Acts 23

1Paul looked intently at the Sanhedrin and said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God with a completely clear conscience up to this day.”

2At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.

3Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, and yet in violation of the law you order me to be struck?”

4Those standing nearby said, “Do you dare insult God’s high priest?”

5Paul said, “Brothers, I did not know that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘Do not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”

6When Paul realized that one part of them were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he called out in the Sanhedrin, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead.”

7When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.

8For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and neither angel nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.

9There was a great uproar, and some of the scribes who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously, “We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”

10The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down, take him away from them by force, and bring him into the barracks.

11The following night the Lord stood beside Paul and said, “Take courage! For just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

12When it was day, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.

13There were more than forty who formed this plot.

14They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath to taste nothing until we have killed Paul.

15So now you and the Sanhedrin must notify the commander to bring him down to you, as though you intended to look into his case more thoroughly. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.”

16But the son of Paul’s sister heard about the ambush, and he went into the barracks and told Paul.

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

18So the centurion took him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner called me over and asked me to bring this young man to you, because he has something to tell you.”

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

20He said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the Sanhedrin tomorrow, as though they intended to inquire into his case more thoroughly.

21Do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in wait for him. They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are ready now, waiting only for your consent.”

22So the commander sent the young man away with the order, “Do not tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”

23Then he called two of his centurions and said, “Get two hundred soldiers ready to go to Caesarea at the third hour of the night, along with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen.

24Also provide mounts for Paul to ride, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.”

25He wrote a letter to this effect:

26“Claudius Lysias, to His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings.

27This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them when I came on the scene with the troops and rescued him, since I had learned that he is a Roman citizen.

28Because I wanted to know the charge they were bringing against him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin.

29I found that he was accused in connection with questions about their law, but that there was no charge against him deserving death or imprisonment.

30When I was informed that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once. I have also ordered his accusers to present their case against him before you.”

31So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul and brought him during the night to Antipatris.

32The next day they let the horsemen go on with him, while they returned to the barracks.

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

34After the governor read the letter, he asked what province Paul was from. When he learned that he was from Cilicia,

35he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers arrive.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s palace.