23:1 And Paul, looking stedfastly on the council, said, Brethren, I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day.
23:1 And Paul, looking intently at the Council, said, "Brethren, I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day."

23:2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.
23:2 And the high priest Ananias commanded those standing beside him to strike him on the mouth.

23:3 Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: and sittest thou to judge me according to the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?
23:3 Then Paul said to him, "God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! And do you sit to try me according to the Law, and in violation of the Law order me to be struck?"

23:4 And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest?
23:4 But the bystanders said, "Do you revile God's high priest?"

23:5 And Paul said, I knew not, brethren, that he was high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of a ruler of thy people.
23:5 And Paul said, "I was not aware, brethren, that he was high priest; for it is written, 'YOU SHALL NOT SPEAK EVIL OF A RULER OF YOUR PEOPLE.'"

23:6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees: touching the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
23:6 But perceiving that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, Paul [began] crying out in the Council, "Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!"

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

23:8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.
23:8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit; but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.

23:9 And there arose a great clamor: and some of the scribes of the Pharisees part stood up, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: and what if a spirit hath spoken to him, or an angel?
23:9 And there arose a great uproar; and some of the scribes of the Pharisaic party stood up and [began] to argue heatedly, saying, "We find nothing wrong with this man; suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?"

23:10 And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should be torn in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the castle.
23:10 And as a great dissension was developing, the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them and ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force, and bring him into the barracks.

23:11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer: for as thou hast testified concerning me at Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
23:11 But on the night [immediately] following, the Lord stood at his side and said, "Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also."

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

23:13 And they were more than forty that made this conspiracy.
23:13 And there were more than forty who formed this plot.

23:14 And they came to the chief priests and the elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, to taste nothing until we have killed Paul.
23:14 And they came to the chief priests and the elders, and said, "We have bound ourselves under a solemn oath to taste nothing until we have killed Paul.

23:15 Now therefore do ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you, as though ye would judge of his case more exactly: and we, before he comes near, are ready to slay him.
23:15 "Now, therefore, you and the Council notify the commander to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case by a more thorough investigation; and we for our part are ready to slay him before he comes near [the place.]"

23:16 But Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, and he came and entered into the castle and told Paul.
23:16 But the son of Paul's sister heard of their ambush, and he came and entered the barracks and told Paul.

23:17 And Paul called unto him one of the centurions, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain; for he hath something to tell him.
23:17 And Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, "Lead this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to him."

23:18 So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and saith, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and asked me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say to thee.
23:18 So he took him and led him to the commander and *said, "Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to lead this young man to you since he has something to tell you."

23:19 And the chief captain took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, What is it that thou hast to tell me?
23:19 And the commander took him by the hand and stepping aside, [began] to inquire of him privately, "What is it that you have to report to me?"

23:20 And he said, The Jews have agreed to ask thee to bring down Paul tomorrow unto the council, as though thou wouldest inquire somewhat more exactly concerning him.
23:20 And he said, "The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down tomorrow to the Council, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more thoroughly about him.

23:21 Do not thou therefore yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, who have bound themselves under a curse, neither to eat nor to drink till they have slain him: and now are they ready, looking for the promise from thee.
23:21 "So do not listen to them, for more than forty of them are lying in wait for him who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they slay him; and now they are ready and waiting for the promise from you."

23:22 So the chief captain let the young man go, charging him, Tell no man that thou hast signified these things to me.
23:22 Therefore the commander let the young man go, instructing him, "Tell no one that you have notified me of these things."

23:23 And he called unto him two of the centurions, and said, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night:
23:23 And he called to him two of the centurions, and said, "Get two hundred soldiers ready by the third hour of the night to proceed to Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen."

23:24 and (he bade them) provide beasts, that they might set Paul thereon, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.
23:24 [They were] also to provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to Felix the governor.

23:25 And he wrote a letter after this form:
23:25 And he wrote a letter having this form:

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

23:27 This man was seized by the Jews, and was about to be slain of them, when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.
23:27 "When this man was arrested by the Jews and was about to be slain by them, I came upon them with the troops and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.

23:28 And desiring to know the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him down unto their council:
23:28 "And wanting to ascertain the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their Council;

23:29 whom I found to be accused about questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.
23:29 and I found him to be accused over questions about their Law, but under no accusation deserving death or imprisonment.

23:30 And when it was shown to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to thee forthwith, charging his accusers also to speak against him before thee.
23:30 "And when I was informed that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, also instructing his accusers to bring charges against him before you."

23:31 So the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.
23:31 So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.

23:32 But on the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:
23:32 But the next day, leaving the horsemen to go on with him, they returned to the barracks.

23:33 and they, when they came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, presented Paul also before him.
23:33 And when these had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.

23:34 And when he had read it, he asked of what province he was; and when he understood that he was of Cilicia,
23:34 And when he had read it, he asked from what province he was; and when he learned that he was from Cilicia,

23:35 I will hear thee fully, said he, when thine accusers also are come: and he commanded him to be kept in Herod's palace.
23:35 he said, "I will give you a hearing after your accusers arrive also," giving orders for him to be kept in Herod's Praetorium.