New American Standard Bible 1995

NET 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 directly at the council and said, "Brothers, I have lived my life with a clear conscience before God to this day."

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

2At that the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul 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! Do you sit there judging me according to the law, and in violation of the law you order me to be struck?"

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

4Those standing near him said, "Do you dare insult 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.'"

5Paul replied, "I did not realize, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, 'You must not speak evil about 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!"

6Then when Paul noticed that part of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, he shouted out in the council, "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am on trial concerning 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, an argument began 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.

8(For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection, or angel, or spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge 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?"

9There was a great commotion, and some experts in the law from the party of the Pharisees stood up and protested strongly, "We find nothing wrong with 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 argument became so great the commanding officer feared that they would tear Paul to pieces, he ordered the detachment to go down, take him away from them by force, 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 near Paul and said, "Have courage, for just 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 morning came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink anything until they had killed Paul.

13There were more than forty who formed this plot.

13There were more than forty of them who formed this conspiracy.

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.

14They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, "We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to partake of 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 and the council request the commanding officer to bring him down to you, as if you were going to determine his case by conducting a more thorough inquiry. We are ready to kill him before he comes near this place."

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

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

17Paul called one of the centurions and said, "Take this young man to the commanding officer, for 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 the centurion took him and brought him to the commanding officer 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?"

19The commanding officer took him by the hand, withdrew privately, and asked, "What is it that you want 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.

20He replied, "The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as if they were going to inquire more thoroughly 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."

21So do not let them persuade you to do this, because more than forty of them are lying in ambush for him. They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink anything until they have killed him, and now they are ready, waiting for you to agree to their request."

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

22Then the commanding officer sent the young man away, directing him, "Tell no one that you have reported these things to me."

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."

23Then he summoned two of the centurions and said, "Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea along with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen by nine o'clock tonight,

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

24and provide mounts for Paul to ride so that he may be brought safely to Felix the governor."

25And he wrote a letter having this form:

25He wrote a letter that went like this:

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

26Claudius Lysias to His Excellency 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.

27This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him, when I came up with the detachment and rescued him, because I had learned that he was a Roman citizen.

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

28Since I wanted to know what charge they were accusing him of, I brought him down to their council.

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

29I found he was accused with reference to controversial questions about their law, but no charge against him deserved death or imprisonment.

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 there would be a plot against this man, I sent him to you at once, also ordering his accusers to state their charges against him before you.

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

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

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

32The next day they let the horsemen go on with him, and they returned to the barracks.

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

33When the horsemen came to 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,

34When the governor had read the letter, he asked what province he was from. When he learned that 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 when your accusers arrive too." Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod's palace.

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