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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.” And the high priest (G)Ananias commanded those standing beside him (H)to strike him on the mouth. 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?” But those standing nearby said, “Do you revile the high priest of God?” 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.’”

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!” As he said this, there was dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. For (Q)the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. 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.”

Footnotes

  1. Acts 23:1 Or conducted myself as a citizen
  2. Acts 23:10 Military leader over 1,000 soldiers

Paul before the Council

30 Since he wanted to find out what Paul[a] was being accused of by the Jews, the next day he released him and ordered the chief priests and the entire council to meet. He brought Paul down and had him stand before them.(A)

23 While Paul was looking intently at the council he said, “Brothers,[b] up to this day I have lived my life with a clear conscience before God.”(B) Then the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near him to strike him on the mouth.(C) At this Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting there to judge me according to the law, and yet in violation of the law you order me to be struck?”(D) Those standing nearby said, “Do you dare to insult God’s high priest?” And Paul said, “I did not realize, brothers, that he was high priest, for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a leader of your people.’ ”(E)

When Paul noticed that some were Sadducees and others were Pharisees, he called out in the council, “Brothers,[c] I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am on trial concerning the hope of the resurrection[d] of the dead.”(F) When he said this, a dissension began between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection or angel or spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge all three.)(G) Then a great clamor arose, and certain scribes of the Pharisees’ group stood up and contended, “We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”(H) 10 When the dissension became violent, the tribune, fearing that they would tear Paul to pieces, ordered the soldiers to go down, take him by force, and bring him into the barracks.(I)

11 That night the Lord stood near him and said, “Keep up your courage! For just as you have testified for me in Jerusalem, so you must bear witness also in Rome.”(J)

Footnotes

  1. 22.30 Gk he
  2. 23.1 Gk Men, brothers
  3. 23.6 Gk Men, brothers
  4. 23.6 Gk concerning hope and resurrection