New American Standard Bible 1995

Holman Christian Standard Bible

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

1Paul looked intently at the Sanhedrin and said, "Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience until this day."

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

2But the high priest Ananias ordered those who were standing next to him to strike him on the mouth.

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?"

3Then Paul said to him, "God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! You are sitting there judging me according to the law, and in violation of the law are you ordering me to be struck?"

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

4And those standing nearby said, "Do you dare revile God's high priest?""

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.'"

5I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest," replied Paul. "For it is written, You must not speak evil of a ruler of your people."

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!"

6When Paul realized that one part of them were Sadducees and the other part were Pharisees, he cried out in the Sanhedrin, "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees! I am being judged because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead!"

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

7When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.

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

8For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection, and no angel or spirit, but the Pharisees affirm them all.

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?"

9The shouting grew loud, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees' party got up and argued vehemently: "We find nothing evil in this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?"

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.

10When the dispute became violent, the commander feared that Paul might be torn apart by them and ordered the troops to go down, rescue him from them, and bring him into the barracks.

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."

11The following night, the Lord stood by him and said, "Have courage! For as you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome."

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.

12When it was day, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under a curse: neither to eat nor to drink until they had killed Paul.

13There were more than forty who formed this plot.

13There were more than 40 who had formed this plot.

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.

14These men went to the chief priests and elders and said, "We have bound ourselves under a solemn curse that we won't eat anything until we have killed Paul.

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."

15So now you, along with the Sanhedrin, make a request to the commander that he bring him down to you as if you were going to investigate his case more thoroughly. However, before he gets near, we are ready to kill him."

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

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

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."

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

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."

18So he took him, brought him to the commander, and said, "The prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, because he has something to tell you."

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?"

19Then the commander took him by the hand, led him aside, and inquired privately, "What is it you have to report to me?""

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.

20The Jews," he said, "have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the Sanhedrin tomorrow, as though they are going to hold a somewhat more careful inquiry about him.

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."

21Don't let them persuade you, because there are more than 40 of them arranging to ambush him, men who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they kill him. Now they are ready, waiting for a commitment from you."

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

22So the commander dismissed the young man and instructed him, "Don't tell anyone that you have informed me about this."

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."

23He summoned two of his centurions and said, "Get 200 soldiers ready with 70 cavalry and 200 spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight.

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

24Also provide mounts so they can put Paul on them and bring him safely to Felix the governor."

25And he wrote a letter having this form:

25He wrote a letter of this kind:

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

26Claudius Lysias, To the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings.

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.

27When this man had been seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, I arrived with my troops and rescued him because I learned that he is a Roman citizen.

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

28Wanting to know the charge they were accusing him of, I brought him down before their Sanhedrin.

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

29I found out that the accusations were about disputed matters in their law, and that there was no charge that merited death or chains.

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."

30When I was informed that there was a plot against the man, I sent him to you right away. I also ordered his accusers to state their case against him in your presence.

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

31Therefore, the soldiers took Paul during the night and brought him to Antipatris as they were ordered.

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

32The next day, they returned to the barracks, allowing the cavalry to go on with him.

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

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

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

34After he read it, he asked what province he was from. So when he learned he was from Cilicia,

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

35he said, "I will give you a hearing whenever your accusers get here too." And he ordered that he be kept under guard in Herod's palace.

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Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.