23 保罗注视着议会的人,说:“各位兄弟,直到今天,我在神面前,行事为人一向都凭着无愧的良心。” 大祭司阿纳尼亚就命令站在保罗旁边的人,打他的嘴巴。 保罗就对他说:“你这粉饰的墙啊,神将要打你!你坐在那里应按照律法审判我,而你却违背律法,下令打我吗?”

站在旁边的人说:“你竟敢辱骂神的大祭司?”

保罗就说:“同胞们[a],我不知道他是大祭司。的确,经上记着:不可说你民中掌权者的坏话。[b] 保罗知道有一部分人是撒都该人,另一部分是法利赛人,就在议会中喊着:“各位兄弟,我是法利赛人,也是法利赛人的儿子。我现在受审,是与死人复活的盼望有关。” 他说了这话,法利赛人和撒都该人就起了争执,会众也分裂了。 原来撒都该人说没有复活,没有天使,也没有灵,但法利赛人却承认这一切[c]

于是他们大大地喧嚷起来。有些法利赛派的经文士们站起来激烈地争辩,说:“我们查不出这个人有什么错[d]。也许有灵或天使对他说过话呢![e] 10 争执越来越激烈,千夫长担心保罗会被他们撕碎,就命令军队下去,把保罗从他们当中抢出来,带回营楼里。

阴谋杀害保罗

11 当夜,主站在保罗旁边,说:[f]你要鼓起勇气!你怎样在耶路撒冷郑重地见证有关我的事,也必须照样在罗马做见证。”

12 天亮了,犹太人就策划了一起阴谋,并且赌咒起誓说,杀掉保罗以前,就不吃不喝。 13 策划这同谋起誓的有四十多人。 14 他们来到祭司长们和长老们那里,说:“我们已经赌咒起誓,杀掉保罗以前,就什么都不吃。 15 所以你们和议会现在就要告诉千夫长,[g]保罗带到你们这里来,假装要更详尽地审查他的事;我们预备好了,要在他到达以前就杀了他。”

16 保罗的外甥听见了这埋伏的事,就过来进了营楼告诉保罗 17 保罗请来了一个百夫长,说:“请带这年轻人到千夫长那里,因为他有事要向他报告。”

18 于是百夫长就带保罗的外甥到千夫长那里去,说:“囚犯保罗请了我去,求我把这个年轻人带到你这里来,他有事要告诉你。”

19 千夫长拉着年轻人的手,退到一边,悄悄地问他:“你有什么事要告诉我?”

20 他说:“犹太人已经说好,要请求你明天把保罗带到议会去,假装要更详尽地查问他的事。 21 所以请你不要被他们说服,因为他们中的四十多人正埋伏等着他。他们已经赌咒起誓说,杀掉保罗以前,就不吃不喝。现在他们预备好了,正期望你答应。”

22 千夫长吩咐那年轻人说:“不要对任何人说,你把这些事告诉了我。”于是,就让他走了。

连夜解送到凯撒里亚

23 然后千夫长叫来两个百夫长,说:“预备两百名步兵、七十名骑兵、两百名长枪手,晚上九点[h]出发往凯撒里亚去。 24 也要预备牲口,让保罗骑上,护送到总督菲利克斯那里去。”

25 他写了一封信函,有这样的内容:

26 克劳迪吕西亚问候总督菲利克斯大人。
27 这个人被犹太人抓住,正要被他们杀害的时候,我带军队到场,得知他是罗马公民,就把他救了出来。 28 我想了解犹太人控告他的理由,就带他到他们的议会去。 29 我发现他被控告,与他们律法上的争议问题有关,并没有任何该死或该被捆锁的罪行。 30 后来我被告知[i]将有一个针对这个人的阴谋,就立即把他解送到您那里去,又吩咐原告们到您面前去告他。[j]

31 于是士兵们按照命令,把保罗接走,连夜送到安提帕底 32 第二天,他们让骑兵带着保罗前行,就回到营楼。 33 骑兵进了凯撒里亚,把信函呈给总督,又把保罗带到他面前。 34 总督[k]读了信,问保罗是哪一个省的人,知道他是奇里乞亚省的人, 35 就说:“等你的原告们也到了,我会详细地听你的事。”他下令把保罗看守在希律的王府里。

Footnotes

  1. 使徒行传 23:5 同胞们——原文直译“兄弟们”。
  2. 使徒行传 23:5 《出埃及记》22:28。
  3. 使徒行传 23:8 这一切——或译作“这两样”。
  4. 使徒行传 23:9 错——原文直译“恶”。
  5. 使徒行传 23:9 有古抄本附“我们不要对抗神。”
  6. 使徒行传 23:11 有古抄本附“保罗,”。
  7. 使徒行传 23:15 有古抄本附“明天”。
  8. 使徒行传 23:23 九点——原文为“第三时刻”。
  9. 使徒行传 23:30 有古抄本附“藉着犹太人”。
  10. 使徒行传 23:30 有古抄本附“祝您安康!”
  11. 使徒行传 23:34 有古抄本没有“总督”。

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.

23 Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience(A) to this day.” The high priest Ananias ordered those who were standing next to him to strike him on the mouth.(B) Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! You are sitting there judging me according to the law, and yet in violation of the law are you ordering me to be struck?” (C)

Those standing nearby said, “Do you dare revile God’s high priest?”

“I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest,” replied Paul. “For it is written, You must not speak evil of a ruler of your people.[a](D) When Paul realized that one part of them were Sadducees and the other part were Pharisees, he cried out in the Sanhedrin, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees.(E) I am being judged because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead!” (F) When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection,(G) and neither angel nor spirit, but the Pharisees affirm them all.

The shouting grew loud, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’(H) party got up and argued vehemently, “We find nothing evil in this man.(I) What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” [b](J)

10 When the dispute became violent, the commander feared that Paul might be torn apart by them and ordered the troops to go down, take him away from them, and bring him into the barracks.(K) 11 The following night, the Lord stood by him and said, “Have courage! For as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so it is necessary for you to testify in Rome.”(L)

The Plot against Paul

12 When it was morning, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.(M) 13 There were more than forty who had formed this plot. 14 These men went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves under a solemn curse that we won’t eat anything until we have killed Paul. 15 So now you, along with the Sanhedrin, make a request to the commander that he bring him down to you[c] as if you were going to investigate his case more thoroughly. But, before he gets near, we are ready to kill him.”(N)

16 But the son of Paul’s sister, hearing about their ambush, came and entered the barracks and reported it to Paul. 17 Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander, because he has something to report to him.”

18 So he took him, brought him to the commander, and said, “The prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, because he has something to tell you.”

19 The commander took him by the hand, led him aside, and inquired privately, “What is it you have to report to me?”

20 “The Jews,” he said, “have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the Sanhedrin tomorrow, as though they are going to hold a somewhat more careful inquiry about him. 21 Don’t let them persuade you, because there are more than forty of them lying in ambush—men who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, waiting for your consent.”(O)

22 So the commander dismissed the young man and instructed him, “Don’t tell anyone that you have informed me about this.”

To Caesarea by Night

23 He summoned two of his centurions and said, “Get two hundred soldiers ready with seventy cavalry and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight.[d](P) 24 Also provide mounts to ride so that Paul may be brought safely to Felix the governor.”

25 He wrote the following letter:[e]

26 Claudius Lysias,

To the most excellent governor Felix:

Greetings.(Q)

27 When this man had been seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, I arrived with my troops and rescued him because I learned that he is a Roman citizen.(R) 28 Wanting to know the charge they were accusing him of, I brought him down before their Sanhedrin. 29 I found out that the accusations were concerning questions of their law,(S) and that there was no charge that merited death or imprisonment.(T) 30 When I was informed that there was a plot against the man,[f](U) I sent him to you right away. I also ordered his accusers(V) to state their case against him in your presence.[g]

31 So the soldiers took Paul during the night and brought him to Antipatris as they were ordered. 32 The next day, they returned to the barracks, allowing the cavalry to go on with him. 33 When these men entered Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.(W) 34 After he[h] read it, he asked what province he was from. When he learned he was from Cilicia,(X) 35 he said, “I will give you a hearing whenever your accusers also get here.” He ordered that he be kept under guard in Herod’s palace.[i](Y)

Footnotes

  1. 23:5 Ex 22:28
  2. 23:9 Other mss add Let us not fight God.
  3. 23:15 Other mss add tomorrow
  4. 23:23 Lit at the third hour tonight
  5. 23:25 Or He wrote a letter to this effect:
  6. 23:30 Other mss add by the Jews
  7. 23:30 Other mss add Farewell
  8. 23:34 Other mss read the governor
  9. 23:35 Or headquarters

23 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.

And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.

Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?

And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest?

Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.

But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.

For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.

And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.

10 And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.

11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

12 And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

13 And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.

14 And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.

15 Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.

16 And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.

17 Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him.

18 So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee.

19 Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that thou hast to tell me?

20 And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly.

21 But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee.

22 So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast shewed these things to me.

23 And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;

24 And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.

25 And he wrote a letter after this manner:

26 Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.

27 This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.

28 And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:

29 Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.

30 And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell.

31 Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.

32 On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:

33 Who, when they came to Caesarea and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.

34 And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia;

35 I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment hall.