Acts 23

1And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.

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

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

2And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.

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

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

3Then 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?

3then 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!'

3Then 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?

4And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God’s high priest?

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

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

5Then 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.

5and 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;'

5And 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.

6But 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.

6and 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.'

6But 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.

7And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.

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

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

8For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.

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

8For 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.

9And 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.

9And 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;'

9And 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?

10And 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.

10and 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 <FI>him<Fi> to the castle.

10And 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.

11And 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.

11And 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.'

11And 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.

12And 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.

12And 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;

12And 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.

13And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.

13and they were more than forty who made this conspiracy by oath,

13And more than forty of them took this oath.

14And 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.

14who 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;

14And 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

15Now 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.

15now, 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.'

15So 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.

16And when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.

16And the son of Paul's sister having heard of the lying in wait, having gone and entered into the castle, told Paul,

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

17Then 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.

17and Paul having called near one of the centurions, said, `This young man lead unto the chief captain, for he hath something to tell him.'

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

18So 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.

18He indeed, then, having taken him, brought him unto the chief captain, and saith, `The prisoner Paul, having called me near, asked <FI>me<Fi> this young man to bring unto thee, having something to say to thee.'

18So 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.

19Then 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?

19And the chief captain having taken him by the hand, and having withdrawn by themselves, inquired, `What is that which thou hast to tell me?'

19And 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?

20And 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.

20and 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;

20And 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.

21But 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.

21thou, 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.'

21But 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.

22So 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.

22The chief captain, then, indeed, let the young man go, having charged <FI>him<Fi> to tell no one, `that these things thou didst shew unto me;'

22So 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.

23And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Cesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;

23and 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;

23And 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:

24And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.

24beasts also provide, that, having set Paul on, they may bring him safe unto Felix the governor;'

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

25And he wrote a letter after this manner:

25he having written a letter after this description:

25And he sent a letter in these words:

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

26`Claudius Lysias, to the most noble governor Felix, hail:

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

27This 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.

27This 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;

27This 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.

28And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:

28and, intending to know the cause for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their sanhedrim,

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

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

29whom I found accused concerning questions of their law, and having no accusation worthy of death or bonds;

29Then 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.

30And 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.

30and 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.'

30And 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.

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

31Then, indeed, the soldiers according to that directed them, having taken up Paul, brought him through the night to Antipatris,

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

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

32and on the morrow, having suffered the horsemen to go on with him, they returned to the castle;

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

33Who, when they came to Cesarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.

33those having entered into Caesarea, and delivered the letter to the governor, did present also Paul to him.

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

34And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia;

34And the governor having read <FI>it<Fi> , and inquired of what province he is, and understood that <FI>he is<Fi> from Cilicia;

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

35I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s judgment hall.

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.

35I 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.