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.”

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

2 A nd the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.

The high priest Ananias commanded those standing beside him to strike 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 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?”

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

But the bystanders said, “Do you revile 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.’ ”

And 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.’”

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 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!”

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

As he said this, there occurred a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly 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, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.

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 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?”

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 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.

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.”

But 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

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.

When 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.

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

There were more than forty who formed this plot.

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.

They 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.

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, 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.”

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

But the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush, and he came and entered the barracks 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.”

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

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

The 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?”

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 ask you to bring Paul down tomorrow to the Council, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more thoroughly about him.

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.”

So 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.”

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

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 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.”

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

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

25 H e wrote a letter in the following manner:

And he wrote a letter having this form:

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

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

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.

“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.

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

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

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

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.

“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.”

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

So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders, 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.

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

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

When these had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to 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,

When he had read it, he asked from what province he was, and when he learned that he was from 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.

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