Study Desk

Now looking intently at the Council, Paul said, "Brothers, I have lived my life with an entirely good conscience before God up to this day."

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

But the high priest Ananias commanded those standing beside him to strike him on the mouth.

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

Then Paul said to him, "God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to try me according to the Law, and in violation of the Law, order me to be struck?"

Then 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?

But those present said, "Are you insulting God's high priest?"

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

And Paul said, "I was not aware, brothers, that he is high priest; for it is written: 'YOU SHALL NOT SPEAK EVIL OF A RULER OF YOUR PEOPLE.'"

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.

But Paul, perceiving that one group were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, began crying out in the Council, "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!"

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.

When he said this, a dissension occurred between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.

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

For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.

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

And a great uproar occurred; and some of the scribes of the Pharisaic party stood up and started arguing heatedly, saying, "We find nothing wrong with this man; suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?"

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.

And when a great dissension occurred, the commander was afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, and he ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force, and bring him into the barracks.

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.

But on the following night, the Lord stood near him and said, "Be courageous! For as you have testified to the truth about Me in Jerusalem, so you must testify in Rome also."

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.

When it was day, the Jews formed a conspiracy and put themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.

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.

There were more than forty who formed this plot.

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

They came to the chief priests and the elders and said, "We have put ourselves under an oath to taste nothing until we have killed Paul.

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, you and the Council notify the commander to bring him down to you, as though you were going to investigate his case more thoroughly; and as for us, we are ready to kill him before he comes near the place."

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.

But the son of Paul's sister heard about their ambush, and he came and entered the barracks and told Paul.

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

Paul called one of the centurions to himself and said, "Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to him."

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 led him to the commander and said, "Paul the prisoner called me over to him and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you."

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.

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?"

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, "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.

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.

"So do not listen to them, for more than forty of them are in hiding to ambush him, and these men have put themselves under an oath not to eat or drink until they kill him; and now they are ready and waiting for assurance from you."

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.

Then the commander let the young man go, instructing him, "Tell no one that you have notified me of these things."

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 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."

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;

They were also to provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to Felix the governor.

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

And he wrote a letter with the following content:

And he wrote a letter after this manner:

"Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings.

Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.

When this man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, I came up to them with the troops and rescued him, after learning that he was a Roman.

This 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 wanting to ascertain the basis for the charges they were bringing against him, I brought him down to their Council;

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

and I found that he was being accused regarding questions in their Law, but was not charged with anything deserving death or imprisonment.

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.

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."

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.

So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.

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

But on the next day they let the horsemen go on with him, and they returned to the barracks.

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

When these horsemen had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.

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

Now when he had read it, he also asked from what province Paul was, and when he learned that he was from Cilicia,

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

he said, "I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive as well," giving orders for Paul to be kept in Herod's Praetorium.

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