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23 Gazing intently at the high council,[a] Paul began: “Brothers, I have always lived before God with a clear conscience!”

Instantly Ananias the high priest commanded those close to Paul to slap him on the mouth. But Paul said to him, “God will slap you, you corrupt hypocrite![b] What kind of judge are you to break the law yourself by ordering me struck like that?”

Those standing near Paul said to him, “Do you dare to insult God’s high priest?”

“I’m sorry, brothers. I didn’t realize he was the high priest,” Paul replied, “for the Scriptures say, ‘You must not speak evil of any of your rulers.’[c]

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Footnotes

  1. 23:1 Greek Sanhedrin; also in 23:6, 15, 20, 28.
  2. 23:3 Greek you whitewashed wall.
  3. 23:5 Exod 22:28.

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