Acts 23
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 23
1 Paul looked intently at the Sanhedrin and said, “Brethren, to this very day, I have conducted myself before God with a perfectly clear conscience.” 2 At this, the high priest Ananias[a] ordered his attendants to strike him on the mouth.
3 Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! How can you sit there to judge me according to the Law and then in defiance of the Law order me to be struck?” 4 The attendants said, “Do you dare to insult God’s high priest?” 5 Paul replied, “Brethren, I did not realize that he was the high priest. It is clearly written: ‘You shall not curse the ruler of your people.’ ”
6 Well aware that some of them were Sadducees and the others were Pharisees, Paul called out in the Sanhedrin, “Brethren, I am a Pharisee and the son of Pharisees. I am on trial concerning our hope in the resurrection of the dead.” 7 When he said this, a dispute ensued between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 For the Sadducees hold that there is no resurrection and that there are no angels or spirits, while the Pharisees believe in all three.
9 Then a great uproar arose, and some of the scribes belonging to the party of the Pharisees stood up and forcefully stated, “We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has really spoken to him?” 10 When a violent dissension arose, the commander was fearful that Paul would be torn to pieces. He ordered the soldiers to go down, seize him from their midst, and bring him into the barracks.
11 On the following night, the Lord appeared to Paul and said, “Keep up your courage! For just as you have borne witness to me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness in Rome.”
12 A Plot To Kill Paul.[b] When morning came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves by an oath[c] not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. 13 There were more than forty who entered this pact. 14 They went to the chief priests and elders and told them, “We have bound ourselves by a solemn oath not to consume any food until we have killed Paul. 15 You and the Sanhedrin should make an official request to the commander to bring him down to you on the pretext that you want to investigate his case more thoroughly. We on our part have arranged to kill him before he arrives.”
16 However, the son of Paul’s sister learned of the plot. He thereupon went to the barracks and related the news to Paul. 17 Paul then summoned one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to him.” 18 He brought him to the commander and said, “The prisoner Paul called me and requested that I bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.”
19 The commander took him by the hand, drew him aside, and asked him in private, “What is it that you have to report to me?” 20 He replied, “The Jews have agreed to request you to bring Paul down to the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of inquiring more thoroughly into his case. 21 Do not believe them. More than forty of them are waiting for your consent to their request, for they have sworn an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are ready now and are waiting only for your consent.” 22 The commander dismissed the young man, ordering him, “Tell no one that you have given me this information.”
Paul’s Imprisonment and Defenses at Caesarea
23 Paul Is Imprisoned at Caesarea.[d] Then he summoned two of his centurions and said, “Have two hundred soldiers ready to leave for Caesarea by nine o’clock tonight,[e] along with seventy cavalrymen and two hundred auxiliaries. 24 Also provide mounts for Paul to ride, and deliver him to Felix the governor.” 25 He then wrote a letter as follows:
26 Claudius Lysias,
To his Excellency the governor Felix:[f]
Greetings.
27 This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them; but when I learned that he was a Roman citizen, I arrived on the scene with my troops and rescued him.
28 Wanting to learn what charge they were making against him, I had him brought before their Sanhedrin. 29 I discovered that the accusation dealt with questions about their Law, but that there was no charge against him that merited death or imprisonment. 30 Now I have been informed of a plot to assassinate this man. I am sending him to you without delay, and I have instructed his accusers to present to you their case against him.
31 Therefore, the soldiers, acting in accordance with their orders, took Paul and escorted him during the night to Antipatris. 32 On the next day, they returned to the barracks, leaving the cavalrymen to escort him the rest of the way. 33 When they arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and handed over Paul to him.
34 After reading the letter, the governor asked Paul what province he was from, and on learning that he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, “I will hear your case as soon as your accusers arrive.” Then he ordered that he be held in custody in Herod’s praetorium.
Footnotes
- Acts 23:2 Ananias was high priest from A.D. 47 to 59.
- Acts 23:12 Luke contrasts the correct behavior of the Roman authorities with the blind fanaticism of the Jews: from the outset the Romans realized that there was nothing subversive about Christianity. This is proof of the loyalty of Christians. Note the reference to Paul’s sister and nephew; this is the only information we have about his family.
- Acts 23:12 Oath: they call God’s curse upon themselves if they fail to carry out the commitment they have assumed.
- Acts 23:23 The commander cannot risk having a Roman citizen assassinated while in his custody, so he seeks to transfer Paul to the jurisdiction of Felix, the governor of the province of Judea. He also sends a letter to Felix summarizing the events, from the riot in the temple to the commander’s discovery of a plot against Paul’s life. The most important thing he says is that there is no charge against Paul deserving of death or punishment. Felix then agrees to hear the case himself.
- Acts 23:23 Nine o’clock tonight: literally, “the third hour of the night.”
- Acts 23:26 Felix: M. Antonius Felix was governor (procurator) of Judea from A.D. 52 to 60, and he ruled with an iron hand.
Acts 23
Lexham English Bible
Paul Before the Sanhedrin
23 And looking intently at the Sanhedrin, Paul said, “Men and brothers, I have lived my life in all good conscience before God to this day.” 2 So the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near him to strike his mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! And are you sitting there judging me according to the law, and acting contrary to the law do you order me to be struck?” 4 And those who stood nearby said, “Are you reviling the high priest of God?” 5 And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was high priest. For it is written, ‘You must not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”[a]
6 Now when[b] Paul realized that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he shouted out in the Sanhedrin, “Men and brothers! I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees! I am being judged concerning the hope and the resurrection of the dead!” 7 And when[c] he said this, a dispute developed between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 (For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection or angel or spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.) 9 And there was loud shouting, and some of the scribes from the party of the Pharisees stood up and[d] contended sharply, saying, “We find nothing wrong with this man! But what if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” 10 And when[e] the dispute became severe, the military tribune, fearing lest Paul be torn apart by them, ordered the detachment to go down, take him away from their midst, and bring him[f] into the barracks.[g] 11 And the next night the Lord stood by him and[h] said, “Have courage, for as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”
A Conspiracy to Kill Paul
12 And when it[i] was day, the Jews made a conspiracy and[j] bound themselves under a curse, saying they would[k] neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. 13 Now there were more than forty who had made this conspiracy, 14 who went to the chief priests and the elders and[l] said, “We have bound ourselves under a curse to partake of nothing until we have killed Paul. 15 Therefore, now you along with the Sanhedrin explain to the military tribune that he should bring him down to you, as if you were going to determine more accurately the things concerning him. And we are ready to do away with him before he comes near.”
16 But when[m] the son of Paul’s sister heard about the ambush, he came and entered into the barracks[n] and[o] reported it[p] to Paul. 17 So Paul called one of the centurions and[q] said, “Bring this young man to the military tribune, because he has something to report to him.” 18 So he took him and[r] brought him[s] to the military tribune and said, “The prisoner Paul called me and[t] asked me[u] to bring this young man to you because he[v] has something to tell you.” 19 And the military tribune, taking hold of his hand and withdrawing privately, asked, “What is it that you have to report to me?” 20 And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you that you bring Paul down to the Sanhedrin tomorrow, as if they were going to inquire somewhat more accurately concerning him. 21 You therefore do not be persuaded by them, because more than forty men of their number[w] are lying in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse neither to eat nor to drink until they have done away with him. And now they are ready, waiting for you to agree.”[x] 22 So the military tribune sent the young man away, directing him,[y] “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.”
23 And he summoned two of the centurions and[z] said, “Make ready from the third hour of the night two hundred soldiers and seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen,[aa] in order that they may proceed as far as Caesarea. 24 And provide mounts so that they can put Paul on them and[ab] bring him[ac] safely to Felix the governor.” 25 He wrote[ad] a letter that had this form:[ae]
26 Claudius Lysias.
To his excellency Governor Felix.
Greetings!
27 This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them when I[af] came upon them[ag] with the detachment and[ah] rescued him,[ai] because I[aj] learned that he was a Roman citizen. 28 And because I[ak] wanted to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him[al] down to their Sanhedrin.[am] 29 I found he[an] was accused concerning controversial questions of their law, but having no charge deserving death or imprisonment. 30 And when it[ao] was made known to me there would be a plot against the man, I sent him[ap] to you immediately, also ordering his[aq] accusers to speak against him[ar] before you.
31 Therefore the soldiers, in accordance with their orders,[as] took Paul and[at] brought him[au] to Antipatris during the night. 32 And on the next day they let the horsemen go on with him, and[av] they returned to the barracks.[aw] 33 The horsemen,[ax] when they[ay] came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, also presented Paul to him. 34 So after[az] reading the letter[ba] and asking what province he was from, and learning that he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, “I will give you a hearing whenever your accusers arrive also,” giving orders for him to be guarded in the praetorium[bb] of Herod.
Footnotes
- Acts 23:5 A quotation from Exod 22:28
- Acts 23:6 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“realized”) which is understood as temporal
- Acts 23:7 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“said”)
- Acts 23:9 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“stood up”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 23:10 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“became”)
- Acts 23:10 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Acts 23:10 Or “headquarters”
- Acts 23:11 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“stood by”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 23:12 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“was”)
- Acts 23:12 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“made”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 23:12 Literally “saying neither to eat nor to drink”; the words “they would” are supplied for smoother English style
- Acts 23:14 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“went to”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 23:16 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard about”) which is understood as temporal
- Acts 23:16 Or “headquarters”
- Acts 23:16 Here “and” is supplied because the two previous participles (“came” and “entered”) have been translated as finite verbs
- Acts 23:16 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Acts 23:17 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“called”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 23:18 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“took”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 23:18 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Acts 23:18 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“called”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 23:18 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Acts 23:18 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“has”) which is understood as causal
- Acts 23:21 Literally “them”
- Acts 23:21 Literally “the assurance of agreement from you”
- Acts 23:22 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Acts 23:23 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“summoned”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 23:23 A word of uncertain meaning, probably a military technical term
- Acts 23:24 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“put … on”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 23:24 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Acts 23:25 Literally “writing”
- Acts 23:25 Or “content”
- Acts 23:27 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“came upon”) which is understood as temporal
- Acts 23:27 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Acts 23:27 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“came upon”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 23:27 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Acts 23:27 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“learned”) which is understood as causal
- Acts 23:28 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“wanted”) which is understood as causal
- Acts 23:28 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Acts 23:28 Or “council”
- Acts 23:29 Literally “whom”
- Acts 23:30 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“was made known”) which is understood as temporal
- Acts 23:30 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Acts 23:30 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
- Acts 23:30 Some manuscripts have “to state the charges against him” (literally, “to speak the things against him”)
- Acts 23:31 Literally “what was ordered to them”
- Acts 23:31 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“took”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 23:31 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Acts 23:32 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“let”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 23:32 Or “headquarters”
- Acts 23:33 Literally “who”
- Acts 23:33 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“came”) which is understood as temporal
- Acts 23:34 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“reading”) which is understood as temporal
- Acts 23:34 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Acts 23:35 The “praetorium” of Herod refers to the palace of Herod the Great in Caesarea Maritima
2012 by Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software