Worthy.Bible » Parallel » Acts » Chapter 23 » Verse 1-35

Acts 23:1-35 King James Version (KJV)

1 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.


Acts 23:1-35 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 And G1161 Paul, G3972 earnestly beholding G816 the council, G4892 said, G2036 Men G435 and brethren, G80 I G1473 have lived G4176 in all G3956 good G18 conscience G4893 before God G2316 until G891 this G5026 day. G2250

2 And G1161 the high priest G749 Ananias G367 commanded G2004 them that stood by G3936 him G846 to smite G5180 him G846 on the mouth. G4750

3 Then G5119 said G2036 Paul G3972 unto G4314 him, G846 God G2316 shall G3195 smite G5180 thee, G4571 thou whited G2867 wall: G5109 for G2532 sittest G2521 thou G4771 to judge G2919 me G3165 after G2596 the law, G3551 and G2532 commandest G2753 me G3165 to be smitten G5180 contrary to the law? G3891

4 And G1161 they that stood by G3936 said, G2036 Revilest thou G3058 God's G2316 high priest? G749

5 Then G5037 said G5346 Paul, G3972 I wist G1492 not, G3756 brethren, G80 that G3754 he was G2076 the high priest: G749 for G1063 it is written, G1125 Thou shalt G2046 not G3756 speak G2046 evil G2560 of the ruler G758 of thy G4675 people. G2992

6 But G1161 when Paul G3972 perceived G1097 that G3754 the one G1520 part G3313 were G2076 Sadducees, G4523 and G1161 the other G2087 Pharisees, G5330 he cried out G2896 in G1722 the council, G4892 Men G435 and brethren, G80 I G1473 am G1510 a Pharisee, G5330 the son G5207 of a Pharisee: G5330 of G4012 the hope G1680 and G2532 resurrection G386 of the dead G3498 I G1473 am called in question. G2919

7 And G1161 when he G846 had G2980 so G5124 said, G2980 there arose G1096 a dissension G4714 between the Pharisees G5330 and G2532 the Sadducees: G4523 and G2532 the multitude G4128 was divided. G4977

8 For G1063 G3303 the Sadducees G4523 say G3004 that there is G1511 no G3361 resurrection, G386 neither G3366 angel, G32 nor G3383 spirit: G4151 but G1161 the Pharisees G5330 confess G3670 both. G297

9 And G1161 there arose G1096 a great G3173 cry: G2906 and G2532 the scribes G1122 that were of the Pharisees' G5330 part G3313 arose, G450 and strove, G1264 saying, G3004 We find G2147 no G3762 evil G2556 in G1722 this G5129 man: G444 but G1161 if G1487 a spirit G4151 or G2228 an angel G32 hath spoken G2980 to him, G846 let us G2313 not G3361 fight G2313 against God.

10 And G1161 when there arose G1096 a great G4183 dissension, G4714 the chief captain, G5506 fearing G2125 lest G3361 Paul G3972 should have been pulled in pieces G1288 of G5259 them, G846 commanded G2753 the soldiers G4753 to go down, G2597 and to take G726 him G846 by force G726 from G1537 among G3319 them, G846 and G5037 to bring G71 him into G1519 the castle. G3925

11 And G1161 the night G3571 following G1966 the Lord G2962 stood by G2186 him, G846 and said, G2036 Be of good cheer, G2293 Paul: G3972 for G1063 as G5613 thou hast testified G1263 of G4012 me G1700 in G1519 Jerusalem, G2419 so G3779 must G1163 thou G4571 bear witness G3140 also G2532 at G1519 Rome. G4516

12 And G1161 when it was G1096 day, G2250 certain G5100 of the Jews G2453 banded together, G4160 G4963 and bound G332 themselves G1438 under a curse, G332 saying G3004 that they would G5315 neither G3383 eat G5315 nor G3383 drink G4095 till G2193 G3757 they had killed G615 Paul. G3972

13 And G1161 they were G2258 more than G4119 forty G5062 which G3588 had made G4160 this G5026 conspiracy. G4945

14 And they G3748 came to G4334 the chief priests G749 and G2532 elders, G4245 and said, G2036 We have bound G332 ourselves G1438 under a great curse, G331 that we will eat G1089 nothing G3367 until G2193 G3739 we have slain G615 Paul. G3972

15 Now G3568 therefore G3767 ye G5210 with G4862 the council G4892 signify G1718 to the chief captain G5506 that G3704 he bring G2609 him G846 down G2609 unto G4314 you G5209 to morrow, G839 as G5613 though ye would G3195 enquire G1231 something more perfectly G197 concerning G4012 him: G846 and G1161 we, G2249 or ever G4253 he G846 come near, G1448 are G2070 ready G2092 to kill G337 him. G846

16 And G1161 when Paul's G3972 sister's G79 son G5207 heard G191 of their lying in wait, G1749 he went G3854 and G2532 entered G1525 into G1519 the castle, G3925 and told G518 Paul. G3972

17 Then G1161 Paul G3972 called G4341 one G1520 of the centurions G1543 unto him, and said, G5346 Bring G520 this G5126 young man G3494 unto G4314 the chief captain: G5506 for G1063 he hath G2192 a certain thing G5100 to tell G518 him. G846

18 So G3767 G3303 he took G3880 him, G846 and brought G71 him to G4314 the chief captain, G5506 and G2532 said, G5346 Paul G3972 the prisoner G1198 called G4341 me G3165 unto him, and prayed me G2065 to bring G71 this G5126 young man G3494 unto G4314 thee, G4571 who hath G2192 something G5100 to say G2980 unto thee. G4671

19 Then G1161 the chief captain G5506 took G1949 him G846 by the hand, G5495 and G2532 went with him aside G402 privately, G2596 G2398 and asked G4441 him, What G5101 is G2076 that G3739 thou hast G2192 to tell G518 me? G3427

20 And G1161 he said, G2036 G3754 The Jews G2453 have agreed G4934 to desire G2065 thee G4571 that G3704 thou wouldest bring down G2609 Paul G3972 to morrow G839 into G1519 the council, G4892 as G5613 though they would G3195 enquire G4441 somewhat G5100 of G4012 him G846 more perfectly. G197

21 But G3767 do G3982 not G3361 thou G4771 yield G3982 unto them: G846 for G1063 there lie in wait for G1748 him G846 of G1537 them G846 more than G4119 forty G5062 men, G435 which G3748 have bound G332 themselves G1438 with an oath, G332 that they will G5315 neither G3383 eat G5315 nor G3383 drink G4095 till G2193 G3739 they have killed G337 him: G846 and G2532 now G3568 are they G1526 ready, G2092 looking for G4327 a promise G1860 from G575 thee. G4675

22 So G3303 G3767 the chief captain G5506 then let G630 the young man G3494 depart, G630 and charged G3853 him, See thou tell G1583 no man G3367 that G3754 thou hast shewed G1718 these things G5023 to G4314 me. G3165

23 And G2532 he called unto G4341 him G5100 two G1417 centurions, G1543 saying, G2036 Make ready G2090 two hundred G1250 soldiers G4757 to G3704 go G4198 to G2193 Caesarea, G2542 and G2532 horsemen G2460 threescore and ten, G1440 and G2532 spearmen G1187 two hundred, G1250 at G575 the third G5154 hour G5610 of the night; G3571

24 And G5037 provide G3936 them beasts, G2934 that G2443 they may set G1913 Paul G3972 on, G1913 and bring him safe G1295 unto G4314 Felix G5344 the governor. G2232

25 And he wrote G1125 a letter G1992 after G4023 this G5126 manner: G5179

26 Claudius G2804 Lysias G3079 unto the most excellent G2903 governor G2232 Felix G5344 sendeth greeting. G5463

27 This G5126 man G435 was taken G4815 of G5259 the Jews, G2453 and G2532 should G3195 have been killed G337 of G5259 them: G846 then came I G2186 with G4862 an army, G4753 and rescued G1807 him, G846 having understood G3129 that G3754 he was G2076 a Roman. G4514

28 And G1161 when G1014 I would G1014 have known G1097 the cause G156 wherefore G1223 G3739 they accused G1458 him, G846 I brought G2609 him G846 forth G2609 into G1519 their G846 council: G4892

29 Whom G3739 I perceived G2147 to be accused G1458 of G4012 questions G2213 of their G846 law, G3551 but G1161 to have G2192 nothing G3367 laid to his charge G1462 worthy G514 of death G2288 or G2228 of bonds. G1199

30 And G1161 when it was told G3377 me G3427 how that G5259 the Jews G2453 laid wait G1917 G3195 G1510 for G1519 the man, G435 I sent G3992 straightway G1824 to G4314 thee, G4571 and gave commandment G3853 to his accusers G2725 also G2532 to say G3004 before G1909 thee G4675 what they had against G4314 him. G846 Farewell. G4517

31 Then G3767 G3303 the soldiers, G4757 as G2596 it was commanded G1299 them, G846 took G353 Paul, G3972 and brought G71 him by G1223 night G3571 to G1519 Antipatris. G494

32 G1161 On the morrow G1887 they left G1439 the horsemen G2460 to go G4198 with G4862 him, G846 and returned G5290 to G1519 the castle: G3925

33 Who, G3748 when they came G1525 to G1519 Caesarea, G2542 and G2532 delivered G325 the epistle G1992 to the governor, G2232 presented G3936 Paul G3972 also G2532 before him. G846

34 And G1161 when the governor G2232 had read G314 the letter, G2532 he asked G1905 of G1537 what G4169 province G1885 he was. G2076 And G2532 when he understood G4441 that G3754 he was of G575 Cilicia; G2791

35 I will hear G1251 thee, G4675 said he, G5346 when G3752 thine G4675 accusers G2725 are G3854 also G2532 come. G3854 And G5037 he commanded G2753 him G846 to be kept G5442 in G1722 Herod's G2264 judgment hall. G4232


Acts 23:1-35 American Standard (ASV)

1 And Paul, looking stedfastly on the council, said, Brethren, I have lived before God in all good conscience 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: and sittest thou to judge me according to 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 And Paul said, I knew not, brethren, that he was high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of a 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, Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees: touching 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 Sadducees; and the assembly 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 clamor: and some of the scribes of the Pharisees part stood up, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: and what if a spirit hath spoken to him, or an angel?

10 And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should be torn in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the castle.

11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer: for as thou hast testified concerning me at Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

12 And when it was day, 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 that made this conspiracy.

14 And they came to the chief priests and the elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, to taste nothing until we have killed Paul.

15 Now therefore do ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you, as though ye would judge of his case more exactly: and we, before he comes near, are ready to slay him.

16 But Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, and he came and entered into the castle and told Paul.

17 And Paul called unto him one of the centurions, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain; for he hath something to tell him.

18 So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and saith, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and asked me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say to thee.

19 And the chief captain took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, What is it that thou hast to tell me?

20 And he said, The Jews have agreed to ask thee to bring down Paul tomorrow unto the council, as though thou wouldest inquire somewhat more exactly concerning him.

21 Do not thou therefore yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, who have bound themselves under a curse, neither to eat nor to drink till they have slain him: and now are they ready, looking for the promise from thee.

22 So the chief captain let the young man go, charging him, Tell no man that thou hast signified these things to me.

23 And he called unto him two of the centurions, and said, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night:

24 and `he bade them' provide beasts, that they might set Paul thereon, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.

25 And he wrote a letter after this form:

26 Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix, greeting.

27 This man was seized by the Jews, and was about to be slain of them, when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.

28 And desiring to know the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him down unto their council:

29 whom I found to be accused about questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.

30 And when it was shown to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to thee forthwith, charging his accusers also to speak against him before thee.

31 So the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.

32 But on the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:

33 and they, when they came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, presented Paul also before him.

34 And when he had read it, he asked of what province he was; and when he understood that he was of Cilicia,

35 I will hear thee fully, said he, when thine accusers also are come: and he commanded him to be kept in Herod's palace.


Acts 23:1-35 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And Paul having earnestly beheld the sanhedrim, said, `Men, brethren, I in all good conscience have lived to God unto this day;'

2 and the chief priest Ananias commanded those standing by him to smite him on the mouth,

3 then Paul said unto him, `God is about to smite thee, thou whitewashed wall, and thou -- thou dost sit judging me according to the law, and, violating law, dost order me to be smitten!'

4 And those who stood by said, `The chief priest of God dost thou revile?'

5 and Paul said, `I did not know, brethren, that he is chief priest: for it hath been written, Of the ruler of thy people thou shalt not speak evil;'

6 and Paul having known that the one part are Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, cried out in the sanhedrim, `Men, brethren, I am a Pharisee -- son of a Pharisee -- concerning hope and rising again of dead men I am judged.'

7 And he having spoken this, there came a dissension of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees, and the crowd was divided,

8 for Sadducees, indeed, say there is no rising again, nor messenger, nor spirit, but Pharisees confess both.

9 And there came a great cry, and the scribes of the Pharisees' part having arisen, were striving, saying, `No evil do we find in this man; and if a spirit spake to him, or a messenger, we may not fight against God;'

10 and a great dissension having come, the chief captain having been afraid lest Paul may be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiery, having gone down, to take him by force out of the midst of them, and to bring `him' to the castle.

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.


Acts 23:1-35 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

1 And Paul, fixing his eyes on the council, said, Brethren, I have walked in all good conscience with God unto this day.

2 But the high priest Ananias ordered those standing by him to smite his mouth.

3 Then Paul said to him, God will smite thee, whited wall. And *thou*, dost thou sit judging me according to the law, and breaking the law commandest me to be smitten?

4 And those that stood by said, Dost thou rail against the high priest of God?

5 And Paul said, I was not conscious, brethren, that he was high priest; for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evilly of the ruler of thy people.

6 But Paul, knowing that the one part [of them] were of the Sadducees and the other of the Pharisees, cried out in the council, Brethren, *I* am a Pharisee, son of Pharisees: *I* am judged concerning the hope and resurrection of [the] dead.

7 And when he had spoken this, there was a tumult of the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the multitude was divided.

8 For Sadducees say there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but Pharisees confess both of them.

9 And there was a great clamour, and the scribes of the Pharisees' part rising up contended, saying, We find nothing evil in this man; and if a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel ...

10 And a great tumult having arisen, the chiliarch, fearing lest Paul should have been torn in pieces by them, commanded the troop to come down and take him by force from the midst of them, and to bring [him] into the fortress.

11 But the following night the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good courage; for as thou hast testified the things concerning me at Jerusalem, so thou must bear witness at Rome also.

12 And when it was day, the Jews, having banded together, put themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they should kill Paul.

13 And they were more than forty who had joined together in this oath;

14 and they went to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have cursed ourselves with a curse to taste nothing until we kill Paul.

15 Now therefore do ye with the council make a representation to the chiliarch so that he may bring him down to you, as about to determine more precisely what concerns him, and we, before he draws near, are ready to kill him.

16 But Paul's sister's son, having heard of the lying in wait, came and entered into the fortress and reported [it] to Paul.

17 And Paul, having called one of the centurions, said, Take this youth to the chiliarch, for he has something to report to him.

18 He therefore, having taken him with [him], led him to the chiliarch, and says, The prisoner Paul called me to [him] and asked me to lead this youth to thee, who has something to say to thee.

19 And the chiliarch having taken him by the hand, and having gone apart in private, inquired, What is it that thou hast to report to me?

20 And he said, The Jews have agreed together to make a request to thee, that thou mayest bring Paul down to-morrow into the council, as about to inquire something more precise concerning him.

21 Do not thou then be persuaded by them, for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, who have put themselves under a curse neither to eat nor drink till they kill him; and now they are ready waiting the promise from thee.

22 The chiliarch then dismissed the youth, commanding [him], Utter to no one that thou hast represented these things to me.

23 And having called to [him] certain two of the centurions, he said, Prepare two hundred soldiers that they may go as far as Caesarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred light-armed footmen, for the third hour of the night.

24 And [he ordered them] to provide beasts, that they might set Paul on them and carry [him] safe through to Felix the governor,

25 having written a letter, couched in this form:

26 Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix, greeting.

27 This man, having been taken by the Jews, and being about to be killed by them, I came up with the military and took out [of their hands], having learned that he was a Roman.

28 And desiring to know the charge on which they accused him, I brought him down to their council;

29 whom I found to be accused of questions of their law, but to have no charge laid against him [making him] worthy of death or of bonds.

30 But having received information of a plot about to be put in execution against the man [by the Jews], I have immediately sent him to thee, commanding also his accusers to say before thee the things that are against him. [Farewell.]

31 The soldiers therefore, according to what was ordered them, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris,

32 and on the morrow, having left the horsemen to go with him, returned to the fortress.

33 And these, having entered into Caesarea, and given up the letter to the governor, presented Paul also to him.

34 And having read [it], and asked of what eparchy he was, and learned that [he was] of Cilicia,

35 he said, I will hear thee fully when thine accusers also are arrived. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's praetorium.


Acts 23:1-35 World English Bible (WEB)

1 Paul, looking steadfastly at the council, said, "Brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day."

2 The high priest, Ananias, commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.

3 Then Paul said to him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to judge me according to the law, and command me to be struck contrary to the law?"

4 Those who stood by said, "Do you malign God's high priest?"

5 Paul said, "I didn't know, brothers, that he was high priest. For it is written, 'You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.'"

6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, "Men and brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. Concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!"

7 When he had said this, an argument arose between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.

8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess all of these.

9 A great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees part stood up, and contended, saying, "We find no evil in this man. But if a spirit or angel has spoken to him, let's not fight against God!"

10 When a great argument arose, the commanding officer, fearing that Paul would be torn in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks.

11 The following night, the Lord stood by him, and said, "Cheer up, Paul, for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so you must testify also at Rome."

12 When it was day, some of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.

13 There were more than forty people who had made this conspiracy.

14 They came to the chief priests and the elders, and said, "We have bound ourselves under a great curse, to taste nothing until we have killed Paul.

15 Now therefore, you with the council inform the commanding officer that he should bring him down to you tomorrow, as though you were going to judge his case more exactly. We are ready to kill him before he comes near."

16 But Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, and he came and entered into the barracks and told Paul.

17 Paul summoned one of the centurions, and said, "Bring this young man to the commanding officer, for he has something to tell him."

18 So he took him, and brought him to the commanding officer, and said, "Paul, the prisoner, summoned me and asked me to bring this young man to you, who has something to tell you."

19 The commanding officer took him by the hand, and going aside, asked him privately, "What is it that you have to tell me?"

20 He said, "The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though intending to inquire somewhat more accurately concerning him.

21 Therefore don't yield to them, for more than forty men lie in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse neither to eat nor to drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, looking for the promise from you."

22 So the commanding officer let the young man go, charging him, "Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me."

23 He called to himself two of the centurions, and said, "Prepare two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, with seventy horsemen, and two hundred men armed with spears, at the third hour of the night{about 9:00 PM}."

24 He asked them to provide animals, that they might set Paul on one, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.

25 He wrote a letter like this:

26 "Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings.

27 "This man was seized by the Jews, and was about to be killed by them, when I came with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.

28 Desiring to know the cause why they accused him, I brought him down to their council.

29 I found him to be accused about questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.

30 When I was told that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him to you immediately, charging his accusers also to bring their accusations against him before you. Farewell."

31 So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.

32 But on the next day they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the barracks.

33 When they came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.

34 When the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. When he understood that he was from Cilicia, he said,

35 "I will hear you fully when your accusers also arrive." He commanded that he be kept in Herod's palace.


Acts 23:1-35 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 And Paul, looking fixedly at the Sanhedrin, said, My brothers, my life has been upright before God till this day.

2 And the high priest, Ananias, gave orders to those who were near him to give him a blow on the mouth.

3 Then Paul said to him, God will give blows to you, you whitewashed wall: are you here to be my judge by law, and by your orders am I given blows against the law?

4 And those who were near said, Do you say such words against God's high priest?

5 And Paul said, Brother, I had no idea that he was the high priest: for it has been said, You may not say evil about the ruler of your people.

6 But when Paul saw that half of them were Sadducees and the rest Pharisees, he said in the Sanhedrin, Brothers, I am a Pharisee, and the son of Pharisees: I am here to be judged on the question of the hope of the coming back from the dead.

7 And when he had said this, there was an argument between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and a division in the meeting.

8 For the Sadducees say that there is no coming back from the dead, and no angels or spirits: but the Pharisees have belief in all these.

9 And there was a great outcry: and some of the scribes on the side of the Pharisees got up and took part in the discussion, saying, We see no evil in this man: what if he has had a revelation from an angel or a spirit?

10 And when the argument became very violent, the chief captain, fearing that Paul would be pulled in two by them, gave orders to the armed men to take him by force from among them, and take him into the army building.

11 And the night after, the Lord came to his side and said, Be of good heart, for as you have been witnessing for me in Jerusalem, so will you be my witness in Rome.

12 And when it was day, the Jews came together and put themselves under an oath that they would take no food or drink till they had put Paul to death.

13 And more than forty of them took this oath.

14 And they came to the chief priests and the rulers and said, We have taken a great oath to take no food till we have put Paul to death

15 So now, will you and the Sanhedrin make a request to the military authorities to have him sent down to you, as if you were desiring to go into the business in greater detail; and we, before ever he gets to you, will be waiting to put him to death.

16 But Paul's sister's son had word of their design, and he came into the army building and gave news of it to Paul.

17 And Paul sent for a captain and said, Take this young man to your chief, for he has news for him.

18 So he took him to the chief captain and said, Paul, the prisoner, made a request to me to take this young man to you, for he has something to say to you.

19 And the chief took him by the hand and, going on one side, said to him privately, What is it you have to say to me?

20 And he said, The Jews are in agreement together to make a request to you for Paul to be taken, on the day after this, into the Sanhedrin, to be questioned in greater detail.

21 But do not give way to them, for more than forty of them are waiting for him, having taken an oath not to take food or drink till they have put him to death: and now they are ready, waiting for your order.

22 So the chief captain let the young man go, saying to him, Do not say to anyone that you have given me word of these things.

23 And he sent for two captains and said, Make ready two hundred men, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen, to go to Caesarea, at the third hour of the night:

24 And get beasts so that they may put Paul on them, and take him safely to Felix, the ruler.

25 And he sent a letter in these words:

26 Claudius Lysias, to the most noble ruler, Felix, peace be with you.

27 This man was taken by the Jews, and was about to be put to death by them, when I came on them with the army and took him out of danger, having knowledge that he was a Roman.

28 And, desiring to get at the reason for their attack on him, I took him down to their Sanhedrin:

29 Then it became clear to me that it was a question of their law, and that nothing was said against him which might be a reason for prison or death.

30 And when news was given to me that a secret design was being made against the man, I sent him straight away to you, giving orders to those who are against him to make their statements before you.

31 So the armed men, as they were ordered, took Paul and came by night to Antipatris.

32 But on the day after, they sent the horsemen on with him, and went back to their place:

33 And they, when they came to Caesarea, gave the letter to the ruler, and took Paul before him.

34 And after reading it, he said, What part of the country do you come from? And, hearing that he was from Cilicia,

35 I will give hearing to your cause, he said, when those who are against you have come. And he gave orders for him to be kept in Herod's Praetorium.

Commentary on Acts 23 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


CHAPTER 23

Ac 23:1-10. Paul's Defense before the Sanhedrin Divides the Rival Factions, from Whose Violence the Commandant Has the Apostle Removed into the Fortress.

1. Paul, earnestly beholding the council—with a look of conscious integrity and unfaltering courage, perhaps also recognizing some of his early fellow pupils.

I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day—The word has an indirect reference to the "polity" or "commonwealth of Israel," of which he would signify that he had been, and was to that hour, an honest and God-fearing member.

2. the high priest … commanded … to smite him on the mouth—a method of silencing a speaker common in the East to this day [Hacket]. But for a judge thus to treat a prisoner on his "trial," for merely prefacing his defense by a protestation of his integrity, was infamous.

3, 4. God shall smite thee—as indeed He did; for he was killed by an assassin during the Jewish war [Josephus, Wars of the Jews, 2.17.9].

thou whited wall—that is, hypocrite (Mt 23:27). This epithet, however correctly describing the man, must not be defended as addressed to a judge, though the remonstrance which follows—"for sittest thou," &c.—ought to have put him to shame.

5. I wist not … that he was the high priest—All sorts of explanations of this have been given. The high priesthood was in a state of great confusion and constant change at this time (as appears from Josephus), and the apostle's long absence from Jerusalem, and perhaps the manner in which he was habited or the seat he occupied, with other circumstances to us unknown, may account for such a speech. But if he was thrown off his guard by an insult which touched him to the quick, "what can surpass the grace with which he recovered his self-possession, and the frankness with which he acknowledged his error? If his conduct in yielding to the momentary impulse was not that of Christ Himself under a similar provocation (Joh 18:22, 23), certainly the manner in which he atoned for his fault was Christ-like" [Hacket].

6-9. when Paul perceived—from the discussion which plainly had by this time arisen between the parties.

that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out—raising his voice above both parties.

I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee—The true reading seems to be, "the son of Pharisees," that is, belonging to a family who from father to son had long been such.

of the hope and resurrection of the dead—that is, not the vague hope of immortality, but the definite expectation of the resurrection.

I am called in question—By this adroit stroke, Paul engages the whole Pharisaic section of the council in his favor; the doctrine of a resurrection being common to both, though they would totally differ in their application of it. This was, of course, quite warrantable, and the more so as it was already evident that no impartiality in trying his cause was to be looked for from such an assembly.

8. the Sadducees say … there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit—(See on Lu 20:37).

the scribes … of the Pharisees' part … strove, saying, We find no evil in this man, but—as to those startling things which he brings to our ears.

if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him—referring, perhaps, to his trance in the temple, of which he had told them (Ac 22:17). They put this favorable construction upon his proceedings for no other reason than that they had found him one of their own party. They care not to inquire into the truth of what he alleged, over and above their opinions, but only to explain it away as something not worth raising a noise about. (The following words, "Let us not fight against God," seem not to belong to the original text, and perhaps are from Ac 5:39. In this case, either the meaning is, "If he has had some divine communication, what of that?" or, the conclusion of the sentence may have been drowned in the hubbub, which Ac 23:10 shows to have been intense).

10. the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled to pieces … commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force, &c.—This shows that the commandant was not himself present, and further, that instead of the Sanhedrim trying the cause, the proceedings quickly consisted in the one party attempting to seize the prisoner, and the other to protect him.

Ac 23:11-35. In the Fortress Paul Is Cheered by a Night VisionAn Infamous Conspiracy to Assassinate Him Is Providentially Defeated, and He Is Despatched by Night with a Letter from the Commandant to Felix at Cæsarea, by Whom Arrangements Are Made for a Hearing of His Cause.

11. the night following—his heart perhaps sinking, in the solitude of his barrack ward, and thinking perhaps that all the predictions of danger at Jerusalem were now to be fulfilled in his death there.

the Lord—that is, Jesus.

stood by him … Be of good cheer, Paul; for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou … also at Rome—that is, "Thy work in Jerusalem is done, faithfully and well done; but thou art not to die here; thy purpose next to 'see Rome' (Ac 19:21) shall not be disappointed, and there also must thou bear witness of Me." As this vision was not unneeded now, so we shall find it cheering and upholding him throughout all that befell him up to his arrival there.

12-14. bound themselves under a curse … that they would neither eat … fill they had killed Paul—Compare 2Sa 3:35; 1Sa 14:24.

15. Now … ye with the council signify to the chief captain … as though, &c.—That these high ecclesiastics fell in readily with this infamous plot is clear. What will not unscrupulous and hypocritical religionists do under the mask of religion? The narrative bears unmistakable internal marks of truth.

or ever he come near—Their plan was to assassinate him on his way down from the barracks to the council. The case was critical, but He who had pledged His word to him that he should testify for Him at Rome provided unexpected means of defeating this well-laid scheme.

16-22. Paul's sister's son—(See on Ac 9:30). If he was at this time residing at Jerusalem for his education, like Paul himself, he may have got at the schools those hints of the conspiracy on which he so promptly acted.

17. Then Paul called one of the centurions—Though divinely assured of safety, he never allows this to interfere with the duty he owed to his own life and the work he had yet to do. (See on Ac 27:22-25; Ac 27:31).

19. took him by the hand—This shows that he must have been quite in his boyhood, and throws a pleasing light on the kind-hearted impartiality of this officer.

21. and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee—Thus, as is so often the case with God's people, not till the last moment, when the plot was all prepared, did deliverance come.

23, 24. two hundred soldiers—a formidable guard for such an occasion; but Roman officials felt their honor concerned in the preservation of the public peace, and the danger of an attempted rescue would seem to require it. The force at Jerusalem was large enough to spare this convoy.

the third hour of the night—nine o'clock.

24. beasts … set Paul on—as relays, and to carry baggage.

unto Felix, the governor—the procurator. See on Ac 24:24, 25.

26-30. Claudius—the Roman name he would take on purchasing his citizenship.

Lysias—his Greek family name.

the most excellent governor—an honorary title of office.

27. came I with an army—rather, "with the military."

29. perceived to be accused of questions of their law, &c.—Amidst all his difficulty in getting at the charges laid against Paul, enough, no doubt, come out to satisfy him that the whole was a question of religion, and that there was no case for a civil tribunal.

30. gave commandment to his accusers … to say before thee—This was not done when he wrote, but would be before the letter reached its destination.

31, 32. brought him … to Antipatris—nearly forty miles from Jerusalem, on the way to Cæsarea; so named by Herod in honor of his father, Antipater.

32. On the morrow they—the infantry.

left the horsemen—themselves no longer needed as a guard. The remaining distance was about twenty-five or twenty-six miles.

34, 35. asked of what province he was—the letter describing him as a Roman citizen.

35. I will hear thee—The word means, "give thee a full hearing."

to be kept in Herod's judgment hall—"prætorium," the palace built at Cæsarea by Herod, and now occupied by the Roman procurators; in one of the buildings attached to which Paul was ordered to be kept.