1 T hen Paul, gazing earnestly at the council (Sanhedrin), said, Brethren, I have lived before God, doing my duty with a perfectly good conscience until this very day '> as a citizen, a true and loyal Jew].

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

2 A t this the high priest Ananias ordered those who stood near him to strike him on the mouth.

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

3 T hen Paul said to him, God is about to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit as a judge to try me in accordance with the Law, and yet in defiance of the Law you order me to be struck?

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 T hose who stood near exclaimed, Do you rail at and insult the high priest of God?

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

5 A nd Paul said, I was not conscious, brethren, that he was a high priest; for the Scripture says, You shall not speak ill of a ruler of your people.

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 B ut Paul, when he perceived that one part of them were Sadducees and the other part Pharisees, cried out to the council (Sanhedrin), Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; it is with regard to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am indicted and being judged.

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 S o when he had said this, an angry dispute arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the whole assemblage was divided.

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

8 F or the Sadducees hold that there is no resurrection, nor angel nor spirit, but the Pharisees declare openly and speak out freely, acknowledging them both.

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

9 T hen a great uproar ensued, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ party stood up and thoroughly fought the case, and declaring, We find nothing evil or wrong in this man. But if a spirit or an angel spoke to him—? Let us not fight against God!

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 A nd when the strife became more and more tense and violent, the commandant, fearing that Paul would be torn in pieces by them, ordered the troops to go down and take him forcibly from among them and conduct him back into the barracks.

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 A nd following night the Lord stood beside Paul and said, Take courage, Paul, for as you have borne faithful witness concerning Me at Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.

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 N ow when daylight came, the Jews formed a plot and bound themselves by an oath and under a curse neither to eat nor drink till they had done away with Paul.

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 T here were more than forty, who formed this conspiracy.

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

14 A nd they went to the chief priests and elders, saying, We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath and under a curse not to taste any food until we have slain Paul.

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 S o now you, along with the council (Sanhedrin), give notice to the commandant to bring down to you, as if you were going to investigate his case more accurately. But we are ready to slay him before he comes near.

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 B ut the son of Paul’s sister heard of their intended attack, and he went and got into the barracks and told Paul.

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

17 T hen Paul, calling in one of the centurions, said, Take this young man to the commandant, for he has something to report to him.

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 S o he took him and conducted him to the commandant and said, Paul the prisoner called me to him and requested me to conduct this young man to you, for he has something to report to you.

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 T he commandant took him by the hand, and going aside with him, asked privately, What is it that you have to report to me?

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 A nd he replied, The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council (Sanhedrin) tomorrow, as if intending to examine him more exactly.

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 B ut do not yield to their persuasion, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush waiting for him, having bound themselves by an oath and under a curse neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him; and even now they are all ready, waiting for your promise.

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 S o the commandant sent the youth away, charging him, Do not disclose to anyone that you have given me this information.

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 T hen summoning two of the centurions, he said, Have two hundred footmen ready by the third hour of the night (about 9: 00 p. m.) to go as far as Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen.

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 A lso provide beasts for mounts for Paul to ride, and bring him in safety to Felix the governor.

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

25 A nd he wrote a letter having this message:

And he wrote a letter after this manner:

26 C laudius Lysias sends greetings to His Excellency Felix the governor.

Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.

27 T his man was seized by the Jews, and was about to be killed by them when I came upon them with the troops and rescued him, because I learned that he is a Roman citizen.

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 A nd wishing to know the exact accusation which they were making against him, I brought him down before their council (Sanhedrin),

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

29 I found that he was charged in regard to questions of their own law, but he was accused of nothing that would call for death or for imprisonment.

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 w hen it was pointed out to me that there would be a conspiracy against the man, I sent him to you immediately, directing his accusers also to present before you their charge against him.

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 S o the soldiers, in compliance with their instructions, took Paul and conducted him during the night to Antipatris.

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

32 A nd the next day they returned to the barracks, leaving the mounted men to proceed with him.

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

33 W hen these came to Caesarea and gave the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul before him.

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

34 H aving read the letter, he asked to what province belonged. When he discovered that he was from Cilicia,

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 H e said, I will hear your case fully when your accusers also have come. And he ordered that an eye be kept on him in Herod’s palace (the Praetorium).

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