The Plot Against Paul

11 But (A)the following night the Lord stood by him and said, [a]“Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in (B)Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at (C)Rome.”

12 And when it was day, (D)some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had (E)killed Paul. 13 Now there were more than forty who had formed this conspiracy. 14 They came to the chief priests and (F)elders, and said, “We have bound ourselves under a great oath that we will eat nothing until we have killed Paul. 15 Now you, therefore, together with the council, suggest to the commander that he be brought down to you [b]tomorrow, as though you were going to make further inquiries concerning him; but we are ready to kill him before he comes near.”

16 So when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their ambush, he went and entered the barracks and told Paul. 17 Then Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, “Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to tell him.” 18 So he took him and brought him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to say to you.”

19 Then the commander took him by the hand, went aside, and asked privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?”

20 And he said, (G)“The Jews have agreed to ask that you bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire more fully about him. 21 But do not yield to them, for more than forty of them lie in wait for him, men who have bound themselves by an oath that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him; and now they are ready, waiting for the promise from you.”

22 So the commander let the young man depart, and commanded him, “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.”

Sent to Felix

23 And he called for two centurions, saying, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to (H)Caesarea at the third hour of the night; 24 and provide mounts to set Paul on, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.” 25 He wrote a letter in the following manner:

26 Claudius Lysias,

To the most excellent governor Felix:

Greetings.

27 (I)This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them. Coming with the troops I rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman. 28 (J)And when I wanted to know the reason they accused him, I brought him before their council. 29 I found out that he was accused (K)concerning questions of their law, (L)but had nothing charged against him deserving of death or chains. 30 And (M)when it was told me that [c]the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him immediately to you, and (N)also commanded his accusers to state before you the charges against him.

Farewell.

31 Then the soldiers, as they were commanded, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 The next day they left the horsemen to go on with him, and returned to the barracks. 33 When they came to (O)Caesarea and had delivered the (P)letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. 34 And when the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. And when he understood that he was from (Q)Cilicia, 35 he said, (R)“I will hear you when your accusers also have come.” And he commanded him to be kept in (S)Herod’s [d]Praetorium.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 23:11 Take courage
  2. Acts 23:15 NU omits tomorrow
  3. Acts 23:30 NU there would be a plot against the man
  4. Acts 23:35 Headquarters

11 τη δε επιουση νυκτι επιστας αυτω ο κυριος ειπεν θαρσει παυλε ως γαρ διεμαρτυρω τα περι εμου εις ιερουσαλημ ουτως σε δει και εις ρωμην μαρτυρησαι

12 γενομενης δε ημερας ποιησαντες τινες των ιουδαιων συστροφην ανεθεματισαν εαυτους λεγοντες μητε φαγειν μητε πιειν εως ου αποκτεινωσιν τον παυλον

13 ησαν δε πλειους τεσσαρακοντα οι ταυτην την συνωμοσιαν πεποιηκοτες

14 οιτινες προσελθοντες τοις αρχιερευσιν και τοις πρεσβυτεροις ειπον αναθεματι ανεθεματισαμεν εαυτους μηδενος γευσασθαι εως ου αποκτεινωμεν τον παυλον

15 νυν ουν υμεις εμφανισατε τω χιλιαρχω συν τω συνεδριω οπως αυριον αυτον καταγαγη προς υμας ως μελλοντας διαγινωσκειν ακριβεστερον τα περι αυτου ημεις δε προ του εγγισαι αυτον ετοιμοι εσμεν του ανελειν αυτον

16 ακουσας δε ο υιος της αδελφης παυλου την ενεδραν παραγενομενος και εισελθων εις την παρεμβολην απηγγειλεν τω παυλω

17 προσκαλεσαμενος δε ο παυλος ενα των εκατονταρχων εφη τον νεανιαν τουτον απαγαγε προς τον χιλιαρχον εχει γαρ τι απαγγειλαι αυτω

18 ο μεν ουν παραλαβων αυτον ηγαγεν προς τον χιλιαρχον και φησιν ο δεσμιος παυλος προσκαλεσαμενος με ηρωτησεν τουτον τον νεανιαν αγαγειν προς σε εχοντα τι λαλησαι σοι

19 επιλαβομενος δε της χειρος αυτου ο χιλιαρχος και αναχωρησας κατ ιδιαν επυνθανετο τι εστιν ο εχεις απαγγειλαι μοι

20 ειπεν δε οτι οι ιουδαιοι συνεθεντο του ερωτησαι σε οπως αυριον εις το συνεδριον καταγαγης τον παυλον ως μελλοντες τι ακριβεστερον πυνθανεσθαι περι αυτου

21 συ ουν μη πεισθης αυτοις ενεδρευουσιν γαρ αυτον εξ αυτων ανδρες πλειους τεσσαρακοντα οιτινες ανεθεματισαν εαυτους μητε φαγειν μητε πιειν εως ου ανελωσιν αυτον και νυν ετοιμοι εισιν προσδεχομενοι την απο σου επαγγελιαν

22 ο μεν ουν χιλιαρχος απελυσεν τον νεανιαν παραγγειλας μηδενι εκλαλησαι οτι ταυτα ενεφανισας προς με

23 και προσκαλεσαμενος δυο τινας των εκατονταρχων ειπεν ετοιμασατε στρατιωτας διακοσιους οπως πορευθωσιν εως καισαρειας και ιππεις εβδομηκοντα και δεξιολαβους διακοσιους απο τριτης ωρας της νυκτος

24 κτηνη τε παραστησαι ινα επιβιβασαντες τον παυλον διασωσωσιν προς φηλικα τον ηγεμονα

25 γραψας επιστολην περιεχουσαν τον τυπον τουτον

26 κλαυδιος λυσιας τω κρατιστω ηγεμονι φηλικι χαιρειν

27 τον ανδρα τουτον συλληφθεντα υπο των ιουδαιων και μελλοντα αναιρεισθαι υπ αυτων επιστας συν τω στρατευματι εξειλομην αυτον μαθων οτι ρωμαιος εστιν

28 βουλομενος δε γνωναι την αιτιαν δι ην ενεκαλουν αυτω κατηγαγον αυτον εις το συνεδριον αυτων

29 ον ευρον εγκαλουμενον περι ζητηματων του νομου αυτων μηδεν δε αξιον θανατου η δεσμων εγκλημα εχοντα

30 μηνυθεισης δε μοι επιβουλης εις τον ανδρα μελλειν εσεσθαι υπο των ιουδαιων εξαυτης επεμψα προς σε παραγγειλας και τοις κατηγοροις λεγειν τα προς αυτον επι σου ερρωσο

31 οι μεν ουν στρατιωται κατα το διατεταγμενον αυτοις αναλαβοντες τον παυλον ηγαγον δια της νυκτος εις την αντιπατριδα

32 τη δε επαυριον εασαντες τους ιππεις πορευεσθαι συν αυτω υπεστρεψαν εις την παρεμβολην

33 οιτινες εισελθοντες εις την καισαρειαν και αναδοντες την επιστολην τω ηγεμονι παρεστησαν και τον παυλον αυτω

34 αναγνους δε ο ηγεμων και επερωτησας εκ ποιας επαρχιας εστιν και πυθομενος οτι απο κιλικιας

35 διακουσομαι σου εφη οταν και οι κατηγοροι σου παραγενωνται εκελευσεν τε αυτον εν τω πραιτωριω του ηρωδου φυλασσεσθαι

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11 And on the following night, the Lord having stood by him, said, `Take courage, Paul, for as thou didst fully testify the things concerning me at Jerusalem, so it behoveth thee also at Rome to testify.'

12 And day having come, certain of the Jews having made a concourse, did anathematize themselves, saying neither to eat nor to drink till they may kill Paul;

13 and they were more than forty who made this conspiracy by oath,

14 who having come near to the chief priests and to the elders said, `With an anathema we did anathematize ourselves -- to taste nothing till we have killed Paul;

15 now, therefore, ye, signify ye to the chief captain, with the sanhedrim, that to-morrow he may bring him down unto you, as being about to know more exactly the things concerning him; and we, before his coming nigh, are ready to put him to death.'

16 And the son of Paul's sister having heard of the lying in wait, having gone and entered into the castle, told Paul,

17 and Paul having called near one of the centurions, said, `This young man lead unto the chief captain, for he hath something to tell him.'

18 He indeed, then, having taken him, brought him unto the chief captain, and saith, `The prisoner Paul, having called me near, asked [me] this young man to bring unto thee, having something to say to thee.'

19 And the chief captain having taken him by the hand, and having withdrawn by themselves, inquired, `What is that which thou hast to tell me?'

20 and he said -- `The Jews agreed to request thee, that to-morrow to the sanhedrim thou mayest bring down Paul, as being about to enquire something more exactly concerning him;

21 thou, therefore, mayest thou not yield to them, for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, who did anathematize themselves -- not to eat nor to drink till they kill him, and now they are ready, waiting for the promise from thee.'

22 The chief captain, then, indeed, let the young man go, having charged [him] to tell no one, `that these things thou didst shew unto me;'

23 and having called near a certain two of the centurions, he said, `Make ready soldiers two hundred, that they may go on unto Caesarea, and horsemen seventy, and spearmen two hundred, from the third hour of the night;

24 beasts also provide, that, having set Paul on, they may bring him safe unto Felix the governor;'

25 he having written a letter after this description:

26 `Claudius Lysias, to the most noble governor Felix, hail:

27 This man having been taken by the Jews, and being about to be killed by them -- having come with the soldiery, I rescued him, having learned that he is a Roman;

28 and, intending to know the cause for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their sanhedrim,

29 whom I found accused concerning questions of their law, and having no accusation worthy of death or bonds;

30 and a plot having been intimated to me against this man -- about to be of the Jews -- at once I sent unto thee, having given command also to the accusers to say the things against him before thee; be strong.'

31 Then, indeed, the soldiers according to that directed them, having taken up Paul, brought him through the night to Antipatris,

32 and on the morrow, having suffered the horsemen to go on with him, they returned to the castle;

33 those having entered into Caesarea, and delivered the letter to the governor, did present also Paul to him.

34 And the governor having read [it], and inquired of what province he is, and understood that [he is] from Cilicia;

35 `I will hear thee -- said he -- when thine accusers also may have come;' he also commanded him to be kept in the praetorium of Herod.

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11 But on (A)the following night, the Lord stood near him and said, (B)Be courageous! For (C)as you have (D)testified to the truth about Me in Jerusalem, so you must testify in Rome also.”

A Conspiracy to Kill Paul

12 When it was day, (E)the Jews formed a [a]conspiracy and (F)put themselves under an [b]oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. 13 There were more than forty who formed this plot. 14 They came to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have (G)put ourselves under an [c]oath to taste nothing until we have killed Paul. 15 Now therefore, you [d]and (H)the [e]Council notify the commander to bring him down to you, as though you were going to investigate his case more thoroughly; and as for us, we are ready to kill him before he comes near the place.”

16 But the son of Paul’s sister heard about their ambush, [f]and he came and entered (I)the barracks and told Paul. 17 Paul called one of the centurions to himself and said, “Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to him.” 18 So he took him and led him to the commander and *said, “Paul (J)the prisoner called me over to him 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, and stepping aside, began to inquire of him privately, “What is it that you have to report to me?” 20 And he said, “(K)The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down tomorrow to (L)the [g]Council, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more thoroughly about him. 21 So do not [h]listen to them, for more than forty [i]of them are (M)in hiding to ambush him, and these men have (N)put themselves under an oath not to eat or drink until they kill him; and now they are ready and waiting for assurance from you.” 22 Then the commander let the young man go, instructing him, “Tell no one that you have notified me of these things.”

Paul Moved to Caesarea

23 And he called to him two of the centurions and said, “Get two hundred soldiers ready by [j]the third hour of the night to proceed to (O)Caesarea, [k]with seventy horsemen and two hundred [l]spearmen.” 24 They were also to provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to (P)Felix the governor. 25 And he wrote a letter [m]with the following content:

26 “Claudius Lysias, to the (Q)most excellent governor Felix: (R)Greetings.

27 When this man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, (S)I came up to them with the troops and rescued him, (T)after learning that he was a Roman. 28 And (U)wanting to ascertain the basis for the charges they were bringing against him, I (V)brought him down to their [n](W)Council; 29 and I found that he was being accused regarding (X)questions in their Law, but [o]was (Y)not charged with anything deserving death or [p]imprisonment.

30 When I was (Z)informed that there would be (AA)a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, also instructing (AB)his accusers to [q]bring charges against him before you.”

31 So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 But on the next day they let (AC)the horsemen go on with him, and they returned to (AD)the barracks. 33 When these horsemen had come to (AE)Caesarea and delivered the letter to (AF)the governor, they also presented Paul to him. 34 Now when he had read it, he also asked from what (AG)province Paul was, and when he learned that (AH)he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, “I will give you a hearing when your (AI)accusers arrive as well,” giving orders for [r]Paul to be (AJ)kept in Herod’s [s]Praetorium.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 23:12 Or mob
  2. Acts 23:12 I.e., an oath with a self-imposed curse
  3. Acts 23:14 See note 2 v 12
  4. Acts 23:15 Lit with
  5. Acts 23:15 Or Sanhedrin
  6. Acts 23:16 Or having been present with them, and he also entered
  7. Acts 23:20 Or Sanhedrin
  8. Acts 23:21 Lit be persuaded by them
  9. Acts 23:21 Lit men of them
  10. Acts 23:23 I.e., 9 p.m.
  11. Acts 23:23 Lit and
  12. Acts 23:23 Or slingers; or bowmen
  13. Acts 23:25 Or to this effect
  14. Acts 23:28 Or Sanhedrin
  15. Acts 23:29 Lit had no charge of
  16. Acts 23:29 Lit bonds
  17. Acts 23:30 Lit speak against him
  18. Acts 23:35 Lit him
  19. Acts 23:35 I.e., governor’s official residence