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

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

2 A nd the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by 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 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?”

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

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

5 T hen 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.’ ”

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 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!”

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 A nd when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the assembly 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 Sadducees say that there is no resurrection—and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.

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

9 T hen 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.”

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 N ow 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

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 B ut 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.”

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 A nd 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.

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 N ow there were more than forty who had formed this conspiracy.

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

14 T hey 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.

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 N ow 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.”

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 S o when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their ambush, he went and entered 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 called one of the centurions to him and said, “Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to tell 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 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.”

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 hen the commander took him by the hand, went aside, and asked privately, “What is it that you have to tell 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 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.

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 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.”

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

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 A nd 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;

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

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

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

25 H e wrote a letter in the following manner:

And he wrote a letter after this manner:

26 C laudius Lysias, To the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings.

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. Coming with the troops I rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.

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

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

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

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 A nd 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

34 A nd when the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. And when he understood 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 you when your accusers also have come.” And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s 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.