Acts 23
Christian Standard Bible
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.” 2 The high priest Ananias ordered those who were standing next to him to strike him on the mouth.(B) 3 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)
4 Those standing nearby said, “Do you dare revile God’s high priest?”
5 “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) 6 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) 7 When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection,(G) and neither angel nor spirit, but the Pharisees affirm them all.
9 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)
Acts 23
Lexham English Bible
Paul Before the Sanhedrin
23 And looking intently at the Sanhedrin, Paul said, “Men and brothers, I have lived my life in all good conscience before God to this day.” 2 So the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near him to strike his mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! And are you sitting there judging me according to the law, and acting contrary to the law do you order me to be struck?” 4 And those who stood nearby said, “Are you reviling the high priest of God?” 5 And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was high priest. For it is written, ‘You must not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”[a]
6 Now when[b] Paul realized that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he shouted out in the Sanhedrin, “Men and brothers! I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees! I am being judged concerning the hope and the resurrection of the dead!” 7 And when[c] he said this, a dispute developed between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 (For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection or angel or spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.) 9 And there was loud shouting, and some of the scribes from the party of the Pharisees stood up and[d] contended sharply, saying, “We find nothing wrong with this man! But what if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” 10 And when[e] the dispute became severe, the military tribune, fearing lest Paul be torn apart by them, ordered the detachment to go down, take him away from their midst, and bring him[f] into the barracks.[g] 11 And the next night the Lord stood by him and[h] said, “Have courage, for as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”
A Conspiracy to Kill Paul
12 And when it[i] was day, the Jews made a conspiracy and[j] bound themselves under a curse, saying they would[k] neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. 13 Now there were more than forty who had made this conspiracy, 14 who went to the chief priests and the elders and[l] said, “We have bound ourselves under a curse to partake of nothing until we have killed Paul. 15 Therefore, now you along with the Sanhedrin explain to the military tribune that he should bring him down to you, as if you were going to determine more accurately the things concerning him. And we are ready to do away with him before he comes near.”
16 But when[m] the son of Paul’s sister heard about the ambush, he came and entered into the barracks[n] and[o] reported it[p] to Paul. 17 So Paul called one of the centurions and[q] said, “Bring this young man to the military tribune, because he has something to report to him.” 18 So he took him and[r] brought him[s] to the military tribune and said, “The prisoner Paul called me and[t] asked me[u] to bring this young man to you because he[v] has something to tell you.” 19 And the military tribune, taking hold of his hand and withdrawing privately, asked, “What is it that you have to report to me?” 20 And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you that you bring Paul down to the Sanhedrin tomorrow, as if they were going to inquire somewhat more accurately concerning him. 21 You therefore do not be persuaded by them, because more than forty men of their number[w] are lying in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse neither to eat nor to drink until they have done away with him. And now they are ready, waiting for you to agree.”[x] 22 So the military tribune sent the young man away, directing him,[y] “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.”
23 And he summoned two of the centurions and[z] said, “Make ready from the third hour of the night two hundred soldiers and seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen,[aa] in order that they may proceed as far as Caesarea. 24 And provide mounts so that they can put Paul on them and[ab] bring him[ac] safely to Felix the governor.” 25 He wrote[ad] a letter that had this form:[ae]
26 Claudius Lysias.
To his excellency Governor Felix.
Greetings!
27 This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them when I[af] came upon them[ag] with the detachment and[ah] rescued him,[ai] because I[aj] learned that he was a Roman citizen. 28 And because I[ak] wanted to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him[al] down to their Sanhedrin.[am] 29 I found he[an] was accused concerning controversial questions of their law, but having no charge deserving death or imprisonment. 30 And when it[ao] was made known to me there would be a plot against the man, I sent him[ap] to you immediately, also ordering his[aq] accusers to speak against him[ar] before you.
31 Therefore the soldiers, in accordance with their orders,[as] took Paul and[at] brought him[au] to Antipatris during the night. 32 And on the next day they let the horsemen go on with him, and[av] they returned to the barracks.[aw] 33 The horsemen,[ax] when they[ay] came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, also presented Paul to him. 34 So after[az] reading the letter[ba] and asking what province he was from, and learning that he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, “I will give you a hearing whenever your accusers arrive also,” giving orders for him to be guarded in the praetorium[bb] of Herod.
Footnotes
- Acts 23:5 A quotation from Exod 22:28
- Acts 23:6 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“realized”) which is understood as temporal
- Acts 23:7 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“said”)
- Acts 23:9 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“stood up”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 23:10 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“became”)
- Acts 23:10 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Acts 23:10 Or “headquarters”
- Acts 23:11 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“stood by”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 23:12 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“was”)
- Acts 23:12 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“made”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 23:12 Literally “saying neither to eat nor to drink”; the words “they would” are supplied for smoother English style
- Acts 23:14 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“went to”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 23:16 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard about”) which is understood as temporal
- Acts 23:16 Or “headquarters”
- Acts 23:16 Here “and” is supplied because the two previous participles (“came” and “entered”) have been translated as finite verbs
- Acts 23:16 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Acts 23:17 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“called”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 23:18 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“took”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 23:18 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Acts 23:18 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“called”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 23:18 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Acts 23:18 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“has”) which is understood as causal
- Acts 23:21 Literally “them”
- Acts 23:21 Literally “the assurance of agreement from you”
- Acts 23:22 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Acts 23:23 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“summoned”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 23:23 A word of uncertain meaning, probably a military technical term
- Acts 23:24 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“put … on”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 23:24 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Acts 23:25 Literally “writing”
- Acts 23:25 Or “content”
- Acts 23:27 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“came upon”) which is understood as temporal
- Acts 23:27 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Acts 23:27 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“came upon”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 23:27 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Acts 23:27 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“learned”) which is understood as causal
- Acts 23:28 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“wanted”) which is understood as causal
- Acts 23:28 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Acts 23:28 Or “council”
- Acts 23:29 Literally “whom”
- Acts 23:30 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“was made known”) which is understood as temporal
- Acts 23:30 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Acts 23:30 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
- Acts 23:30 Some manuscripts have “to state the charges against him” (literally, “to speak the things against him”)
- Acts 23:31 Literally “what was ordered to them”
- Acts 23:31 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“took”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 23:31 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Acts 23:32 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“let”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 23:32 Or “headquarters”
- Acts 23:33 Literally “who”
- Acts 23:33 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“came”) which is understood as temporal
- Acts 23:34 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“reading”) which is understood as temporal
- Acts 23:34 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Acts 23:35 The “praetorium” of Herod refers to the palace of Herod the Great in Caesarea Maritima
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