Acts 23
Forty Men Under an Oath Not to Eat
← Acts 22 · Acts: all chapters · Acts 24 →
Paul and the High Priest
23:1Paul looked intently at the council and said, “Men, brothers, I have conducted my life before God with an entirely good conscience to this day.”
23:2The high priest Ananias ordered those standing beside him to strike his mouth.
23:3Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, whitewashed wall! You sit judging me according to the law, yet in violation of the law you order me struck?”
23:4Those standing nearby said, “Are you insulting God’s high priest?”
23:5Paul said, “Brothers, I did not know that he was high priest, for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”
Pharisees and Sadducees Divided
23:6When Paul perceived that one part consisted of Sadducees and the other of Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men, brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am being judged concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead.”
23:7As he said this, dissension arose between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the multitude was divided.
23:8For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection, nor angel nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge both.
23:9A great outcry arose, and some scribes of the Pharisees’ party stood up and argued fiercely, saying, “We find nothing wrong in this man. But if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him—”
23:10As the dissension grew great, the tribune feared Paul would be torn apart by them. He ordered the troops to go down, snatch him from their midst, and bring him into the barracks.
The Following Night the Lord Stood by Him
23:11The following night the Lord stood beside him and said, “Take courage, for as you have borne solemn witness about Me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”
The Plot to Kill Paul
23:12When day came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under a curse, saying they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.
23:13More than forty had made this conspiracy.
23:14They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves under a solemn curse to taste nothing until we have killed Paul.
23:15Now, therefore, you and the council should inform the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you intended to determine his case more accurately. We are ready to kill him before he comes near.”
The Plot Disclosed
23:16Paul’s sister’s son heard about the ambush, came and entered the barracks, and reported it to Paul.
23:17Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to report to him.”
23:18So he took him and brought him to the tribune, saying, “The prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, since he has something to tell you.”
23:19The tribune took him by the hand, withdrew privately, and asked, “What is it that you have to report to me?”
23:20He said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though it intended to inquire more accurately about him.
23:21But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty men among them are lying in wait for him. They have bound themselves under a curse neither to eat nor to drink until they kill him, and now they are ready, awaiting your agreement.”
23:22The tribune dismissed the young man, ordering him, “Tell no one that you have disclosed these things to me.”
Paul Sent to Caesarea by Night
23:23He called two of the centurions and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen, from the third hour of the night.”
23:24He also ordered mounts to be provided so that they could put Paul on them and bring him safely to Felix the governor.
The Letter of Claudius Lysias
23:25He wrote a letter in this form:
23:26“Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix: greetings.
23:27This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them when I came with the troops and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.
23:28Wishing to learn the reason they accused him, I brought him down to their council.
23:29I found him accused over questions of their law, but under no charge deserving death or imprisonment.
23:30When a plot against the man was disclosed to me, I immediately sent him to you, also ordering his accusers to state their case against him before you.”
Paul Delivered to the Governor
23:31So the soldiers, according to their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.
23:32The next day they left the horsemen to go on with him and returned to the barracks.
23:33When the horsemen entered Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and also presented Paul before him.
23:34He read it, asked what province Paul was from, and learned that he was from Cilicia.
23:35He said, “I will hear you fully when your accusers also arrive,” and ordered him kept under guard in Herod’s praetorium.
← Acts 22 · Acts: all chapters · Acts 24 →
Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V2 · working draft awaiting specialist review.