Font Size
Acts 23:14-35
New American Standard Bible
Acts 23:14-35
New American Standard Bible
14 They came to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have (A)put ourselves under an [a]oath to taste nothing until we have killed Paul. 15 Now therefore, you [b]and (B)the [c]Council 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.”
16 But the son of Paul’s sister heard about their ambush, [d]and he came and entered (C)the barracks and told Paul. 17 Paul called one of the centurions to himself and said, “Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to him.” 18 So he took him and led him to the commander and *said, “Paul (D)the prisoner called me over to him 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, and stepping aside, began to inquire of him privately, “What is it that you have to report to me?” 20 And he said, “(E)The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down tomorrow to (F)the [e]Council, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more thoroughly about him. 21 So do not [f]listen to them, for more than forty [g]of them are (G)in hiding to ambush him, and these men have (H)put themselves under an oath not to eat or drink until they kill him; and now they are ready and waiting for assurance from you.” 22 Then the commander let the young man go, instructing him, “Tell no one that you have notified me of these things.”
Paul Moved to Caesarea
23 And he called to him two of the centurions and said, “Get two hundred soldiers ready by [h]the third hour of the night to proceed to (I)Caesarea, [i]with seventy horsemen and two hundred [j]spearmen.” 24 They were also to provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to (J)Felix the governor. 25 And he wrote a letter [k]with the following content:
26 “Claudius Lysias, to the (K)most excellent governor Felix: (L)Greetings.
27 When this man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, (M)I came up to them with the troops and rescued him, (N)after learning that he was a Roman. 28 And (O)wanting to ascertain the basis for the charges they were bringing against him, I (P)brought him down to their [l](Q)Council; 29 and I found that he was being accused regarding (R)questions in their Law, but [m]was (S)not charged with anything deserving death or [n]imprisonment.
30 When I was (T)informed that there would be (U)a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, also instructing (V)his accusers to [o]bring charges against him before you.”
31 So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 But on the next day they let (W)the horsemen go on with him, and they returned to (X)the barracks. 33 When these horsemen had come to (Y)Caesarea and delivered the letter to (Z)the governor, they also presented Paul to him. 34 Now when he had read it, he also asked from what (AA)province Paul was, and when he learned that (AB)he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, “I will give you a hearing when your (AC)accusers arrive as well,” giving orders for [p]Paul to be (AD)kept in Herod’s [q]Praetorium.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Acts 23:14 See note 2 v 12
- Acts 23:15 Lit with
- Acts 23:15 Or Sanhedrin
- Acts 23:16 Or having been present with them, and he also entered
- Acts 23:20 Or Sanhedrin
- Acts 23:21 Lit be persuaded by them
- Acts 23:21 Lit men of them
- Acts 23:23 I.e., 9 p.m.
- Acts 23:23 Lit and
- Acts 23:23 Or slingers; or bowmen
- Acts 23:25 Or to this effect
- Acts 23:28 Or Sanhedrin
- Acts 23:29 Lit had no charge of
- Acts 23:29 Lit bonds
- Acts 23:30 Lit speak against him
- Acts 23:35 Lit him
- Acts 23:35 I.e., governor’s official residence
Acts 23:14-35
New International Version
Acts 23:14-35
New International Version
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.(A) 15 Now then, you and the Sanhedrin(B) 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(C) 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,(D) 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(E) tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about him.(F) 21 Don’t give in to them, because more than forty(G) of them are waiting in ambush for him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him.(H) 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[a] to go to Caesarea(I) at nine tonight.(J) 24 Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”(K)
25 He wrote a letter as follows:
26 Claudius Lysias,
To His Excellency,(L) Governor Felix:
Greetings.(M)
27 This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him,(N) but I came with my troops and rescued him,(O) for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen.(P) 28 I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin.(Q) 29 I found that the accusation had to do with questions about their law,(R) but there was no charge against him(S) that deserved death or imprisonment. 30 When I was informed(T) of a plot(U) to be carried out against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also ordered his accusers(V) 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(W) go on with him, while they returned to the barracks.(X) 33 When the cavalry(Y) arrived in Caesarea,(Z) they delivered the letter to the governor(AA) 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,(AB) 35 he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers(AC) get here.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard(AD) in Herod’s palace.
Footnotes
- Acts 23:23 The meaning of the Greek for this word is uncertain.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) 
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.