Font Size
Acts 23
English Standard Version
Acts 23
English Standard Version
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.” 2 And the high priest (B)Ananias commanded those who stood by him (C)to strike him on the mouth. 3 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?” 4 Those who stood by said, “Would you revile (H)God's high priest?” 5 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.’”
6 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.” 7 And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 For the Sadducees (O)say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. 9 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
- Acts 23:23 That is, 9 p.m.
Acts 23
New Life Version
Acts 23
New Life Version
Paul Speaks to the Religious Leaders’ Court
23 Paul looked straight at the court and said, “Brother Jews, I have lived for God with a heart that has said I am not guilty to this day.” 2 Then Ananias, the head religious leader, told those standing near him to hit him on the mouth. 3 Paul said, “God will hit you, you white-washed wall! Do you sit there and say I am guilty by the Law when you break the Law by having me hit?”
4 Those standing near said, “Do you talk like that to God’s head religious leader?” 5 Paul said, “Brother Jews, I did not know that he was God’s head religious leader. I know the Holy Writings say, ‘You must not speak against the leader of your people.’” (A)
6 Paul saw that part of the court was made up of the religious group who believe no one is raised from the dead. The other part were proud religious law-keepers. Then he cried out, “Brother Jews, I am a proud religious law-keeper and from a family of proud religious law-keepers. I have been brought in front of this court because of the hope of being raised from the dead.”
7 When they heard this, both religious groups started to argue and the people of the court were divided in what they thought. 8 The one religious group believes that no one is raised from the dead. Also, they do not believe in angels or spirits. But the other religious group, the proud religious law-keepers, believe that people are raised from the dead and that there are angels and spirits. 9 The courtroom was filled with noise. Some of the teachers of the Law working with the proud religious law-keepers stood up and said, “We find nothing wrong with this man. What if an angel or spirit has spoken to him?”
10 They argued all the more. Then the captain was afraid they would pull Paul to pieces. He told his men to get Paul out of there and take him back to the soldiers’ building. 11 The next night the Lord came to Paul and said, “Paul, do not be afraid! You will tell about Me in the city of Rome the same as you have told about Me in Jerusalem.”
The Plan to Kill Paul
12 In the morning some of the Jews gathered together and made a plan to kill Paul. They promised each other that they would not eat or drink until they had killed him. 13 There were more than forty of them who had made this promise. 14 These people came to the head religious leader and to the leaders of the people and said, “We have made a promise not to eat any food until we have killed Paul. 15 We ask you and the court to have the captain bring Paul down to you tomorrow. It will look as if you want to ask him some things. Before he gets near you, we will be waiting to kill him.”
16 Paul’s nephew heard about the plan. He went to the soldiers’ building and told Paul. 17 Paul called one of the soldiers and said, “Take this young man to the captain. He has something to tell him.” 18 The soldiers brought the young man to the captain and said, “Paul asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.” 19 The captain took him by the hand and they walked over where they could be alone. He said, “What is it that you have to tell me?” 20 The young man said, “The Jews have made a plan to ask you to bring Paul to the courtroom tomorrow. It would look as if they were going to ask him some things. 21 Do not let them talk you into it. More than forty men are waiting in secret to kill him. They have promised each other not to eat or drink anything until they have killed him. They are all waiting for you to say the word.” 22 The captain told the young man to go. He said, “Do not tell anyone you have told me this.”
Paul Is Sent to Felix in Caesarea
23 Then the captain called two soldiers and said, “Get 200 men ready to go to the city of Caesarea by nine o’clock tonight. Also have seventy men ride on horses and 200 men carry spears. 24 Get horses ready for Paul to ride. Take him to Felix, the leader of the people.”
25 He wrote a letter which said, 26 “Claudius Lysias greets Felix, the best leader of the people. 27 This man Paul was taken by the Jews. He was about to be killed by them. But I came along with my soldiers and kept him from being killed. I did this when I learned that he was a Roman citizen. 28 I wanted to know what they had against him. So I took him to the religious leaders’ court. 29 I learned they were holding him because of something about their Law. There was no reason for him to be killed or to be put in prison. 30 I was told that the Jews had a plan to kill this man. At once I sent him to you. I told the Jews who wanted to kill him to tell you what they have against him. Good-bye.”
31 The soldiers took Paul as they were told. They brought him during the night to Antipatris. 32 The next day they went back to their building in Jerusalem. The men riding horses went on with Paul. 33 When they came to Caesarea, they gave the letter to the leader of the people. They also handed Paul over to him. 34 After he read the letter, he asked what part of the country Paul was from. He was told that Paul was from the city of Cilicia. 35 He said, “I will listen to all of this when the men come who want to kill you.” He had Paul kept in King Herod’s building.
Hechos 23
Biblia del Jubileo
Hechos 23
Biblia del Jubileo
23 ¶ Entonces Pablo, poniendo los ojos en el concilio, dice: Varones hermanos, yo con toda buena conciencia he conversado delante de Dios hasta el día de hoy.
2 El príncipe de los sacerdotes, Ananías, mandó entonces a los que estaban delante de él, que le hirieran en la boca.
3 Entonces Pablo le dijo: Dios te herirá a ti, pared blanqueada; ¿y estás tú sentado para juzgarme conforme a la ley, y contra la ley me mandas herir?
4 Y los que estaban presentes dijeron: ¿Al sumo sacerdote de Dios maldices?
5 Y Pablo dijo: No sabía, hermanos, que era el príncipe de los sacerdotes; pues escrito está: Al príncipe de tu pueblo no maldecirás.
6 ¶ Entonces Pablo, sabiendo que una parte era de saduceos, y la otra de fariseos, clamó en el concilio: Varones hermanos, yo soy fariseo, hijo de fariseo: de la esperanza y de la resurrección de los muertos soy yo juzgado.
7 Y como hubo dicho esto, fue hecha disensión entre los fariseos y los saduceos; y la multitud fue dividida.
8 (Porque los saduceos dicen que no hay resurrección, ni ángel, ni espíritu; mas los fariseos confiesan ambas cosas.)
9 Y se levantó un gran clamor: y levantándose los escribas de la parte de los fariseos, contendían diciendo: Ningún mal hallamos en este hombre; que si espíritu le ha hablado, o ángel, no resistamos a Dios.
10 Y habiendo grande disensión, el tribuno, teniendo temor de que Pablo fuera despedazado de ellos, mandó venir una compañía de soldados, y arrebatarle de en medio de ellos, y llevarle a la fortaleza.
11 Y la noche siguiente, presentándosele el Señor, le dijo: Confía, Pablo; que como has testificado de mí en Jerusalén, así te conviene testificar también en Roma.
12 ¶ Y venido el día, algunos de los judíos se juntaron, e hicieron voto bajo maldición, diciendo que ni comerían ni beberían hasta que hubieran matado a Pablo.
13 Y eran más de cuarenta los que habían hecho esta conjuración;
14 los cuales se fueron al príncipe de los sacerdotes y a los ancianos, y dijeron: Nosotros hemos hecho voto de anatema, que no hemos de gustar nada hasta que hayamos matado a Pablo.
15 Ahora pues, vosotros, con el concilio, requerid al tribuno que le saque mañana a vosotros como que queréis entender de él alguna cosa más cierta; y nosotros, antes que él llegue, estaremos aparejados para matarle.
16 Entonces un hijo de la hermana de Pablo, oyendo las asechanzas, fue, y entró en la fortaleza, y dio aviso a Pablo.
17 Y Pablo, llamando a uno de los centuriones, dice: Lleva a este joven al tribuno, porque tiene cierto aviso que darle.
18 El entonces tomándole, le llevó al tribuno, y dijo: El preso Pablo, llamándome, me rogó que trajera ante ti este joven, que tiene algo que hablarte.
19 Y el tribuno, tomándole de la mano y retirándose aparte, le preguntó: ¿Qué es lo que tienes que decirme?
20 Y él dijo: Los judíos han concertado rogarte que mañana saques a Pablo al concilio, como que han de inquirir de él alguna cosa más cierta.
21 Mas tú no les creas; porque más de cuarenta hombres de ellos le acechan, los cuales han hecho voto bajo maldición, de no comer ni beber hasta que le hayan muerto; y ahora están apercibidos esperando tu promesa.
22 Entonces el tribuno despidió al joven, mandándole que a nadie dijera que le había dado aviso de esto.
23 Y llamados dos centuriones, les mandó que apercibieran doscientos soldados, que fueran hasta Cesarea, y setenta de a caballo con los doscientos lanceros, que lo acompañaran desde la hora tercera de la noche.
24 Y que aparejaran cabalgaduras en que poniendo a Pablo, le llevaran a salvo a Félix, el gobernador.
25 Escribió una carta en estos términos:
26 Claudio Lisias al excelentísimo gobernador Félix: Salud.
27 A este varón, tomado de los judíos, y que lo comenzaban a matar, libré yo sobreviniendo con una compañía de soldados, entendiendo que era romano.
28 Y queriendo saber la causa por qué le acusaban, le llevé al concilio de ellos;
29 y hallé que le acusaban de cuestiones de la ley de ellos, y que ningún crimen tenía digno de muerte o de prisión.
30 Mas siéndome dado aviso de asechanzas que le habían aparejado los judíos, en la misma hora le he enviado a ti, y he denunciado también a los acusadores que traten delante de ti lo que tienen contra él. Pásalo bien.
31 Y los soldados, tomando a Pablo como les era mandado, le llevaron de noche a Antípatris.
32 Y al día siguiente, dejando a los de a caballo que fueran con él, se volvieron a la fortaleza.
33 Y como llegaron a Cesarea, y dieron la carta al gobernador presentaron también a Pablo delante de él.
34 Y el gobernador, leída la carta, preguntó de qué provincia era; y entendiendo que de Cilicia,
35 te oiré, dijo, cuando vinieren tus acusadores. Y mandó que le guardaran en el pretorio de Herodes.
Acts 23
New International Version
Acts 23
New International Version
23 Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin(A) and said, “My brothers,(B) I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience(C) to this day.” 2 At this the high priest Ananias(D) ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.(E) 3 Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall!(F) You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!”(G)
4 Those who were standing near Paul said, “How dare you insult God’s high priest!”
5 Paul replied, “Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’[a]”(H)
6 Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees(I) and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers,(J) I am a Pharisee,(K) descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead.”(L) 7 When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection,(M) and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe all these things.)
9 There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees(N) stood up and argued vigorously. “We find nothing wrong with this man,”(O) they said. “What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”(P) 10 The dispute became so violent that the 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 the barracks.(Q)
11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage!(R) As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”(S)
The Plot to Kill Paul
12 The next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy(T) and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.(U) 13 More than forty men were involved in this plot. 14 They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.(V) 15 Now then, you and the Sanhedrin(W) petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.”
16 But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks(X) and told Paul.
17 Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.” 18 So he took him to the commander.
The centurion said, “Paul, the prisoner,(Y) sent for me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.”
19 The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside and asked, “What is it you want to tell me?”
20 He said: “Some Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin(Z) tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about him.(AA) 21 Don’t give in to them, because more than forty(AB) of them are waiting in ambush for him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him.(AC) They are ready now, waiting for your consent to their request.”
22 The commander dismissed the young man with this warning: “Don’t tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”
Paul Transferred to Caesarea
23 Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, “Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen[b] to go to Caesarea(AD) at nine tonight.(AE) 24 Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”(AF)
25 He wrote a letter as follows:
26 Claudius Lysias,
To His Excellency,(AG) Governor Felix:
Greetings.(AH)
27 This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him,(AI) but I came with my troops and rescued him,(AJ) for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen.(AK) 28 I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin.(AL) 29 I found that the accusation had to do with questions about their law,(AM) but there was no charge against him(AN) that deserved death or imprisonment. 30 When I was informed(AO) of a plot(AP) to be carried out against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also ordered his accusers(AQ) to present to you their case against him.
31 So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul with them during the night and brought him as far as Antipatris. 32 The next day they let the cavalry(AR) go on with him, while they returned to the barracks.(AS) 33 When the cavalry(AT) arrived in Caesarea,(AU) they delivered the letter to the governor(AV) and handed Paul over to him. 34 The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,(AW) 35 he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers(AX) get here.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard(AY) in Herod’s palace.
Footnotes
- Acts 23:5 Exodus 22:28
- Acts 23:23 The meaning of the Greek for this word is uncertain.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
New Life Version (NLV)
Copyright © 1969, 2003 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Biblia del Jubileo (JBS)
Biblia del Jubileo 2000 (JUS) © 2000, 2001, 2010, 2014, 2017, 2020 by Ransom Press International
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.