23 1 As Paul pleadeth his cause, 2 Ananias commandeth them to smite him. 7 Dissension among his accusers. 11 God encourageth him. 14 The Jews laying wait for Paul, 17 is declared unto the chief captain. 24 He sendeth him to Felix the Governor.

And [a]Paul beheld earnestly the Council, and said, Men and brethren, I have in all good conscience served God until this day.

[b]Then the high Priest Ananias commanded them that stood by, to smite him on the mouth.

[c]Then said Paul to him, God [d]will smite thee, thou [e]whited wall: for thou sittest to judge me according to the Law, and [f]transgressing the Law, commandest thou me to be smitten?

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

[g]Then said Paul, I knew not brethren, that he was the high Priest: for it is written, (A)Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.

[h]But when Paul perceived that the one part were of the Sadducees, and the other of the Pharisees, he cried in the Council, Men and brethren, (B)I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: I am accused of the hope and resurrection of the dead.

[i]And when he had said this, there was a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, so that the multitude was divided.

(C)[j]For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither [k]Angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.

[l]Then there was a great cry: and the [m]Scribes of the Pharisees’ part rose up, and strove, saying, We find none evil in this man: but if a spirit or an Angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.

10 [n]And when there was a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and take him from among them, and to bring him into the castle.

11 Now the night following, the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good courage, Paul, for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

12 [o]And when the day was come, certain of the Jews made an assembly, and bound themselves [p]with a curse, saying, that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

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

14 And they came to the chief Priests and Elders, and said, We have bound ourselves with a solemn curse, that we will eat nothing, until we have slain Paul.

15 Now therefore, [q]ye and the Council, signify to the chief captain, that he bring him forth unto you tomorrow, as though you would know something more perfectly of him, and we, or ever he come near will be ready to kill him.

16 But when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their laying await, he went, and entered into the castle, and told Paul.

17 [r]And Paul called one of the Centurions unto him, and said, Take this young man hence unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to show him.

18 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, which hath something to say unto thee.

19 Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went apart with him alone, and asked him, What hast thou to show me?

20 And he said, The Jews have conspired to desire thee, that thou wouldest bring forth Paul tomorrow into the Council, as though they would inquire somewhat of him more perfectly:

21 But let them not persuade thee: for there lie in wait for him of them, more than forty men, which have bound themselves with a curse, that they will neither eat nor drink, till they have killed him: and now are they ready, and wait for thy promise.

22 [s]The chief captain then let the young man depart, after he had charged him to utter it to no man, that he had [t]showed him these things.

23 And he called unto him two certain Centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers, that they may go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and two hundred with darts, at the third hour of the night:

24 And let them make ready an horse, that Paul being set on, may be brought safe unto Felix the governor.

25 And he wrote an Epistle in this manner:

26 [u]Claudius Lysias unto the most noble governor Felix sendeth greeting.

27 As this man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them, I came upon them with a garrison, and rescued him, perceiving that he was a Roman.

28 And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their Council.

29 There I perceived that he was accused of questions of their Law, but had no crime worthy of death, or of bonds.

30 And when it was showed me, how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent him straightway to thee, and commanded his accusers to speak before thee the things that they had against him. Farewell.

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

32 And the next day, they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned into the Castle.

33 Now when they came to Caesarea, they delivered the Epistle to the governor, and presented Paul also unto him.

34 So when the Governor had read it, he asked of what province he was: and when he understood that he was of Cilicia,

35 I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers also are come, and commanded him to be kept in Herod’s judgment hall.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 23:1 Paul against the false accusations of his enemies, setteth a good conscience, for proof whereof, he repeateth the whole course of his life.
  2. Acts 23:2 Hypocrites are constrained at length to betray themselves by their intemperance.
  3. Acts 23:3 It is lawful for us to complain of injuries, and to summon the wicked to the judgment seat of God, so that we do it without hatred, and with a quiet and peaceable mind.
  4. Acts 23:3 It appeareth plainly by the Greek plural, that Paul did not curse the high Priest, but only pronounce the punishment of God against him.
  5. Acts 23:3 This is a vehement and sharp speech, but yet not reproachful: For the godly may speak roundly, and yet be void of the bitter affection of a sharp and angry mind.
  6. Acts 23:3 For the Law commandeth the judge to hear the person that is accused patiently, and to pronounce the sentence advisedly.
  7. Acts 23:5 We must willingly and from the heart give honor to Magistrates, although they be tyrants.
  8. Acts 23:6 We may lawfully sometimes set the wicked together by the ears, that they may leave off to assault us, so that it be with no hindrance of the truth.
  9. Acts 23:7 The concord of the wicked is weak although they conspire together to oppress the truth.
  10. Acts 23:8 It is an old heresy of the Sadducees, to deny the substance of Angels and souls, and therewithall the resurrection of the dead.
  11. Acts 23:8 Natures that want bodies.
  12. Acts 23:9 The Lord when it pleaseth him, findeth defenders of his cause, even amongst his enemies.
  13. Acts 23:9 The Scribes’ office was a public office, and the name of the Pharisees was the name of a sect.
  14. Acts 23:10 God will not forsake his to the end.
  15. Acts 23:12 Such as are carried away with a foolish zeal, think that they may lie and murder, and do whatsoever mischief they list.
  16. Acts 23:12 They cursing and banning themselves, promised.
  17. Acts 23:15 Ye and the Senate requiring the same to be done, lest that the Tribune should think that it was demanded of him at some private man’s suit.
  18. Acts 23:17 The wisdom of the Spirit must be joined with simplicity.
  19. Acts 23:22 There is no counsel against the Lord and his servants.
  20. Acts 23:22 Greek, that thou hast showed these things to me.
  21. Acts 23:26 Lysias is suddenly made by the Lord Paul’s patron.

23 Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin(A) and said, “My brothers,(B) I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience(C) to this day.” At this the high priest Ananias(D) ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.(E) Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall!(F) You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!”(G)

Those who were standing near Paul said, “How dare you insult God’s high priest!”

Paul replied, “Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’[a](H)

Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees(I) and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers,(J) I am a Pharisee,(K) descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead.”(L) When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection,(M) and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe all these things.)

There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees(N) stood up and argued vigorously. “We find nothing wrong with this man,”(O) they said. “What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”(P) 10 The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.(Q)

11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage!(R) As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”(S)

The Plot to Kill Paul

12 The next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy(T) and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.(U) 13 More than forty men were involved in this plot. 14 They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.(V) 15 Now then, you and the Sanhedrin(W) petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.”

16 But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks(X) and told Paul.

17 Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.” 18 So he took him to the commander.

The centurion said, “Paul, the prisoner,(Y) sent for me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.”

19 The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside and asked, “What is it you want to tell me?”

20 He said: “Some Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin(Z) tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about him.(AA) 21 Don’t give in to them, because more than forty(AB) of them are waiting in ambush for him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him.(AC) They are ready now, waiting for your consent to their request.”

22 The commander dismissed the young man with this warning: “Don’t tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”

Paul Transferred to Caesarea

23 Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, “Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen[b] to go to Caesarea(AD) at nine tonight.(AE) 24 Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”(AF)

25 He wrote a letter as follows:

26 Claudius Lysias,

To His Excellency,(AG) Governor Felix:

Greetings.(AH)

27 This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him,(AI) but I came with my troops and rescued him,(AJ) for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen.(AK) 28 I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin.(AL) 29 I found that the accusation had to do with questions about their law,(AM) but there was no charge against him(AN) that deserved death or imprisonment. 30 When I was informed(AO) of a plot(AP) to be carried out against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also ordered his accusers(AQ) to present to you their case against him.

31 So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul with them during the night and brought him as far as Antipatris. 32 The next day they let the cavalry(AR) go on with him, while they returned to the barracks.(AS) 33 When the cavalry(AT) arrived in Caesarea,(AU) they delivered the letter to the governor(AV) and handed Paul over to him. 34 The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,(AW) 35 he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers(AX) get here.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard(AY) in Herod’s palace.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 23:5 Exodus 22:28
  2. Acts 23:23 The meaning of the Greek for this word is uncertain.