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

Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.”

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

And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.

3 T hen 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?

Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?”

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

And those who stood by said, “Do you revile God’s high priest?”

5 A nd 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.

Then Paul said, “I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’ ”

6 B ut Paul, knowing that the one part 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 dead.

But when Paul perceived that 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; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!”

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

And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the assembly was divided.

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

For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection—and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.

9 A nd 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 …

Then there arose a loud outcry. And the scribes of the Pharisees’ party arose and protested, saying, “We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God.”

10 A nd 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 into the fortress.

Now when there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul might be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks. The Plot Against Paul

11 B ut 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.

But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.”

12 A nd 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.

And when it was day, some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

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

Now there were more than forty who had formed this conspiracy.

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

They came to the chief priests and elders, and said, “We have bound ourselves under a great oath that we will eat nothing until we have killed Paul.

15 N ow 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.

Now you, therefore, together with the council, suggest to the commander that he be brought down to you tomorrow, as though you were going to make further inquiries concerning him; but we are ready to kill him before he comes near.”

16 B ut Paul's sister's son, having heard of the lying in wait, came and entered into the fortress and reported to Paul.

So when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their ambush, he went and entered the barracks and told Paul.

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

Then Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, “Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to tell him.”

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

So he took him and brought him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to say to you.”

19 A nd 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?

Then the commander took him by the hand, went aside, and asked privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?”

20 A nd 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.

And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask that you bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire more fully about him.

21 D o 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.

But do not yield to them, for more than forty of them lie in wait for him, men who have bound themselves by an oath that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him; and now they are ready, waiting for the promise from you.”

22 T he chiliarch then dismissed the youth, commanding, Utter to no one that thou hast represented these things to me.

So the commander let the young man depart, and commanded him, “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.” Sent to Felix

23 A nd having called to 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.

And he called for two centurions, saying, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at the third hour of the night;

24 A nd to provide beasts, that they might set Paul on them and carry safe through to Felix the governor,

and provide mounts to set Paul on, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.”

25 h aving written a letter, couched in this form:

He wrote a letter in the following manner:

26 C laudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix, greeting.

Claudius Lysias, To the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings.

27 T his man, having been taken by the Jews, and being about to be killed by them, I came up with the military and took out, having learned that he was a Roman.

This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them. Coming with the troops I rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.

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

And when I wanted to know the reason they accused him, I brought him before their council.

29 w hom I found to be accused of questions of their law, but to have no charge laid against him worthy of death or of bonds.

I found out that he was accused concerning questions of their law, but had nothing charged against him deserving of death or chains.

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

And when it was told me that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him immediately to you, and also commanded his accusers to state before you the charges against him. Farewell.

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

Then the soldiers, as they were commanded, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.

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

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

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

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

34 A nd having read, and asked of what eparchy he was, and learned that of Cilicia,

And when the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. And when he understood that he was from Cilicia,

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

he said, “I will hear you when your accusers also have come.” And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s Praetorium.