23 And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, (A)I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.” And the high priest (B)Ananias commanded those who stood by him (C)to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you (D)whitewashed (E)wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet (F)contrary to the law you (G)order me to be struck?” Those who stood by said, “Would you revile (H)God's high priest?” And Paul said, (I)“I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, (J)‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”

Now when Paul perceived that one part were (K)Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, (L)I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is (M)with respect to the (N)hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.” And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. For the Sadducees (O)say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. Then a great clamor arose, and some of (P)the scribes of the Pharisees' party stood up and contended sharply, (Q)“We find nothing wrong in this man. What (R)if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?” 10 And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into (S)the barracks.

11 (T)The following night (U)the Lord stood by him and said, (V)“Take courage, for (W)as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must (X)testify also in Rome.”

A Plot to Kill Paul

12 When it was day, (Y)the Jews made a plot and (Z)bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. 13 There were more than forty who made this conspiracy. 14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul. 15 Now therefore you, along with the council, give notice to the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case more exactly. And we are ready to kill him before he comes near.”

16 Now the son of Paul's sister heard of their ambush, so he went and entered (AA)the barracks and told Paul. 17 Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to tell him.” 18 So he took him and brought him to the tribune and said, “Paul (AB)the prisoner called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, as he has something to say to you.” 19 The tribune took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?” 20 And he said, (AC)“The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more closely about him. 21 But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush for him, who (AD)have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him. And now they are ready, waiting for your consent.” 22 So the tribune dismissed the young man, charging him, “Tell no one that you have informed me of these things.”

Paul Sent to Felix the Governor

23 Then he called two of the centurions and said, “Get ready two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night.[a] 24 Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to (AE)Felix (AF)the governor.” 25 And he wrote a letter to this effect:

26 “Claudius Lysias, to (AG)his Excellency the governor Felix, (AH)greetings. 27 (AI)This man was seized by the Jews and (AJ)was about to be killed by them (AK)when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, (AL)having learned that he was a Roman citizen. 28 And (AM)desiring to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their council. 29 I found that he was being accused (AN)about questions of their law, but (AO)charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment. 30 (AP)And when it was disclosed to me (AQ)that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, (AR)ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him.”

31 So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 And on the next day they returned to (AS)the barracks, letting the horsemen go on with him. 33 When they had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him. 34 On reading the letter, he asked what (AT)province he was from. And when he learned (AU)that he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, “I will give you a hearing (AV)when your accusers arrive.” And he commanded him to be guarded in Herod's (AW)praetorium.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 23:23 That is, 9 p.m.

23 At si Pablo, na tumititig na mabuti sa (A)Sanedrin, ay nagsabi, Mga kapatid na lalake, ako'y nabuhay sa harapan ng Dios sa buong kabutihan ng budhi (B)hanggang sa mga araw na ito.

At ipinagutos ng dakilang saserdoteng si (C)Ananias sa mga nalalapit sa kaniya na siya'y saktan sa bibig.

Nang magkagayo'y sinabi sa kaniya ni Pablo, sasaktan ka ng Dios, (D)ikaw na pinaputing pader: at nakaupo ka baga upang ako'y hatulan mo ayon sa kautusan, at ako'y sinasaktan mo ng (E)laban sa kautusan?

At sinabi (F)ng nangakatayo sa malapit, Nilalait mo ang dakilang saserdote ng Dios?

At sinabi ni Pablo, Hindi ko nalalaman, mga kapatid na lalake, na siya'y dakilang saserdote: sapagka't nasusulat, Huwag kang magsasalita ng masama (G)sa isang pinuno ng iyong bayan.

Datapuwa't nang matalastas ni Pablo na ang isang bahagi ay mga (H)Saduceo at ang iba'y mga Fariseo, ay sumigaw siya sa Sanedrin, Mga kapatid na lalake, (I)ako'y Fariseo, anak ng mga Fariseo: ako'y sinisiyasat (J)tungkol sa pagasa at pagkabuhay na maguli ng mga patay.

At nang masabi na niya ang gayon, nangyari ang isang pagtatalo sa mga Fariseo at sa mga Saduceo; at nagkabahabahagi ang kapulungan.

Sapagka't (K)sinasabi ng mga Saduceo na walang pagkabuhay na maguli, ni anghel, ni espiritu; datapuwa't kapuwa pinaniniwalaan ng mga Fariseo.

At nagkaroon ng malaking sigawan, at nagsitindig ang ilan sa mga eskriba na kakampi ng mga Fariseo, at nakikipagtalo, na nagsipagsabi, Wala kaming masumpungang anomang kasalanan sa taong ito: at ano kung siya'y kinausap man ng isang espiritu, o ng isang anghel?

10 At nang magkaroon ng malaking pagtatalo, sa takot ng pangulong kapitan na baka pagwaraywarayin nila si Pablo, ay pinapanaog ang mga kawal at ipinaagaw siya sa gitna nila, at siya'y ipinasok sa kuta.

11 At nang sumunod na gabi ay lumapit sa kaniya ang Panginoon, at sinabi, Laksan mo ang iyong loob: sapagka't kung paano ang pagkapatotoo mo tungkol sa akin sa Jerusalem, ay kailangang patotohanan mo rin gayon (L)sa Roma.

12 At nang araw na, ay nangagkatipon ang mga Judio, at sila'y nangagpanata sa ilalim ng sumpa, na nagsisipagsabi na hindi sila kakain ni iinom man hanggang sa kanilang mapatay si Pablo.

13 At mahigit sa apat na pu ang mga nagsipanumpa ng ganito.

14 At sila'y nagsiparoon sa mga pangulong saserdote at sa mga matanda, at nangagsabi, Kami ay nangagpanata sa ilalim ng mahigpit na sumpa, na hindi titikim ng anoman hanggang sa mapatay namin si Pablo.

15 Ngayon nga kayo pati ng Sanedrin ay mangagpahiwatig sa pangulong kapitan na siya'y ipapanaog niya sa inyo, na waring ibig ninyong mahatulan ng lalong ganap ang sakdal tungkol sa kaniya: at kami, bago siya dumating ay nangahanda upang siya'y patayin.

16 Datapuwa't ang anak na lalake ng kapatid na babae ni Pablo ay narinig ang tungkol sa kanilang pagbabakay, at siya'y naparoon at pumasok sa kuta at isinaysay kay Pablo.

17 At tinawag ni Pablo ang isa sa mga senturion, at sinabi, Dalhin mo ang binatang ito sa pangulong kapitan; sapagka't siya'y may isang bagay na sasabihin sa kaniya.

18 Kaya't siya'y kinuha, at dinala siya sa pangulong kapitan, at sinabi, Tinawag ako ng bilanggong si Pablo, at ipinamanhik sa aking dalhin ko sa iyo ang binatang ito, na may isang bagay na sasabihin sa iyo.

19 At tinangnan siya ng pangulong kapitan sa kamay, at pagtabi ay lihim na tinanong siya, Ano yaong sasabihin mo sa akin?

20 At sinabi niya, Pinagkasunduan ng mga Judio na sa iyo'y ipamanhik na iyong ipapanaog bukas si Pablo sa (M)Sanedrin, na waring ikaw ay may sisiyasating lalong ganap tungkol sa kaniya.

21 Huwag ka ngang palamuyot sa kanila: sapagka't binabakayan siya ng mahigit na apat na pung katao sa kanila, na nangagsipagpanata (N)sa ilalim ng sumpa, na hindi kakain ni iinom man hanggang sa siya'y kanilang mapatay: at ngayo'y nangahahanda sila, na nangaghihintay ng pangako mo.

22 Kaya't pinaalis ng pangulong kapitan ang binata, na ipinagbilin sa kaniya, Huwag mong sasabihin sa kanino man na ipinahiwatig mo sa akin ang mga bagay na ito.

23 At kaniyang tinawag ang dalawa sa mga senturion, at sinabi, Ihanda ninyo ang dalawang daang kawal upang magsiparoon hanggang sa (O)Cesarea, at pitong pung kabayuhan, at dalawang daang sibatan, sa ikatlong oras ng gabi:

24 At pinapaghanda niya sila ng mga hayop, upang mapagsakyan kay Pablo, at siya'y maihatid na walang panganib kay Felix na gobernador.

25 At siya'y sumulat ng isang sulat, na ganito:

26 Si Claudio Lisias sa kagalanggalang na gobernador Felix, (P)bumabati.

27 Ang taong ito'y hinuli ng mga Judio, at papatayin na lamang sana nila, nang dumalo akong (Q)may kasamang mga kawal at siya'y iniligtas ko, (R)nang mapagtantong siya'y isang taga Roma.

28 At sa pagkaibig kong mapagunawa ang dahilan kung bakit siya'y kanilang isinakdal, ay ipinanaog ko siya sa kanilang Sanedrin:

29 Na nasumpungan ko na siya'y kanilang isinasakdal (S)sa mga suliranin tungkol sa kanilang kautusan, datapuwa't (T)walang anomang sakdal laban sa kaniya na marapat sa kamatayan o sa tanikala.

30 At (U)nang ipakilala sa akin na may banta laban sa taong iyan, ay ipinadala ko siya agad sa iyo, na aking ipinagbilin din sa mga sa kaniya'y nangagsasakdal na mangagsalita sa harapan mo laban sa kaniya.

31 Kaya't ang mga kawal, alinsunod sa iniutos sa kanila, ay kinuha si Pablo at dinala siya sa gabi sa Antipatris.

32 Datapuwa't nang kinabukasan ay pinabayaan nilang samahan siya ng mga kabayuhan, at nangagbalik sa kuta:

33 At sila, nang sila'y magsidating sa Cesarea at maibigay ang sulat sa gobernador, ay iniharap din si Pablo sa harapan niya.

34 At nang mabasa niya ito, ay itinanong niya kung taga saang (V)lalawigan siya; at nang maalamang siya'y taga (W)Cilicia,

35 Pakikinggan kitang lubos, ang sabi niya, pagdating naman ng mga nagsisipagsakdal sa iyo: at ipinagutos na siya'y ingatan sa palasio ni Herodes.

23 Paul stared at the council and said, “Brothers, I have lived my life with an altogether clear conscience right up to this very day.” The high priest Ananias ordered those standing beside Paul to strike him in the mouth. Then Paul said to him, “God is about to strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit and judge me according to the Law, yet disobey the Law by ordering that I be struck.”

Those standing near him asked, “You dare to insult God’s high priest?”

Paul replied, “Brothers, I wasn’t aware that he was the high priest. It is written, You will not speak evil about a ruler of your people.”[a]

Knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, Paul exclaimed in the council, “Brothers, I’m a Pharisee and a descendant of Pharisees. I am on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead!”

These words aroused a dispute between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. This is because Sadducees say that there’s no resurrection, angel, or spirit, but Pharisees affirm them all. Council members were shouting loudly. Some Pharisees who were legal experts stood up and insisted forcefully, “We find nothing wrong with this man! What if a spirit or angel has spoken to him?” 10 The dispute became so heated that the commander feared they might tear Paul to pieces. He ordered soldiers to go down and remove him by force from their midst. Then they took him back to the military headquarters.

11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Be encouraged! Just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so too you must testify in Rome.”

A murder plot discovered

12 The next morning some Jewish leaders formulated a plot and solemnly promised that they wouldn’t eat or drink until they had killed Paul. 13 More than forty people were involved in the conspiracy. 14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have solemnly promised to eat nothing until we have killed Paul. 15 You and the council must explain to the commander that you need Paul brought down to you. Pretend that you want to examine his case more closely. We’re prepared to kill him before he arrives.”

16 Paul’s sister had a son who heard about the ambush and he came to the military headquarters and reported it to Paul. 17 Paul called for one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander because he has something to report to him.”

18 He took him to the commander and said, “The prisoner Paul asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.”

19 The commander took him by the hand and withdrew to a place where they could speak privately. He asked, “What do you have to report to me?”

20 He replied, “The Jewish leaders have conspired to ask that you bring Paul down to the council tomorrow. They will pretend that they want to investigate his case more closely. 21 Don’t fall for it! More than forty of them are waiting to ambush him. They have solemnly promised not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are ready now, awaiting your consent.”

22 The commander dismissed the young man, ordering him, “Don’t tell anyone that you brought this to my attention.”

23 The commander called two centurions and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to leave for Caesarea at nine o’clock tonight. 24 Have horses ready for Paul to ride, so they may take him safely to Governor Felix.” 25 He wrote the following letter:

26 Claudius Lysias, to the most honorable Governor Felix: Greetings. 27 This man was seized by the Jews and was almost killed by them. I was nearby with a unit of soldiers, and I rescued him when I discovered that he was a Roman citizen. 28 I wanted to find out why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their council. 29 I discovered that they were accusing him about questions related to their Law. I found no charge deserving of death or imprisonment. 30 When I was informed of a conspiracy against his life, I sent him to you at once and ordered his accusers to bring their case against him before you.

31 Following their orders, the soldiers took Paul during the night and brought him to Antipatris. 32 The following day they let the horsemen continue on with Paul while they returned to the military headquarters in Jerusalem. 33 The horsemen entered Caesarea, delivered the letter to the governor, and brought Paul before him. 34 After he read the letter, he asked Paul about his home province. When he learned that he was from Cilicia, 35 the governor said, “I will hear your case when your accusers arrive.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept in custody in Herod’s palace.