Acts 23
Worldwide English (New Testament)
23 Paul looked at the members of the court and said, `My brothers, I have done what I thought God wanted me to do, right up to this day.'
2 Ananias, the high priest, said to those who were standing near Paul, `Hit his mouth!'
3 Paul said, `God will hit you down, you dirty wall painted white! You sit there to judge me by the law and you break the law by telling them to hit me.'
4 The people who stood near Paul said, `Do you say a wrong thing like that to God's high priest?'
5 Paul said, `I did not know that he is a high priest. The holy writings say, "You shall not say anything wrong about a ruler of your people." '
6 Paul knew that some of the men were from the Sadducee group and some of them were from the Pharisee group. So he called out in the court, `My brothers, I am a Pharisee. My fathers were Pharisees. I am being judged because I believe that the dead will be raised to life again.'
7 When he had said that, the Pharisees and the Sadducees began to talk back and forth. The men in the court were divided.
8 The Sadducees say the dead will not be raised again. They say there is no angel or spirit. But the Pharisees believe in all these three things.
9 There was much shouting. Some of the clever men who were Pharisees got up. They said, `We do not think this man has done wrong. Perhaps some angel or spirit really did speak to him.'
10 The people started fighting. The commanding officer was afraid they would tear Paul into pieces. So he told the soldiers to take Paul and bring him into the army house.
11 The next night the Lord stood beside Paul. He said, `Be glad, Paul. You have told people about me in Jerusalem. You must also talk about me in Rome.'
12 In the morning, some of the Jewish leaders planned together. They made a promise that they would not eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
13 There were more than forty Jews who made this secret plan together.
14 They came to the chief priests and leaders and said, `We have made a promise for ourselves. We will not eat anything until we have killed Paul.
15 So now, you and the members of the court send word to the commanding officer. Tell him to bring Paul down to you. Make him think you want to find out more about Paul. We will be ready to kill him before he gets there.'
16 The son of Paul's sister heard about their secret plan. So he went into the army house and told Paul.
17 Paul called one of the officers and said to him, `Take this young man to the commanding officer. He has something to tell him!'
18 So the officer took him to the commanding officer. He said, `Paul, the prisoner, called me. He asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.'
19 The officer took the young man by the arm. He went to one side so they could be alone. He asked, `What do you want to tell me?'
20 The young man said, `The leaders of the Jews have made a plan. They will ask you to bring Paul down to court tomorrow. They will say that they wish to find out more about him.
21 But you must not do this. More than forty Jews are waiting for him. They have made a promise to themselves. They will not eat or drink until they have killed him. They are ready now and waiting for your agreement.'
22 So the commanding officer sent the young man away. He said, `You must not tell anyone that you have told me about these things.'
23 The commanding officer called two officers to him. He said, `Get two hundred soldiers ready by nine o'clock tonight to go to Caesarea. Send seventy men with them who will ride on horses and two hundred men who will carry spears.
24 Also have horses ready for Paul to ride. Take him safely to Felix, the ruler.'
25 The officer wrote a letter to Felix like this:
26 `Claudius Lysias sends greetings to you, great ruler Felix.
27 This man was caught by the Jews. They were ready to kill him. But I came with my soldiers and took him away, because I found out that he is a Roman.
28 I wanted to find out what complaint they had against him, so I brought him into their court.
29 I found out that their complaints were to do with their law. But he had not done anything wrong enough to die or to be put into prison.
30 When I heard that the Jewish leaders were planning to catch him, I sent him to you at once. I told those who are making complaints against him that they must bring the matter to you.'
31 So the soldiers took Paul as they had been told to do. They went with him that night as far as the town of Antipatris.
32 The next day the soldiers went back to the barracks. Only the men who were riding horses went with Paul.
33 When they reached Caesarea, they gave the letter to the ruler and brought Paul to him.
34-35 e read the letter. Then he asked Paul what country he came from. He heard that Paul was from Cilicia. Then he said, `I will hear all you have to say when the men who have made the complaint come here.' He ordered Paul to be kept in the house which is called Herod's palace.
Acts 23
King James Version
23 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.
2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.
3 Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?
4 And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest?
5 Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.
6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.
8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.
9 And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.
10 And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.
11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
12 And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.
13 And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.
14 And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.
15 Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.
16 And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.
17 Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him.
18 So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee.
19 Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that thou hast to tell me?
20 And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly.
21 But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee.
22 So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast shewed these things to me.
23 And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;
24 And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.
25 And he wrote a letter after this manner:
26 Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.
27 This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.
28 And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:
29 Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.
30 And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell.
31 Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.
32 On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:
33 Who, when they came to Caesarea and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.
34 And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia;
35 I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment hall.
Hechos 23
Reina Valera Actualizada
23 Entonces Pablo, fijando la vista en el Sanedrín, dijo:
—Hermanos, yo he vivido delante de Dios con toda buena conciencia hasta el día de hoy.
2 Y el sumo sacerdote Ananías mandó a los que estaban a su lado, que le golpearan en la boca. 3 Entonces Pablo dijo:
—¡Dios te ha de golpear a ti, pared blanqueada! Tú estás sentado para juzgarme conforme a la ley; y quebrantando la ley, ¿mandas que me golpeen?
4 Los que estaban presentes le dijeron:
—¿Insultas tú al sumo sacerdote de Dios?
5 Y Pablo dijo:
—No sabía, hermanos, que fuera el sumo sacerdote; pues escrito está: No maldecirás al gobernante de tu pueblo[a].
6 Entonces Pablo, sabiendo que una parte del Sanedrín eran saduceos y la otra parte fariseos, gritó en el Sanedrín:
—Hermanos, yo soy fariseo, hijo de fariseos. Es por la esperanza y la resurrección de los muertos que soy juzgado.
7 Cuando dijo esto, se produjo disensión entre los fariseos y los saduceos. La asamblea se dividió, 8 porque los saduceos dicen que no hay resurrección, ni ángeles, ni espíritus; pero los fariseos afirman todas estas cosas. 9 Se levantó un gran vocerío, y algunos de los escribas del partido de los fariseos se levantaron y contendían diciendo:
—No hallamos ningún mal en este hombre. ¿Y qué hay si un espíritu o un ángel le ha hablado[b]?
10 Como hubo grande disensión, el tribuno, temiendo que Pablo fuese despedazado, mandó a los soldados que bajaran para arrebatarlo de en medio de ellos y llevarlo a la fortaleza.
11 A la noche siguiente se le presentó el Señor y le dijo: “Sé valiente, Pablo, pues así como has testificado de mí en Jerusalén, así es necesario que testifiques también en Roma”.
Complot para asesinar a Pablo
12 Cuando llegó el día, los judíos tramaron un complot y se juraron bajo maldición, diciendo que no comerían ni beberían hasta que hubieran dado muerte a Pablo. 13 Eran más de cuarenta los que habían hecho esta conjuración. 14 Ellos fueron a los principales sacerdotes y a los ancianos, y les dijeron:
—Nosotros hemos jurado bajo maldición, que no gustaremos nada hasta que hayamos dado muerte a Pablo. 15 Ahora, pues, ustedes con el Sanedrín soliciten al tribuno que le saque mañana a ustedes, como si tuvieran que investigar su caso con más exactitud. Pero nosotros estaremos preparados para matarle antes de que él llegue.
16 Pero el hijo de la hermana de Pablo oyó hablar de la emboscada. Él fue, entró en la fortaleza y se lo informó a Pablo. 17 Pablo llamó a uno de los centuriones y le dijo:
—Lleva a este joven al tribuno, porque tiene algo que comunicarle.
18 Entonces él le tomó, le llevó al tribuno y le dijo:
—El preso Pablo me llamó y me rogó que trajera este joven a ti, porque tiene algo que decirte.
19 El tribuno le tomó de la mano, y llevándolo aparte le preguntó en privado:
—¿Qué es lo que tienes que decirme?
20 Y él dijo:
—Los judíos han acordado rogarte que mañana saques a Pablo al Sanedrín, como si fueran a indagar algo más exacto acerca de él. 21 Pues tú, no les creas, porque más de cuarenta hombres de ellos le están preparando una emboscada. Se han jurado bajo maldición que no comerán ni beberán hasta que le hayan asesinado. Ahora están listos, esperando una promesa de parte tuya.
22 Luego el tribuno despidió al joven encargándole:
—No digas a nadie que me has informado de esto.
Pablo es llevado a Cesarea
23 Entonces el tribuno llamó a dos de los centuriones y dijo:
—Para las nueve de la noche[c] preparen doscientos soldados, más setenta de caballería y doscientos lanceros para que vayan a Cesarea.
24 A la vez, ordenó que proveyeran cabalgaduras para que Pablo montara, y le llevaran a salvo al procurador Félix.
25 También escribió una carta en estos términos:
26 Claudio Lisias, al excelentísimo procurador Félix. Saludos.
27 Cuando este hombre fue prendido por los judíos y estaba a punto de ser muerto por ellos, yo le rescaté acudiendo con la tropa, habiendo entendido que era romano. 28 Queriendo saber el delito por el cual le acusaban, le hice bajar al Sanedrín de ellos. 29 Hallé que era acusado de cuestiones de la ley de ellos, pero sin ninguna acusación de crimen digno de muerte o de prisión. 30 Pero como se me informó que habría un complot contra el hombre, inmediatamente le envié a ti y he informado también a sus acusadores que declaren delante de ti lo que tienen contra él[d].
31 Por tanto, de acuerdo con las órdenes que habían recibido, los soldados tomaron a Pablo y le llevaron de noche a Antípatris. 32 Y al día siguiente, dejando que la caballería siguiera con él, regresaron a la fortaleza. 33 Después de llegar a Cesarea y entregar la carta al procurador, presentaron también a Pablo delante de él.
34 El procurador leyó la carta y le preguntó de qué provincia era. Informado que era de Cilicia, dijo:
35 —Oiré tu causa cuando vengan tus acusadores.
Y mandó que le guardaran en el Pretorio de Herodes.
Footnotes
- Hechos 23:5 Éxo. 22:28.
- Hechos 23:9 Algunos mss. tardíos tienen Y si algún espíritu o un ángel le ha hablado, no resistamos a Dios.
- Hechos 23:23 Según el sistema judío; de usar el sistema romano, sería a las 3:00 a.m.
- Hechos 23:30 Algunos mss. antiguos incluyen Que te vaya bien.
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Version Reina Valera Actualizada, Copyright © 2015 by Editorial Mundo Hispano