Acts 22:30-23:11

Legacy Standard Bible

Paul Before the Sanhedrin

³⁰ But on the next day, ^(A)wishing to know for certain why he had been accused by the Jews, he ^(B)released him and ordered the chief priests and all ^(C)the Sanhedrin to come together, and brought Paul down and set him before them.

23 Now Paul, looking intently at ^(D)the Sanhedrin, said, “^(E)Brothers, ^(F)I have ^[a]lived my life in all good conscience before God up to this day.” ² And the high priest ^(G)Ananias commanded those standing beside him ^(H)to strike him on the mouth. ³ Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, ^(I)you whitewashed wall! Do you ^(J)sit to try me according to the Law, and in violation of the Law order me to be struck?” ⁴ But those standing nearby said, “Do you revile the high priest of God?” ⁵ And Paul said, “I was not aware, brothers, that he was high priest; for it is written, ‘^(K)You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”

⁶ But knowing that one group were ^(L)Sadducees and the other Pharisees, Paul began crying out in ^(M)the Sanhedrin, “^(N)Brothers, ^(O)I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for ^(P)the hope and resurrection of the dead!” ⁷ As he said this, there was dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. ⁸ For ^(Q)the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. ⁹ And there occurred a great outcry; and some of ^(R)the scribes of the Pharisaic party stood up and began to argue heatedly, saying, “^(S)We find nothing wrong with this man. ^(T)Suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” ¹⁰ And as a great dissension was developing, because the ^[b]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 ^(U)the barracks.

¹¹ But on ^(V)that very night, the Lord stood at his side and said, “^(W)Take courage; for ^(X)as you have ^(Y)solemnly borne witness to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must bear witness at Rome also.”