1 P aul, looking intently at the Council, said, “ Brethren, I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day.”

Paul, looking steadfastly at the council, said, “Brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience until today.”

2 T he high priest Ananias commanded those standing beside him to strike him on the mouth.

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

3 T hen Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to try me according to the Law, and in violation of the Law order me to be struck?”

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 B ut the bystanders said, “Do you revile God’s high priest?”

Those who stood by said, “Do you malign God’s high priest?”

5 A nd Paul said, “I was not aware, brethren, that he was high priest; for it is written, ‘ You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”

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 B ut perceiving that one group were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, Paul began crying out in the Council, “ Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!”

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 A s he said this, there occurred a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.

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

8 F or the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.

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

9 A nd there occurred a great uproar; and some of the scribes of the Pharisaic party stood up and began to argue heatedly, saying, “ We find nothing wrong with this man; suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”

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 A nd as a great dissension was developing, the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them and ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force, and bring him into the barracks.

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 B ut on the night immediately following, the Lord stood at his side and said, “ Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.” A Conspiracy to Kill Paul

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 W hen it was day, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.

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 T here were more than forty who formed this plot.

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

14 T hey came to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have bound ourselves under a solemn oath to taste nothing until we have killed Paul.

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 N ow therefore, you and the Council notify the commander to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case by a more thorough investigation; and we for our part are ready to slay him before he comes near the place.”

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 B ut the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush, and he came and entered the barracks and told Paul.

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

17 P aul called one of the centurions to him and said, “Lead this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to him.”

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

18 S o he took him and led him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to lead this young man to you since he has something to tell you.”

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 T he commander took him by the hand and stepping aside, began to inquire of him privately, “What is it that you have to report to me?”

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

20 A nd he said, “ The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down tomorrow to the Council, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more thoroughly about him.

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 S o do not listen to them, for more than forty of them are lying in wait for him who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they slay him; and now they are ready and waiting for the promise from you.”

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 S o the commander let the young man go, instructing him, “Tell no one that you have notified me of these things.” Paul Moved to Caesarea

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

23 A nd he called to him two of the centurions and said, “Get two hundred soldiers ready by the third hour of the night to proceed to Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen.”

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.”

24 T hey were also to provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to Felix the governor.

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

25 A nd he wrote a letter having this form:

He wrote a letter like this:

26 “ Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix, greetings.

“Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings.

27 “ When this man was arrested by the Jews and was about to be slain by them, I came up to them with the troops and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.

“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 “ And wanting to ascertain the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their Council;

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

29 a nd I found him to be accused over questions about their Law, but under no accusation deserving death or imprisonment.

I found him to be accused about questions of their law, but not to be charged with anything worthy of death or of imprisonment.

30 “ When I was informed that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, also instructing his accusers to bring charges against him before you.”

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 S o the soldiers, in accordance with their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.

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

32 B ut the next day, leaving the horsemen to go on with him, they returned to the barracks.

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

33 W hen these had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.

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

34 W hen he had read it, he asked from what province he was, and when he learned that he was from Cilicia,

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

35 h e said, “I will give you a hearing after your accusers arrive also,” giving orders for him to be kept in Herod’s Praetorium.

“I will hear you fully when your accusers also arrive.” He commanded that he be kept in Herod’s palace.