23 保羅注視著議會的人,說:「各位兄弟,直到今天,我在神面前,行事為人一向都憑著無愧的良心。」 大祭司阿納尼亞就命令站在保羅旁邊的人,打他的嘴巴。 保羅就對他說:「你這粉飾的牆啊,神將要打你!你坐在那裡應按照律法審判我,而你卻違背律法,下令打我嗎?」

站在旁邊的人說:「你竟敢辱罵神的大祭司?」

保羅就說:「同胞們[a],我不知道他是大祭司。的確,經上記著:不可說你民中掌權者的壞話。[b] 保羅知道有一部分人是撒都該人,另一部分是法利賽人,就在議會中喊著:「各位兄弟,我是法利賽人,也是法利賽人的兒子。我現在受審,是與死人復活的盼望有關。」 他說了這話,法利賽人和撒都該人就起了爭執,會眾也分裂了。 原來撒都該人說沒有復活,沒有天使,也沒有靈,但法利賽人卻承認這一切[c]

於是他們大大地喧嚷起來。有些法利賽派的經文士們站起來激烈地爭辯,說:「我們查不出這個人有什麼錯[d]。也許有靈或天使對他說過話呢![e] 10 爭執越來越激烈,千夫長擔心保羅會被他們撕碎,就命令軍隊下去,把保羅從他們當中搶出來,帶回營樓裡。

陰謀殺害保羅

11 當夜,主站在保羅旁邊,說:[f]你要鼓起勇氣!你怎樣在耶路撒冷鄭重地見證有關我的事,也必須照樣在羅馬做見證。」

12 天亮了,猶太人就策劃了一起陰謀,並且賭咒起誓說,殺掉保羅以前,就不吃不喝。 13 策劃這同謀起誓的有四十多人。 14 他們來到祭司長們和長老們那裡,說:「我們已經賭咒起誓,殺掉保羅以前,就什麼都不吃。 15 所以你們和議會現在就要告訴千夫長,[g]保羅帶到你們這裡來,假裝要更詳盡地審查他的事;我們預備好了,要在他到達以前就殺了他。」

16 保羅的外甥聽見了這埋伏的事,就過來進了營樓告訴保羅 17 保羅請來了一個百夫長,說:「請帶這年輕人到千夫長那裡,因為他有事要向他報告。」

18 於是百夫長就帶保羅的外甥到千夫長那裡去,說:「囚犯保羅請了我去,求我把這個年輕人帶到你這裡來,他有事要告訴你。」

19 千夫長拉著年輕人的手,退到一邊,悄悄地問他:「你有什麼事要告訴我?」

20 他說:「猶太人已經說好,要請求你明天把保羅帶到議會去,假裝要更詳盡地查問他的事。 21 所以請你不要被他們說服,因為他們中的四十多人正埋伏等著他。他們已經賭咒起誓說,殺掉保羅以前,就不吃不喝。現在他們預備好了,正期望你答應。」

22 千夫長吩咐那年輕人說:「不要對任何人說,你把這些事告訴了我。」於是,就讓他走了。

連夜解送到凱撒里亞

23 然後千夫長叫來兩個百夫長,說:「預備兩百名步兵、七十名騎兵、兩百名長槍手,晚上九點[h]出發往凱撒里亞去。 24 也要預備牲口,讓保羅騎上,護送到總督菲利克斯那裡去。」

25 他寫了一封信函,有這樣的內容:

26 克勞迪呂西亞問候總督菲利克斯大人。
27 這個人被猶太人抓住,正要被他們殺害的時候,我帶軍隊到場,得知他是羅馬公民,就把他救了出來。 28 我想了解猶太人控告他的理由,就帶他到他們的議會去。 29 我發現他被控告,與他們律法上的爭議問題有關,並沒有任何該死或該被捆鎖的罪行。 30 後來我被告知[i]將有一個針對這個人的陰謀,就立即把他解送到您那裡去,又吩咐原告們到您面前去告他。[j]

31 於是士兵們按照命令,把保羅接走,連夜送到安提帕底 32 第二天,他們讓騎兵帶著保羅前行,就回到營樓。 33 騎兵進了凱撒里亞,把信函呈給總督,又把保羅帶到他面前。 34 總督[k]讀了信,問保羅是哪一個省的人,知道他是奇里乞亞省的人, 35 就說:「等你的原告們也到了,我會詳細地聽你的事。」他下令把保羅看守在希律的王府裡。

Footnotes

  1. 使徒行傳 23:5 同胞們——原文直譯「兄弟們」。
  2. 使徒行傳 23:5 《出埃及記》22:28。
  3. 使徒行傳 23:8 這一切——或譯作「這兩樣」。
  4. 使徒行傳 23:9 錯——原文直譯「惡」。
  5. 使徒行傳 23:9 有古抄本附「我們不要對抗神。」
  6. 使徒行傳 23:11 有古抄本附「保羅,」。
  7. 使徒行傳 23:15 有古抄本附「明天」。
  8. 使徒行傳 23:23 九點——原文為「第三時刻」。
  9. 使徒行傳 23:30 有古抄本附「藉著猶太人」。
  10. 使徒行傳 23:30 有古抄本附「祝您安康!」
  11. 使徒行傳 23:34 有古抄本沒有「總督」。

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.

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 And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, (A)I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.” And the high priest (B)Ananias commanded those who stood by him (C)to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you (D)whitewashed (E)wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet (F)contrary to the law you (G)order me to be struck?” Those who stood by said, “Would you revile (H)God's high priest?” And Paul said, (I)“I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, (J)‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”

Now when Paul perceived that one part were (K)Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, (L)I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is (M)with respect to the (N)hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.” And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. For the Sadducees (O)say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. Then a great clamor arose, and some of (P)the scribes of the Pharisees' party stood up and contended sharply, (Q)“We find nothing wrong in this man. What (R)if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?” 10 And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into (S)the barracks.

11 (T)The following night (U)the Lord stood by him and said, (V)“Take courage, for (W)as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must (X)testify also in Rome.”

A Plot to Kill Paul

12 When it was day, (Y)the Jews made a plot and (Z)bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. 13 There were more than forty who made this conspiracy. 14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul. 15 Now therefore you, along with the council, give notice to the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case more exactly. And we are ready to kill him before he comes near.”

16 Now the son of Paul's sister heard of their ambush, so he went and entered (AA)the barracks and told Paul. 17 Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to tell him.” 18 So he took him and brought him to the tribune and said, “Paul (AB)the prisoner called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, as he has something to say to you.” 19 The tribune took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?” 20 And he said, (AC)“The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more closely about him. 21 But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush for him, who (AD)have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him. And now they are ready, waiting for your consent.” 22 So the tribune dismissed the young man, charging him, “Tell no one that you have informed me of these things.”

Paul Sent to Felix the Governor

23 Then he called two of the centurions and said, “Get ready two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night.[a] 24 Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to (AE)Felix (AF)the governor.” 25 And he wrote a letter to this effect:

26 “Claudius Lysias, to (AG)his Excellency the governor Felix, (AH)greetings. 27 (AI)This man was seized by the Jews and (AJ)was about to be killed by them (AK)when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, (AL)having learned that he was a Roman citizen. 28 And (AM)desiring to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their council. 29 I found that he was being accused (AN)about questions of their law, but (AO)charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment. 30 (AP)And when it was disclosed to me (AQ)that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, (AR)ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him.”

31 So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 And on the next day they returned to (AS)the barracks, letting the horsemen go on with him. 33 When they had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him. 34 On reading the letter, he asked what (AT)province he was from. And when he learned (AU)that he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, “I will give you a hearing (AV)when your accusers arrive.” And he commanded him to be guarded in Herod's (AW)praetorium.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 23:23 That is, 9 p.m.