1THE
ACTS
OF THE APOSTLES
WRITTEN BY
2LUKE
Acts 23 ©
1 Paul, beginning his defense in the council, is smitten by the command of the High Priest. 3 For which he severely reproves him, not knowing that he was the High Priest. 6 And seeing one part of the council were Sadducees, he declared that he was a Pharisee, and was judged for the resurrection from the dead. 7 About which the Pharisees and Sadducees fall into contention, and he is declared innocent by the Pharisees. 11 Is spoken to and comforted by the Lord. 12 Forty men engage themselves with a curse that they will neither eat nor drink until they have killed him. 16 Of which Paul has notice by his sister’s son, and makes known to the commander. 23 Who sends him by night, being conducted by soldiers, to Cæsarea, unto Felix the Governor, with a letter wherein the cause is related. 34 Felix, having read the letter, causes Paul to be kept in Herod’s judgment hall.
AND Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, Ia have lived 1in all good conscience 2before God until this day.
Andb the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.
Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou 3whited wall: forc sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten 4contrary to the law?
And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest?
Then said Paul, 5I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not 6speak evil of thed ruler of thy people.
But when Paul perceived that the one part were 7Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, Ie am 8a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of 9the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called 10in question.
And when he had so said, there arose a 11dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and 12the multitude was 13divided.
Forf the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor 14spirit: but the Pharisees confess 15both.
And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees’ 16part arose, and strove, saying, Weg find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.
And when there arose a great 17dissension, 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.
Andh the night following the Lord 18stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified 19of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
Andi when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a 20curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.
And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.
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.
Now therefore ye 21with the council signify 22to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something 23more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.
And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.
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.
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.
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?
And he said, 24The Jews have agreedj to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly.
But 25do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves 26with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for 27a promise from thee.
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.
And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to 28Cæsarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and 29spearmen two hundred, 30at the third hour of the night;
And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto 31Felix the governor.
And he wrote a letter after this manner:
Claudius Lysias unto the 32most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.
Thisk 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.
And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:
Whom I perceived to be accused of 33questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.
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.
Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to 34Antipatris.
On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:
Who, when they came to Caesarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.
And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia;
I will 35hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in 36Herod’s judgment 37hall.