Acts 23

1Paul gazed intently at the council and said, "Men, brothers, I have conducted myself before God in all good conscience until this day."

2But the high priest Ananias commanded those standing by him to strike him on the mouth.

3Then Paul said to him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! And do you sit judging me according to the law, unlawfully commanding me to be struck?"

4But those standing by said, "Do you revile God's high priest?"

5Paul said, “Brothers, I did not know he is high priest, for it is written that a ruler of your people you shall not curse.”

6But when Paul realized that one faction consisted of Sadducees and the other of Pharisees, he cried out in the council, "Men, brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees—concerning hope and resurrection of the dead I am judged."

7As he said this, dissension arose between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the multitude was divided.

8For the Sadducees indeed say there is no resurrection, neither angel nor spirit; but the Pharisees profess both.

9A great outcry arose, and some scribes from the Pharisees' faction stood up and argued, saying, "We find no evil in this man, but if a spirit spoke to him or an angel—"

10As great dissension arose, the captain, fearing Paul would be torn in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down, seize him from their midst, and bring him into the barracks.

11The following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Take courage, for as you have fully testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify at Rome too."

12When day came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and cursed themselves, declaring they would neither eat nor drink until they killed Paul.

13Now those who had made this conspiracy were more than forty.

14They approached the chief priests and elders and said, "We have cursed ourselves with a curse not to taste anything until we kill Paul."

15Now therefore, you along with the council inform the commander so that he brings him down to you, as if about to inquire more precisely into the matters concerning him, but we are ready to kill him before he comes near.

16But Paul's sister's son heard of the ambush, came and entered the barracks, and reported it to Paul.

17Paul called one of the centurions and said, "Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to him."

18So he took him and brought him to the tribune and said, "Paul the prisoner called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, who has something to say to you."

19The commander took him by the hand, went aside privately, and asked, "What is it that you have to tell me?"

20He said that the Jews had agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though intending to inquire more precisely about him.

21So do not let yourself be persuaded by them, for more than forty men from their number are lying in wait for him—men who have bound themselves under a curse, neither to eat nor to drink until they kill him; and now they stand ready, awaiting the promise from you.

22So the captain dismissed the young man, charging him to tell no one that you had informed me of these things.

23And he summoned two of the centurions and said, "Prepare two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen, from the third hour of the night."

24Provide beasts to set Paul on them and bring him safely to Felix the governor.

25He wrote a letter that had this form.

26Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix: greetings.

27This man was seized by the Jews and about to be killed by them, when I came upon the scene with the troops and rescued him, having learned that he is a Roman.

28Wanting also to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their council.

29I found him accused concerning questions of their law, but having no charge worthy of death or bonds.

30When I was informed of a plot against the man about to happen right away, I sent him to you at once, instructing the accusers also to speak against him before you.

31So the soldiers, following the orders given them, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.

32But the next day they let the horsemen go with him and returned to the barracks.

33When they entered Caesarea and handed the letter to the governor, they also brought Paul before him.

34When he had read it and asked from what province he was, he also learned that he was from Cilicia.

35"I will hear you," he said, "when your accusers arrive too." He ordered him guarded in Herod's palace.