Acts 23:1-26

¹And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men, brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.

²And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him, to strike him on the mouth.

³Then said Paul to him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me according to the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?

⁴And they that stood by, said, Revilest thou God's high priest?

⁵Then said Paul, I knew not, brethren, that he is the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.

⁶But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men, brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

⁷And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.

⁸For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.

⁹And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and contended, 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.

¹⁰And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul would have been pulled in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.

¹¹And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified concerning me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear testimony also at Rome.

¹²And 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.

¹³And they were more than forty who had made this conspiracy.

¹⁴And 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.

¹⁵Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain, that he bring him down to you to-morrow, as though ye would inquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, before he shall come near, are ready to kill him.

¹⁶And when the son of Paul's sister heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.

¹⁷Then Paul called one of the centurions to him , and said, Bring this young man to the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him.

¹⁸So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me to him , and prayed me to bring this young man to thee, who hath something to say to thee.

¹⁹Then 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?

²⁰And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee, that thou wouldst bring down Paul to-morrow into the council, as though they would inquire somewhat concerning him more perfectly.

²¹But do not thou yield to them: for there are of them who lie in wait for him more than forty men, who have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now they are ready, looking for a promise from thee.

²²So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him , See thou tell no man that thou hast shown these things to me.

²³And he called to him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Cesarea, and seventy horsemen, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;

²⁴And provide for them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe to Felix the governor.

²⁵And he wrote a letter after this manner:

²⁶Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix, sendeth greeting.