0 SAB Acts 23

Acts

CHAPTER 23

Paul is tried by the council (and claims to be a Pharisee)
23:1-10

1 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.

Paul spoke to the council, saying,

I've never done anything wrong in my entire life.

2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.

And the high priest told someone to smite him on the mouth.

3Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?

Paul said to the high priest,

God will smite you, you whited wall.

4 And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest?

Those who stood nearby said to Paul,

Is that how you talk to the high priest?

5 Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.

Paul said,

I didn't know he was the high priest.

Scripture says,

Don't speak against the ruler of your people.

6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

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

8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.

Paul saw that the council was divided between Sadducees and Pharisees, so he said,

I'm a Pharisee and the son of a Pharisee.

9 And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, 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.

10 And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.

Then the Pharisees and Sadducees began to fight.

And the Pharisees stood up and said,

We find no evil in this man. Maybe a spirit or angel has spoken to him.

Let's don't fight against God.

The captain feared that they would pull Paul into pieces,

so he had his soldiers bring him to the castle.

Jesus visits Paul (and says, "Be happy")
23:11

11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

That night Jesus stood next to Paul, and said to him,

Be happy. You spoke about me in Jerusalem. Soon you'll do it in Rome.

A Jewish conspiracy against Paul
(and the first hunger strike)
23:12-35

12 And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

13 And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.

The next day, more than forty Jews vowed not to eat or drink

until they had killed Paul. [1]

14 And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.

They went to the chief priests and elders and said,

We won't eat or drink until we have killed Paul.

15 Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.

Tell the captain to bring Paul to the council tomorrow.

Then we'll kill him.

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

But Paul's nephew warned Paul about the plot.

17 Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him.

18 So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee.

Paul called one of the centurions and said to him,

Bring this young man to the captain.

He has something to tell him.

19 Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that thou hast to tell me?

So the centurion took Paul's nephew to the captain.

The captain asked him,

What do you have to tell me?

20 And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly.

Paul's nephew said,

The Jews want you to bring Paul to the council tomorrow.

21 But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee.

22 So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast shewed these things to me.

But don't do it, because there are more than forty Jews who have vowed not to eat or drink until they have killed Paul.

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

The captain called two centurions and said to them,

Take 200 soldiers, 70 horsemen, and 200 spearmen at around the third hour of the night.

24 And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.

Put Paul on some beasts and take him to Felix in Caesarea.

25 And he wrote a letter after this manner:

26 Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.

Then he wrote a letter that read:

Greetings from Claudius Lysias to Felix,

27This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.

28 And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:

29 Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.

30 And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell.

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

32 On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:

This man was about to be killed by the Jews,

but I rescued him, since he is a Roman citizen.

Farewell.

33 Who, when they came to Caesarea and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.

So the soldiers delivered Paul and the letter to Felix in Caesarea.

34 And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia;

35 I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment hall.

When the governor read the letter, he said to Paul,

I'll hear from you when your accusers come.

And he sent Paul to Herod's judgment hall.

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