Acts

Acts 23 ©

1 Paul pleading his integrity is smitten at the command of the high priest, whom he reproveth of injustice. 6 By declaring himself a Pharisee, and questioned for the hope of the resurrection, he causeth a division in the council: 10 he is carried back to the castle, and encouraged by the Lord in a vision. 12 A conspiracy against him is discovered to the chief captain; 23 who sendeth him under a guard with a letter to Felix the governor at Caesarea.

1

AND Paul, earnestly beholding athe council, said, bMen and brethren, cI have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.

a ch. 22.30.
b ch. 22.1.
c ch. 24.16. 1Co. 4.4. 2Co. 1.12; 4.2. 2Ti. 1.3. He. 13.18.
2

And the high priest dAnanias commanded them that stood by him eto smite him on the mouth.

d ch. 24.1.
e 1Ki. 22.24. Je. 20.2. Jn. 18.22. Mi. 5.1.
3

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

f Mat. 23.27. Re. 3.2. Tit. 1.16. 2Ti. 3.5. Je. 7.4. Mi. 3.11.
g Le. 19.35. De. 17.4,9; 25.1-3. Jn. 7.51.
4

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

h Jn. 18.22.
5

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

i Ex. 22.28. Ec. 10.20. 2Pe. 2.10. Jude 8.
6

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

j Mat. 22.23.
k ch. 24.15,21; 26.5,6-8; 28.20. Phi. 3.5.
7

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

8

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

l Mat. 22.23. Mar. 12.18. Lu. 20.27.
9

And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, mWe find no evil in this man: nbut if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.

m ch. 25.25; 26.31. Lu. 23.4,14,15,22. Pr. 16.7. 1Sa. 24.17.
n ch. 9.4; 16.9; 22.7,17,18; 5.39; 11.17.
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.

11

oAnd 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.

o Ps. 109.31; 46.1,7. ch. 2.25; 18.9; 19.21; 27.23,24; 28.16-31. Ro. 1.15. De. 32.36. Is. 41.10,14; 43.2.
12

And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, pand bound themselves 1under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink qtill they had killed Paul.

p v.21,30. ch. 25.3. Is. 8.9,10. Mat. 26.74.
q Ps. 31.13.
13

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

14

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

r Ho. 4.9.
15

sNow 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 tready to kill him.

s Pr. 1.11,16; 4.16. ch. 25.3.
t Ps. 21.11; 37.32,33.
16

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

u 2Sa. 17.17. Job 5.13. Pr. 21.30.
17

vThen 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.

v Pr. 22.3. Mat. 10.16,17. Ep. 5.15.
18

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

w ch. 28.17. Ep. 3.1; 4.1. Phile. 9.
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?

20

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

x v.12-15. ch. 25.3.
y ch. 22.30.
21

zBut do not thou yield unto them: for athere lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves bwith 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.

a ch. 25.3; 20.3. Ps. 10.9,10; 37.32. Mi. 7.2. Pr. 1.16; 4.16. Is. 59.7,15.
b v.12.
z Ex. 23.2.
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.

23

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

c ch. 8.40.
24

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

d Mat. 27.2. v.26,33,34.
25

And he wrote a letter after this manner:

26

Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor eFelix sendeth greeting.

e ch. 15.23; 24.3,25,27.
27

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

f ch. 21.32,33. v.10.
g ch. 22.25-29.
28

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

h ch. 22.30.
29

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

i ch. 18.15; 24.6,10-21; 26.2-6,31; 25.8,19.
j ch. 25.25.
30

kAnd 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.

k v.16-24. ch. 24.7,8; 25.6,16.
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:

33

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

l v.25-30.
34

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

m ch. 25.1.
n ch. 21.39.
35

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

o ch. 24.1,19; 25.16.