been hauled into this court.”

7-9 The moment he said this, the council split right down the middle, Pharisees and Sadducees going at each other in heated argument. Sadducees have nothing to do with a resurrection or angels or even a spirit. If they can’t see it, they don’t believe it. Pharisees believe it all. And so a huge and noisy quarrel broke out. Then some of the religion scholars on the Pharisee side shouted down the others: “We don’t find anything wrong with this man! And what if a spirit has spoken to him? Or maybe an angel? What if it turns out we’re fighting against God?”

10 That was fuel on the fire. The quarrel flamed up and became so violent the captain was afraid they would tear Paul apart, limb from limb. He ordered the soldiers to get him out of there and escort him back to the safety of the barracks.

A Plot Against Paul

11 That night the Master appeared to Paul: “It’s going to be all right. Everything is going to turn out for the best. You’ve been a good witness for me here in Jerusalem. Now you’re going to be my witness in Rome!”

12-15 Next day the Jews worked up a plot against Paul. They took a solemn oath that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed him. Over forty of them ritually bound themselves to this murder pact and presented themselves to the high priests and religious leaders. “We’ve bound ourselves by a solemn oath to eat nothing until we have killed Paul. But we need your help. Send a request from the council to the captain to bring Paul back so that you can investigate the charges in more detail. We’ll do the rest. Before he gets anywhere near you, we’ll have killed him. You won’t be involved.”

16-17 Paul’s nephew, his sister’s son, overheard them plotting the ambush. He went immediately to the barracks and told Paul. Paul called over one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the captain. He has something important to tell him.”

18 The centurion brought him to the captain and said, “The prisoner Paul asked me to bring this young man to you. He said he has something urgent to tell you.”

19 The captain took him by the arm and led him aside privately. “What is it? What do you have to tell me?”

20-21 Paul’s nephew said, “The Jews have worked up a plot against Paul. They’re going to ask you to bring Paul to the council first thing in the morning on the pretext that they want to investigate the charges against him in more detail. But it’s a trick to get him out of your safekeeping so they can murder him. Right now there are more than forty men lying in ambush for him. They’ve all taken a vow to neither eat nor drink until they’ve killed him. The ambush is set—all they’re waiting for is for you to send him over.”

22 The captain dismissed the nephew with a warning: “Don’t breathe a word of this to a soul.”

23-24 The captain called up two centurions. “Get two hundred soldiers ready to go immediately to Caesarea. Also seventy cavalry and two hundred light infantry. I want them ready to march by nine o’clock tonight. And you’ll need a couple of mules for Paul and his gear. We’re going to present this man safe and sound to Governor Felix.”

25-30 Then he wrote this letter:

From Claudius Lysias, to the Most Honorable Governor Felix:

Greetings!

I rescued this man from a Jewish mob. They had seized him and were about to kill him when I learned that he was a Roman citizen. So I sent in my soldiers. Wanting to know what he had done wrong, I had him brought before their council. It turned out to be a squabble turned vicious over some of their religious differences, but nothing remotely criminal.

The next thing I knew, they had cooked up a plot to murder him. I decided that for his own safety I’d better get him out of here in a hurry. So I’m sending him to you. I’m informing his accusers that he’s now under your jurisdiction.

31-33 The soldiers, following orders, took Paul that same night to safety in Antipatris. In the morning the soldiers returned to their barracks in Jerusalem, sending Paul on to Caesarea under guard of the cavalry. The cavalry entered Caesarea and handed Paul and the letter over to the governor.

34-35 After reading the letter, the governor asked Paul what province he came from and was told “Cilicia.” Then he said, “I’ll take up your case when your accusers show up.” He ordered him locked up for the meantime in King Herod’s official quarters.