Worsley - Acts - 23

23:1  and Paul looking earnestly at the sanhedrim, said, "Brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God even to this day:"

23:2  but the high priest Ananias ordered those that stood next him, to smite him on the mouth.

23:3  Then said Paul to him, "God will smite thee, thou whited wall: dost thou sit to judge me according to the law, and contrary to the law commandest me to be smitten?"

23:4  But they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high-priest?

23:5  And Paul said, I was not aware, brethren, that it was the high-priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.

23:6  But Paul, knowing that the one part were sadducees, and the other pharisees, cried out in the sanhedrim, "Brethren, I am a pharisee, the son of a pharisee: for the hope of a resurrection of the dead I am now prosecuted."

23:7  Upon his saying this, there rose a contention between the pharisees and the sadducees; and the people were divided.

23:8  For the sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but the pharisees acknowledge both.

23:9  So there was a great clamor: and the scribes that were of the party of the pharisees rose up and contended, saying, We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.

23:10  But as there arose much contention, the tribune fearing least Paul should be torn in pieces by them, ordered a party of soldiers to go down, and take him by force out of the midst of them, and to bring him into the castle.

23:11  And the following night, the Lord standing by him said, Paul, be of good courage; for as thou hast testified concerning me at Jerusalem, so must thou also bear testimony at Rome.

23:12  And when it was day, some of the Jews, having formed a conspiracy, bound themselves with a curse, saying, that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

23:13  And they were more than forty that had made this oath:

23:14  who came to the chief priests and the elders, and said, "We have bound ourselves by a curse to eat nothing till we have killed Paul.

23:15  Now therefore do ye with the rest of the sanhedrim signify to the tribune, that he would bring him down to you to-morrow, as if you would examine more accurately some things concerning him: and we are ready to dispatch him before he come near you."

23:16  But Paul's sister's son, hearing of the ambush, came and entered into the castle, and told Paul.

23:17  Then Paul called one of the centurions to him, and said, Introduce this young man to the tribune; for he hath something to tell him.

23:18  So he took him and brought him to the tribune, and said, Paul the prisoner called me to him, and desired me to introduce this young man unto thee, as having something to say to thee.

23:19  And the tribune took him by the hand, and retiring into a private apartment asked him, What is it which thou hast to tell me?

23:20  And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee, that thou wouldest bring down Paul to-morrow to the council, as if they would inquire something more strictly concerning him.

23:21  But do not thou comply with them: for there lie in wait for him more than forty men of them, who have bound themselves with a curse neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him: and they are now ready, waiting for an order from thee.

23:22  Then the tribune dismissed the young man, charging him, Tell no one that thou hast discovered these things to me.

23:23  And he called two of the centurions to him, and said, Get ready two hundred soldiers to go to Cesarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen, by the third hour of the night.

23:24  And provide beasts, that they may set Paul on and bring him safe to Felix the governor.

23:25  And he wrote a letter to this effect:

23:26  Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.

23:27  This man being seized by the Jews, and about to be killed by them, I came upon them with some soldiers and rescued him: for I understand that he is a Roman.

23:28  But desiring to know the cause for which they accused him, I brought him down into their council:

23:29  and I found he was accused about questions of their law, but had no charge against him deserving death or bonds.

23:30  But an ambush, which was going to be laid for the man by the Jews, being discovered to me, immediately I sent him to thee, telling his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell.

23:31  The soldiers therefore, according to the orders given them, took up Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.

23:32  And the next day they returned to the castle, leaving the horsemen to go with him;

23:33  who, when they came into Cesarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.

23:34  And when the governor had read the letter, and asked of what province he was; being informed that he was of Cilicia, he said,

23:35  I will hear thee, when thine accusers are also come. And he ordered him to be kept in Herod's palace.