English Standard Version

New American Standard Bible 1995

1And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.”

1Paul, looking intently at the Council, said, "Brethren, I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day."

2And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.

2The high priest Ananias commanded those standing beside him to strike him on the mouth.

3Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?”

3Then 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?"

4Those who stood by said, “Would you revile God’s high priest?”

4But the bystanders said, "Do you revile God's high priest?"

5And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”

5And Paul said, "I was not aware, brethren, that he was high priest; for it is written, 'YOU SHALL NOT SPEAK EVIL OF A RULER OF YOUR PEOPLE.'"

6Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”

6But perceiving that one group were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, Paul began crying out in the Council, "Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!"

7And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.

7As he said this, there occurred a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.

8For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.

8For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.

9Then a great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ party stood up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?”

9And there occurred a great uproar; and some of the scribes of the Pharisaic party stood up and began to argue heatedly, saying, "We find nothing wrong with this man; suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?"

10And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks.

10And as a great dissension was developing, the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them and ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force, and bring him into the barracks.

11The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”

11But on the night immediately following, the Lord stood at his side and said, "Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also."

12When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

12When it was day, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.

13There were more than forty who made this conspiracy.

13There were more than forty who formed this plot.

14They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul.

14They came to the chief priests and the elders and said, "We have bound ourselves under a solemn oath to taste nothing until we have killed Paul.

15Now therefore you, along with the council, give notice to the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case more exactly. And we are ready to kill him before he comes near.”

15"Now therefore, you and the Council notify the commander to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case by a more thorough investigation; and we for our part are ready to slay him before he comes near the place."

16Now the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush, so he went and entered the barracks and told Paul.

16But the son of Paul's sister heard of their ambush, and he came and entered the barracks and told Paul.

17Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to tell him.”

17Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, "Lead 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, as he has something to say to you.”

18So he took him and led him to the commander and said, "Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to lead this young man to you since he has something to tell you."

19The tribune took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?”

19The 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?"

20And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more closely about him.

20And 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.

21But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush for him, who have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him. And now they are ready, waiting for your consent.”

21"So do not listen to them, for more than forty of them are lying in wait for him who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they slay him; and now they are ready and waiting for the promise from you."

22So the tribune dismissed the young man, charging him, “Tell no one that you have informed me of these things.”

22So the commander let the young man go, instructing him, "Tell no one that you have notified me of these things."

23Then he called two of the centurions and said, “Get ready two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night.

23And 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."

24Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to Felix the governor.”

24They were also to provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to Felix the governor.

25And he wrote a letter to this effect:

25And he wrote a letter having this form:

26“Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency the governor Felix, greetings.

26"Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix, greetings.

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

27"When this man was arrested by the Jews and was about to be slain by them, I came up to them with the troops and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.

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

28"And wanting to ascertain the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their Council;

29I found that he was being accused about questions of their law, but charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment.

29and I found him to be accused over questions about their Law, but under no accusation deserving death or imprisonment.

30And when it was disclosed to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him.”

30"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."

31So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.

31So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.

32And on the next day they returned to the barracks, letting the horsemen go on with him.

32But the next day, leaving the horsemen to go on with him, they returned to the barracks.

33When they had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him.

33When these had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.

34On reading the letter, he asked what province he was from. And when he learned that he was from Cilicia,

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

35he said, “I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive.” And he commanded him to be guarded in Herod’s praetorium.

35he said, "I will give you a hearing after your accusers arrive also," giving orders for him to be kept in Herod's Praetorium.

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