Aug. 9, 10
Acts 23
Act 23:1 Paul, looking
steadfastly at the council, said, "Brothers, I have lived before
God in all good conscience until this day."
Act 23:2 The high
priest, Ananias, commanded those who stood by him to strike him on
the mouth.
Act 23:3 Then Paul said
to him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit
to judge me according to the law, and command me to be struck
contrary to the law?"
Act 23:4 Those who
stood by said, "Do you malign God's high priest?"
Act 23:5 Paul said, "I
didn't know, brothers, that he was high priest. For it is written,
'You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.' "
Act 23:6 But when Paul
perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees,
he cried out in the council, "Men and brothers, I am a Pharisee,
a son of Pharisees. Concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead
I am being judged!"
Act 23:7 When he had
said this, an argument arose between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and
the assembly was divided.
Act 23:8 For the
Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit;
but the Pharisees confess all of these.
Act 23:9 A great clamor
arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees part stood up, and
contended, saying, "We find no evil in this man. But if a spirit
or angel has spoken to him, let's not fight against God!"
Act 23:10 When a great
argument arose, the commanding officer, fearing that Paul would 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 barracks.
Act 23:11 The following
night, the Lord stood by him, and said, "Cheer up, Paul, for as
you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so you must testify also at
Rome."
Act 23:12 When it was
day, some of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a
curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had
killed Paul.
Act 23:13 There were
more than forty people who had made this conspiracy.
Act 23:14 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.
Act 23:15 Now
therefore, you with the council inform the commanding officer that he
should bring him down to you tomorrow, as though you were going to
judge his case more exactly. We are ready to kill him before he comes
near."
Act 23:16 But Paul's
sister's son heard of their lying in wait, and he came and entered
into the barracks and told Paul.
Act 23:17 Paul summoned
one of the centurions, and said, "Bring this young man to the
commanding officer, for he has something to tell him."
Act 23:18 So he took
him, and brought him to the commanding officer, and said, "Paul,
the prisoner, summoned me and asked me to bring this young man to
you, who has something to tell you."
Act 23:19 The
commanding officer took him by the hand, and going aside, asked him
privately, "What is it that you have to tell me?"
Act 23:20 He said, "The
Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council
tomorrow, as though intending to inquire somewhat more accurately
concerning him.
Act 23:21 Therefore
don't yield to them, for more than forty men lie in wait for him, who
have bound themselves under a curse neither to eat nor to drink until
they have killed him. Now they are ready, looking for the promise
from you."
Act 23:22 So the
commanding officer let the young man go, charging him, "Tell no
one that you have revealed these things to me."
Act 23:23 He called to
himself two of the centurions, and said, "Prepare two hundred
soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, with seventy horsemen, and two
hundred men armed with spears, at the third hour of the night."
Act 23:24 He asked them
to provide animals, that they might set Paul on one, and bring him
safely to Felix the governor.
Act 23:25 He wrote a
letter like this:
Act 23:26 "Claudius
Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings.
Act 23:27 "This
man was seized by the Jews, and was about to be killed by them, when
I came with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was
a Roman.
Act 23:28 Desiring to
know the cause why they accused him, I brought him down to their
council.
Act 23:29 I found him
to be accused about questions of their law, but not to be charged
with anything worthy of death or of imprisonment.
Act 23:30 When I was
told that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him to you
immediately, charging his accusers also to bring their accusations
against him before you. Farewell."
Act 23:31 So the
soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul and brought him by
night to Antipatris.
Act 23:32 But on the
next day they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the
barracks.
Act 23:33 When they
came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also
presented Paul to him.
Act 23:34 When the
governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. When he
understood that he was from Cilicia, he said,
Act 23:35 "I will
hear you fully when your accusers also arrive." He commanded
that he be kept in Herod's palace.