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

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

2 T he high priest, Ananias, commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the 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 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?”

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 T hose who stood by said, “Do you malign God’s high priest?”

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

5 P aul 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.’”

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 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!”

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 W hen he had said this, an argument arose between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly 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 the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess all of these.

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

9 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!”

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 W hen 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.

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 T he 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.”

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 W hen 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.

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 T here were more than forty people who had made this conspiracy.

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

14 T hey 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.

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, 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.”

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 heard of their lying in wait, and he came and entered into the barracks and told Paul.

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

17 P aul summoned one of the centurions, and said, “Bring this young man to the commanding officer, for he has something to tell 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 S o 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.”

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

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

20 H e 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.

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 T herefore 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.”

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 S o the commanding officer let the young man go, charging him, “Tell no one that you have revealed 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 H e 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.”

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

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

25 H e wrote a letter like this:

He wrote a letter in the following manner:

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

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

27 “ 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.

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 D esiring to know the cause why 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 I found him to be accused about questions of their law, but not to be charged with anything worthy of death or of imprisonment.

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

30 W hen 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.”

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 S o the soldiers, carrying out their orders, 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 B ut on the next day they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the barracks.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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