30 Now on the next day, (A)wanting to know for certain why Paul had been accused by the Jews, he (B)released him and ordered the chief priests and all (C)the [a]Council to assemble, and he brought Paul down and placed him before them.

Paul before the Council

23 Now looking intently at (D)the [b]Council, Paul said, “[c](E)Brothers, (F)I have [d]lived my life with an entirely good conscience before God up to this day.” But 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 present said, “Are you insulting God’s high priest?” And Paul said, “I was not aware, brothers, that he is high priest; for it is written: ‘(K)You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”

But Paul, perceiving that one group were (L)Sadducees and the other Pharisees, began crying out in (M)the [e]Council, “[f](N)Brothers, (O)I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for (P)the hope and resurrection of the dead!” When he said this, a dissension occurred 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 a great uproar occurred; and some of (R)the scribes of the Pharisaic party stood up and started arguing heatedly, saying, “(S)We find nothing wrong with this man; (T)suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” 10 And when a great dissension occurred, the commander was afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, and 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)the following night, the Lord stood near him and said, (W)Be courageous! For (X)as you have (Y)testified to the truth about Me in Jerusalem, so you must testify in Rome also.”

Footnotes

  1. Acts 22:30 Or Sanhedrin
  2. Acts 23:1 Or Sanhedrin
  3. Acts 23:1 Lit Men, brothers
  4. Acts 23:1 Or conducted myself as a citizen
  5. Acts 23:6 Or Sanhedrin
  6. Acts 23:6 Lit Men, brothers

Paul before the Council

30 But on the morrow, desiring to know the real reason why the Jews accused him, he unbound him, and commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set him before them.

23 And Paul, looking intently at the council, said, “Brethren, I have lived before God in all good conscience up to this day.” And the high priest Anani′as commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, “God shall strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?” Those who stood by said, “Would you revile God’s high priest?” And Paul said, “I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”

But when Paul perceived that one part were Sad′ducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead I am on trial.” And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sad′ducees; and the assembly was divided. For the Sad′ducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. Then a great clamor arose; and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ party stood up and contended, “We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?” 10 And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them and bring him into the barracks.

11 The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so you must bear witness also at Rome.”