RKJNT - Acts - 23

23:1  And Paul, earnestly looking at the council, said, Brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.

23:2  And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.

23:3  Then Paul said to him, God shall strike you, you whitewashed wall: do you sit to judge me according to the law, yet contrary to the law command me to be struck?

23:4  And those who stood by said, Do you revile God's high priest?

23:5  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.

23:6  But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: it is for the hope of the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.

23:7  And when he had said this, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the assembly was divided.

23:8  For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angels, or spirits: but the Pharisees acknowledge both.

23:9  And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' party arose, and argued vigorously, saying, We find no evil in this man: what if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?

23:10  And when there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul should be pulled in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks.

23:11  And the next night the Lord stood by him, and said, Take courage: for as you have testified of me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness in Rome.

23:12  And when it was day, the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.

23:13  And there were more than forty who made this conspiracy.

23:14  And 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 slain Paul.

23:15  Now therefore, you and the council notify the commander to bring him down to you tomorrow, as though you would enquire more thoroughly concerning him: and we, before he ever comes near, are ready to kill him.

23:16  And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered the barracks, and told Paul.

23:17  Then Paul called one of the centurions to him, and said, Take this young man to the commander: for he has a certain thing to tell him.

23:18  So he took him, and brought him to the commander, and said, Paul the prisoner called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, as he has something to say to you.

23:19  Then the commander took him by the hand, and drew him aside privately, and asked, What is it that you have to tell me?

23:20  And he said, The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down tomorrow to the council, as though they would enquire of him more thoroughly.

23:21  But do not yield to them: for there lie in wait for him more than forty men, who have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink until they have killed him: and now they are ready, waiting for a promise from you.

23:22  So the commander let the young man depart, and charged him, Tell no man that you have revealed these things to me.

23:23  And he called two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea, at the third hour of the night;

23:24  And provide mounts for Paul to ride, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.

23:25  And he wrote a letter after this manner:

23:26  Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix, greetings.

23:27  This man was taken by the Jews, and would have been killed by them: then I came with the troops, and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.

23:28  And when I wanted to learn the reason they accused him, I brought him down to their council:

23:29  And I perceived that he was accused regarding questions of their law, but there was no charge against him worthy of death or imprisonment.

23:30  And when I was told that there was a plot against the man, I immediately sent him to you, and also commanded his accusers to state before you whatever they have against him.

23:31  Then the soldiers, as it was commanded, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.

23:32  On the next day they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the barracks.

23:33  When they came to Caesarea, and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul before him.

23:34  And when he had read the letter, he asked what province he was from. And when he learned that he was from Cilicia;

23:35  He said, I will hear you when your accusers have come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's palace.