1Paul fixed his eyes on the Council, and began: “Brothers, for my part, I have always ordered my life before God, with a clear conscience, up to this very day.”
2At this, the high priest Ananias ordered the men standing near to strike him on the mouth;
3Paul turned to him and said: “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting there to try me in accordance with law, and yet, in defiance of law, order me to be struck?”
4The people standing near said to Paul, “Do you know that you are insulting God's high priest?”
5“I did not know, brothers, that it was the high priest,” said Paul, “for scripture says — ‘Of the ruler of your people you should speak no ill’.”
6Noticing that some of those present were Sadducees and others Pharisees, Paul called out in the Council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee and a son of Pharisees. It is on the question of hope for the dead and of their resurrection that I am on my trial.”
7As soon as he said this, a dispute arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and there was a sharp division of opinion among those present.
8(For Sadducees say there is no such thing as a resurrection, and that there is neither angel nor spirit, while Pharisees believe in both.)
9So a great uproar ensued, and some of the Teachers of the Law belonging to the Pharisees' party stood up and hotly protested, “We find nothing whatever wrong in this man. Suppose a spirit did speak to him, or an angel...”
10The dispute was becoming so violent, that the commanding officer, fearing that Paul would be torn in pieces between them, ordered the Guard to go down and rescue him from them, and take him into the Fort.
11That night the Lord came and stood by Paul, and said, “Courage! You have borne witness for me in Jerusalem and you must bear witness in Rome also.”
12In the morning some Jewish men combined together, and took an oath that they would not eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
13There were more than forty in the plot;
14and they went to the chief priests and the elders, and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to touch food until we have killed Paul.
15So we want you now, with the consent of the Council, to suggest to the commanding officer that he should bring Paul down before you, as though you intended to go more fully into his case; but, before he comes here, we will be ready to make away with him.”
16However, the son of Paul's sister, hearing of the plot, went to the Fort, and on being admitted, told Paul about it.
17Paul called one of the Captains of the garrison and asked him to take the lad to the commanding officer, as he had something to tell him.
18The captain went with the lad to the commanding officer, and said, “The prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this lad to you, as he has something to tell you.”
19The commanding officer took the lad by the hand, and, stepping aside, asked what it was he had to tell him.
Acts 23
Acts 23:1-19