Acts 23
1
And Paul, looking steadfastly 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 to him, God shall smite you, you whited wall: and sit you to judge
me according to the law, and command me to be smitten contrary to the law?
4
And they that stood by said, Revile you God`s high priest?
5
And Paul said, I knew not, brethren, 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, 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 has 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
you have testified concerning me at Jerusalem, so must you 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 you with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him
down to you, as though you 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 to him one of the centurions, and said, Bring this young man to the
chief captain; for he has something to tell him.
18
So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and says, Paul the prisoner
called me to him, and asked me to bring this young man to you, who has something to
say to you.
19
And the chief captain took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, What
is it that you have to tell me?
20
And he said, The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring down Paul tomorrow to the council,
as though you would inquire somewhat more exactly concerning him.
21
Do not you therefore yield to 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 you.
22
So the chief captain let the young man go, charging him, Tell no man that you have
signified these things to me.
23
And he called to 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 to Felix the governor.
25
And he wrote a letter after this form:
26
Claudius Lysias to 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 to 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 you forthwith, charging his accusers also to speak against him before you.
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 you fully, said he, when your accusers also are come: and he commanded
him to be kept in Herod`s palace.