Acts 23
Amplified Bible
Paul before the Council
23 Then Paul, looking intently at the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court), said, “Kinsmen, I have lived my life before God with a perfectly good conscience until this very day.” 2 [At this] the high priest [a]Ananias ordered those who stood beside him to strike Paul on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you [b]whitewashed wall! Do you actually sit to judge me according to the Law, and yet in violation of the Law order me to be struck?” 4 But those who stood near Paul said, “Are you insulting the high priest of God?” 5 Paul said, “I was not aware, brothers, that he was [c]high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”(A)
6 But recognizing that one group were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, Paul began affirming loudly in the Council chamber, “Kinsmen, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!” 7 When he said this, an angry dispute erupted between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the [whole crowded] assembly was divided [into two factions]. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is no [such thing as a] resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees [speak out freely and] acknowledge [their belief in] them all. 9 Then a great uproar occurred, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ party stood up and began to argue heatedly [in Paul’s favor], saying, “We find nothing wrong with this man; suppose a spirit or an angel has [really] spoken to him?” 10 And as the dissension became even greater, the commander, fearing that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, ordered the troops to go down and forcibly take him from them, and bring him to the barracks.
11 On the following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Be brave; for as you have solemnly and faithfully witnessed about Me at Jerusalem, so you must also testify at Rome.”
A Conspiracy to Kill Paul
12 Now when day came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under an oath (curse), saying that they would not eat or drink until they had killed Paul. 13 There were more than forty [men] who formed this plot [and swore this oath]. 14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves under a solemn oath not to taste anything [neither food nor drink] until we have killed Paul. 15 So now you, along with the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court), notify the commander to bring Paul down to you, as if you were going to investigate his case more thoroughly. But we are ready to kill him before he comes near [the place].”
16 But the son of Paul’s sister heard of their [planned] ambush, and he went to the barracks and told Paul. 17 Then Paul, calling in one of the centurions, said, “Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to tell him.” 18 So he took him and led him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner called for 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 and stepping aside, began to ask him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?” 20 And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) tomorrow, as if they were going to interrogate him more thoroughly. 21 But do not listen to them, for more than forty of them are lying in wait for him, and they have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. Even now they are ready, just waiting for your promise.” 22 So the commander let the young man leave, instructing him, “Do not tell anyone that you have given me this information.”
Paul Moved to Caesarea Maritima
23 Then summoning two of the centurions, he said, “Have two hundred soldiers ready by the third hour of the night (9:00 p.m.) to go as far as [d]Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred [e]spearmen; 24 also provide mounts for Paul to ride, and bring him safely to [f]Felix the governor.” 25 And [after instructing the centurions] he wrote a letter to this effect:
26
“Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix, greetings.
27
This man was seized [as a prisoner] by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, when I came upon him with the troops and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman citizen. 28 And wanting to know the exact charge which they were making against him, I brought him down to their Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court); 29 and I discovered that he was accused in regard to questions and issues in their Law, but [he was] under no accusation that would call for the penalty of death or [even] for imprisonment.
30
When I was told that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you immediately, also directing his accusers to bring their charges against him before you.”
31 So the soldiers, in compliance with their orders, took Paul and brought him to Antipatris during the night. 32 And the next day, leaving the horsemen to go on with him, they returned to the barracks. 33 When these [horsemen] reached Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor, and also presented Paul to him. 34 After reading the letter, he asked which province Paul was from, and when he learned that he was from Cilicia [an imperial province], 35 he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers have arrived,” giving orders that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s Praetorium (the governor’s official residence).
Footnotes
- Acts 23:2 Ananias served as high priest from a.d. 47-59. He was a violent man who had close ties to Rome and was assassinated by his own people about a.d. 66.
- Acts 23:3 Paul probably is referring to the outside wall of a tomb, which was considered ritually unclean and polluted. Tombs were usually whitewashed on the outside so that passers-by could see them more clearly and avoid contact with them.
- Acts 23:5 Under Roman domination, high priests did not serve for life but were replaced from time to time. Paul had not been updated on the current status of the office.
- Acts 23:23 Caesarea Maritima (Caesarea-on-the-Sea) was a coastal city built by Herod the Great. It was an important city, both politically and militarily, and its harbor was the largest on the eastern Mediterranean coast. It was the capital of Judea, and the official residence of the prefects and procurators (governors) appointed by Rome. Both Pontius Pilate (prefect, a.d. 26-36) and Marcus Antonius Felix (procurator, a.d. 52-60) would have been based here during their respective terms of office.
- Acts 23:23 Or slingers or bowmen.
- Acts 23:24 Marcus Antonius Felix was appointed by Emperor Claudius and served as procurator (governor) of Judea from a.d. 52-60.
Acts 23
Mounce Reverse Interlinear New Testament
23 Looking atenizō intently at · de the ho council synedrion, · ho Paul Paulos said legō, “ My brothers anēr, I egō have lived politeuomai in all pas good agathos conscience syneidēsis before ho God theos up achri to this houtos · ho day hēmera.” 2 At that the ho · de high archiereus priest Ananias Hananias ordered epitassō those ho standing paristēmi near him autos to strike typtō him autos on the ho mouth stoma. 3 Then tote · ho Paul Paulos said legō to pros him autos, “ God theos is about mellō to strike typtō you sy, · ho you whitewashed koniaō wall toichos! Do you sy indeed kai sit kathēmai judging krinō me egō according kata to the ho law nomos yet kai contrary paranomeō to the law order keleuō me egō to be struck typtō?” 4 Those ho · de standing paristēmi near him said legō, “Dare you insult loidoreō God’ s theos · ho high archiereus priest ?” · ho 5 And te Paul Paulos said phēmi, · ho “ I did not ou realize oida, brothers adelphos, that hoti he was eimi high archiereus priest ; for gar it is written graphō, ‘ You shall legō not ou speak legō evil kakōs about legō the ruler archōn of ho your sy people laos.’”
6 Now de when Paul Paulos perceived ginōskō · ho that hoti · ho one heis part meros were eimi Sadducees Saddoukaios and de the ho other heteros Pharisees Pharisaios, he cried krazō out in en the ho council synedrion, “ My brothers anēr, I egō am eimi a Pharisee Pharisaios, a son hyios of Pharisees Pharisaios. It is regarding peri my hope elpis · kai of a resurrection anastasis for the dead nekros that I egō am on trial krinō.” 7 When legō he autos said legō this houtos, · de an argument stasis broke ginomai out between the ho Pharisees Pharisaios and kai the Sadducees Saddoukaios, and kai the ho assembly plēthos was divided schizō. 8 ( For gar the Sadducees Saddoukaios say legō that there is eimi no mē resurrection anastasis, nor mēte angel angelos nor mēte spirit pneuma, but de the Pharisees Pharisaios confess homologeō · ho them all amphoteroi.) 9 Then de there arose ginomai a great megas uproar kraugē, and kai certain tis of the ho scribes grammateus of the ho party meros of the ho Pharisees Pharisaios stood up anistēmi and protested diamachomai vigorously , saying legō, “ We find heuriskō nothing oudeis evil kakos in en · ho this houtos man anthrōpos. What if ei · de a spirit pneuma or ē an angel angelos has spoken laleō to him autos?” 10 And de when ginomai the argument stasis became ginomai violent polys, the ho commanding officer chiliarchos, afraid phobeomai that Paul Paulos would be torn diaspaō apart · ho by hypo them autos, commanded keleuō the ho soldiers strateuma to go down katabainō and take harpazō him autos away from ek among mesos them autos by force and te bring agō him into eis the ho barracks parembolē.
11 The ho · de following epeimi night nyx the ho Lord kyrios stood ephistēmi by him autos and said legō, “ Take tharseō courage , for gar as hōs you have testified diamartyromai to the ho facts about peri me egō in eis Jerusalem Ierousalēm, so houtōs must dei you sy also kai testify martyreō in eis Rome Rhōmē.”
12 When it was ginomai · de day hēmera, the ho Jews Ioudaios made poieō a plot systrophē and bound anathematizō themselves heautou by an oath saying legō that they would neither mēte eat esthiō nor mēte drink pinō until heōs hos they had killed apokteinō · ho Paul Paulos. 13 There were eimi · de more polys than forty tesserakonta who ho made poieō this houtos · ho conspiracy synōmosia. 14 These hostis went proserchomai to the ho chief archiereus priests and kai · ho elders presbyteros and said legō, “ We have bound anathematizō ourselves heautou by anathema an oath anathema to taste geuomai no mēdeis food until heōs hos we have killed apokteinō · ho Paul Paulos. 15 So oun now nyn you hymeis and syn the ho council synedrion give notice emphanizō to the ho commanding chiliarchos officer to hopōs bring katagō him autos down to eis you hymeis, as hōs though you were mellō going to examine diaginōskō his autos case ho more accurately akribōs; and de we hēmeis will be eimi ready hetoimos to kill anaireō him autos before pro · ho he autos gets engizō there .” · ho 16 But de when akouō the ho son hyios of ho Paul’ s Paulos sister adelphē heard about akouō the ho ambush enedra, he went paraginomai and kai entered eiserchomai eis the ho barracks parembolē and reported apangellō it to ho Paul Paulos. 17 Then de Paul Paulos called proskaleō · ho one heis of the ho centurions hekatontarchēs and said phēmi, “ Take apagō · ho this houtos young neanias man to pros the ho commanding chiliarchos officer , for gar he has echō something tis to report apangellō to him autos.” 18 So oun he ho took paralambanō him autos and brought agō him to pros the ho commanding chiliarchos officer and kai said phēmi, “ The ho prisoner desmios Paul Paulos called proskaleō me egō and asked erōtaō me to bring agō this houtos · ho young neaniskos man to pros you sy, as he has echō something tis to say laleō to you sy.” 19 The ho commanding officer chiliarchos took epilambanomai him autos by · de the ho hand cheir, · kai drew anachōreō him aside kata idios and asked pynthanomai, “ What tis is eimi it that hos you have echō to report apangellō to me egō?” 20 And de he said legō, “ The ho Jews Ioudaios have agreed syntithēmi to ho ask erōtaō you sy to hopōs bring katagō Paul Paulos down katagō tomorrow aurion · ho to eis the ho council synedrion, as hōs though the case tis against peri him autos was going mellō to be examined pynthanomai more closely akribōs.
21 But oun you sy should not mē be persuaded peithō by them autos, for gar more than polys forty tesserakonta of ek their autos men anēr are lying enedreuō in wait for him autos and have bound anathematizō themselves heautou by an oath neither mēte to eat esthiō nor mēte drink pinō until heōs hos they kill anaireō him autos. And kai now nyn they are eimi ready hetoimos, awaiting prosdechomai · ho your sy consent epangelia.” 22 So oun the ho commanding chiliarchos officer dismissed apolyō the ho young neaniskos man , charging parangellō him to tell eklaleō no mēdeis one that hoti you have reported emphanizō these houtos things to pros me egō.” 23 Then kai he called proskaleō two dyo of the ho centurions hekatontarchēs and said legō, “ Get ready hetoimazō by apo the third tritos hour hōra of the ho night nyx two hundred diakosioi soldiers stratiōtēs, seventy hebdomēkonta horsemen hippeus, and two hundred diakosioi spearmen dexiolabos to hopōs go poreuō as heōs far as Caesarea Kaisareia.” · kai · kai 24 And te he told them to provide paristēmi mounts ktēnos so that hina having put epibibazō · ho Paul Paulos on them they might bring diasōzō him safely to pros Felix Phēlix the ho governor hēgemōn. 25 And he wrote graphō a letter epistolē having echō · ho this houtos form typos: 26 “ Claudius Klaudios Lysias Lysias, to the ho most kratistos excellent governor hēgemōn, Felix Phēlix, greetings chairō. 27 · ho This houtos man anēr was seized syllambanō by hypo the ho Jews Ioudaios and kai was about mellō to be killed anaireō by hypo them autos, when I came ephistēmi upon him and, with syn the ho soldiers strateuma, rescued exaireō him, having learned manthanō that hoti he was eimi a Roman Rhōmaios citizen . 28 And te wanting boulomai to know epiginōskō the ho charge aitia for dia which hos they were accusing enkaleō him autos, I brought katagō him down to eis · ho their autos council synedrion. 29 I found heuriskō him hos accused enkaleō in peri regard to questions zētēma of ho their autos law nomos, but de with echō no mēdeis charge enklēma deserving axios death thanatos or ē imprisonment desmos. 30 And de when it was disclosed mēnyō to me egō that there would be eimi a plot epiboulē against eis the ho man anēr, I sent pempō him to pros you sy at once exautēs, ordering parangellō his ho accusers katēgoros also kai to speak legō · ho against pros him autos to epi you sy.”
31 So oun the ho soldiers stratiōtēs, according kata to the ho directions diatassō given to them autos, took analambanō · ho Paul Paulos and brought agō him by dia night nyx to eis · ho Antipatris Antipatris. 32 The ho · de next epaurion day they let eaō the ho horsemen hippeus go aperchomai on with syn him autos, and they returned hypostrephō to eis the ho barracks parembolē. 33 When the horsemen hostis arrived eiserchomai in eis · ho Caesarea Kaisareia, · kai they delivered anadidōmi the ho letter epistolē to the ho governor hēgemōn and kai turned paristēmi over · ho Paul Paulos to him autos. 34 When he had read anaginōskō the letter, · de · kai he asked eperōtaō from ek what poios province eparcheia he was eimi. · kai Learning pynthanomai that hoti he was from apo Cilicia Kilikia, 35 he said phēmi, “ I will give you sy a hearing diakouō when hotan · kai · ho your sy accusers katēgoros arrive paraginomai.” Then he commanded keleuō that Paul autos be guarded phylassō in en · ho Herod’ s hērōdēs headquarters praitōrion. · ho
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