Historical

23 ¹ Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, ‘Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience^(A) to this day.’ ² The high priest Ananias ordered those who were standing next to him to strike him on the mouth.^{(B) 3} Then Paul said to him, ‘God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! You are sitting there judging me according to the law, and yet in violation of the law are you ordering me to be struck? ’^(C)

⁴ Those standing nearby said, ‘Do you dare revile God’s high priest? ’

⁵ ‘I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest,’ replied Paul. ‘For it is written, You must not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’^{[a](D) 6} When Paul realised that one part of them were Sadducees and the other part were Pharisees, he cried out in the Sanhedrin, ‘Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees.^(E) I am being judged because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead! ’^{(F) 7} When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. ⁸ For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection,^(G) and neither angel nor spirit, but the Pharisees affirm them all.

⁹ The shouting grew loud, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’^(H) party got up and argued vehemently, ‘We find nothing evil in this man.^(I) What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him? ’^[b](J)

¹⁰ When the dispute became violent, the commander feared that Paul might be torn apart by them and ordered the troops to go down, take him away from them, and bring him into the barracks.^{(K) 11} The following night, the Lord stood by him and said, ‘Have courage! For as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so it is necessary for you to testify in Rome.’^(L)

The Plot against Paul

¹² When it was morning, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.^{(M) 13} There were more than forty who had formed this plot. ¹⁴ These men went to the chief priests and elders and said, ‘We have bound ourselves under a solemn curse that we won’t eat anything until we have killed Paul. ¹⁵ So now you, along with the Sanhedrin, make a request to the commander that he bring him down to you^[c] as if you were going to investigate his case more thoroughly. But, before he gets near, we are ready to kill him.’^(N)

¹⁶ But the son of Paul’s sister, hearing about their ambush, came and entered the barracks and reported it to Paul. ¹⁷ Paul called one of the centurions and said, ‘Take this young man to the commander, because he has something to report to him.’

¹⁸ So he took him, brought him to the commander, and said, ‘The prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, because he has something to tell you.’

¹⁹ The commander took him by the hand, led him aside, and enquired privately, ‘What is it you have to report to me? ’

²⁰ ‘The Jews,’ he said, ‘have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the Sanhedrin tomorrow, as though they are going to hold a somewhat more careful enquiry about him. ²¹ Don’t let them persuade you, because there are more than forty of them lying in ambush – men who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, waiting for your consent.’^(O)

²² So the commander dismissed the young man and instructed him, ‘Don’t tell anyone that you have informed me about this.’

To Caesarea by Night

²³ He summoned two of his centurions and said, ‘Get two hundred soldiers ready with seventy cavalry and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight.^{[d](P) 24} Also provide mounts to ride so that Paul may be brought safely to Felix the governor.’

²⁵ He wrote the following letter:^[e]

²⁶ Claudius Lysias,

To the most excellent governor Felix:

Greetings.^(Q)

²⁷ When this man had been seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, I arrived with my troops and rescued him because I learned that he is a Roman citizen.^{(R) 28} Wanting to know the charge they were accusing him of, I brought him down before their Sanhedrin. ²⁹ I found out that the accusations were concerning questions of their law,^(S) and that there was no charge that merited death or imprisonment.^{(T) 30} When I was informed that there was a plot against the man,^[f](U) I sent him to you straight away. I also ordered his accusers^(V) to state their case against him in your presence.^[g]

³¹ So the soldiers took Paul during the night and brought him to Antipatris as they were ordered. ³² The next day, they returned to the barracks, allowing the cavalry to go on with him. ³³ When these men entered Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.^{(W) 34} After he^[h] read it, he asked what province he was from. When he learned he was from Cilicia,^{(X) 35} he said, ‘I will give you a hearing whenever your accusers also get here.’ He ordered that he be kept under guard in Herod’s palace.^[i](Y)

The Accusation against Paul

24 Five days later Ananias^(Z) the high priest came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus. These men presented their case against Paul to the governor.^{(AA) 2} When Paul was called in, Tertullus began to accuse him and said, ‘We enjoy great peace because of you, and reforms are taking place for the benefit of this nation because of your foresight. ³ We acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellent^(AB) Felix, with utmost gratitude. ⁴ But, so that I will not burden you any further, I request that you would be kind enough to give us a brief hearing. ⁵ For we have found this man to be a plague,^(AC) an agitator^(AD) among all the Jews throughout the Roman world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.^{(AE) 6} He even tried to desecrate the temple, and so we apprehended him.^{[j] 8} By examining him yourself you will be able to discern the truth about these charges we are bringing against him.’ ⁹ The Jews also joined in the attack, alleging that these things were true.

Paul’s Defence before Felix

¹⁰ When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied, ‘Because I know you have been a judge of this nation for many years, I am glad to offer my defence in what concerns me.^{(AF) 11} You can verify for yourself that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem.^{(AG) 12} They didn’t find me arguing with anyone or causing a disturbance among the crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or anywhere in the city.^{(AH) 13} Neither can they prove the charges they are now making against me. ¹⁴ But I admit this to you: I worship the God of my ancestors according to the Way,^(AI) which they call a sect, believing everything that is in accordance with the law and written in the prophets.^{(AJ) 15} I have a hope in God, which these men themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection,^[k](AK) both of the righteous and the unrighteous.^{(AL) 16} I always strive to have a clear conscience^(AM) towards God and men. ¹⁷ After many years, I came to bring charitable gifts and offerings to my people.^{(AN) 18} While I was doing this, some Jews from Asia found me ritually purified in the temple, without a crowd and without any uproar.^{(AO) 19} It is they who ought to be here before you to bring charges, if they have anything against me. ²⁰ Or let these men here state what wrongdoing they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin, ²¹ other than this one statement I shouted while standing among them, “Today I am on trial before you concerning the resurrection of the dead.” ’

The Verdict Postponed

²² Since Felix was well informed about the Way,^(AP) he adjourned the hearing, saying, ‘When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.’ ²³ He ordered that the centurion keep Paul under guard, though he could have some freedom, and that he should not prevent any of his friends from meeting^[l] his needs.^(AQ)

²⁴ Several days later, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and listened to him on the subject of faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁵ Now as he spoke about righteousness, self-control, and the judgement to come,^(AR) Felix became afraid and replied, ‘Leave for now, but when I have an opportunity I’ll call for you.’ ²⁶ At the same time he was also hoping that Paul would offer him money.^[m] So he sent for him quite often and conversed with him.

²⁷ After two years had passed, Porcius Festus^(AS) succeeded Felix, and because Felix wanted to do the Jews a favour,^(AT) he left Paul in prison.^(AU)

Appeal to Caesar

25 Three days after Festus arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.^{(AV) 2} The chief priests and the leaders of the Jews presented their case against Paul to him; and they appealed,^{(AW) 3} asking for a favour against Paul, that Festus summon him to Jerusalem. They were, in fact, preparing an ambush along the road to kill him. ⁴ Festus, however, answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to go there shortly.^{(AX) 5} ‘Therefore,’ he said, ‘let those of you who have authority go down with me and accuse him, if he has done anything wrong.’

⁶ When he had spent not more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea. The next day, seated at the tribunal, he commanded Paul to be brought in.^{(AY) 7} When he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him and brought many serious charges that they were not able to prove.^{(AZ) 8} Then Paul made his defence: ‘Neither against the Jewish law,^(BA) nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I sinned in any way.’

⁹ But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favour,^(BB) replied to Paul, ‘Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to be tried before me there on these charges? ’

¹⁰ Paul replied, ‘I am standing at Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as even you yourself know very well. ¹¹ If then I did anything wrong and am deserving of death, I am not trying to escape death; but if there is nothing to what these men accuse me of, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar! ’^(BC)

¹² Then after Festus conferred with his council, he replied, ‘You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you will go.’

King Agrippa and Bernice Visit Festus

¹³ Several days later, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea and paid a courtesy call on Festus. ¹⁴ Since they were staying there several days, Festus presented Paul’s case to the king, saying, ‘There’s a man who was left as a prisoner by Felix. ¹⁵ When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews presented their case and asked that he be condemned.^{(BD) 16} I answered them that it is not the Roman custom to give someone up^[n] before the accused faces the accusers and has an opportunity for a defence against the charges.^{(BE) 17} So when they had assembled here, I did not delay. The next day I took my seat at the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought in. ¹⁸ The accusers stood up but brought no charge against him of the evils I was expecting. ¹⁹ Instead they had some disagreements^(BF) with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, a dead man Paul claimed to be alive. ²⁰ Since I was at a loss in a dispute over such things, I asked him if he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding these matters. ²¹ But when Paul appealed to be held for trial by the Emperor,^[o] I ordered him to be kept in custody until I could send him to Caesar.’

²² Agrippa said to Festus, ‘I would like to hear the man myself.’

‘Tomorrow you will hear him,’ he replied.^(BG)

Paul before Agrippa

²³ So the next day, Agrippa and Bernice^(BH) came with great pomp and entered the auditorium with the military commanders and prominent men of the city. When Festus gave the command, Paul was brought in. ²⁴ Then Festus said, ‘King Agrippa and all men present with us, you see this man. The whole Jewish community has appealed to me concerning him, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he should not live any longer.^{(BI) 25} I found that he had not done anything deserving of death, but when he himself appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.^{(BJ) 26} I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore, I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after this examination is over, I may have something to write. ²⁷ For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner without indicating the charges against him.’