New King James Version

English Standard Version

1Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.”

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

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

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

3Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?”

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?”

4And those who stood by said, “Do you revile God’s high priest?”

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

5Then Paul said, “I did not know, brethren, 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 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.’”

6But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!”

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.”

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

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

8For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection—and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.

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

9Then there arose a loud outcry. And the scribes of the Pharisees’ party arose and protested, saying, “We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God.”

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?”

10Now when there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul might be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks.

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.

11But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.”

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.”

12And when it was day, some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

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.

13Now there were more than forty who had formed this conspiracy.

13There were more than forty who made this conspiracy.

14They came to the chief priests and elders, and said, “We have bound ourselves under a great oath that we will eat nothing until we have killed Paul.

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.

15Now you, therefore, together with the council, suggest to the commander that he be brought down to you tomorrow, as though you were going to make further inquiries concerning him; but we are ready to kill him before he comes near.”

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.”

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

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

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

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

18So he took him and brought him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to say to you.”

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.”

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

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

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

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.

21But do not yield to them, for more than forty of them lie in wait for him, men who have bound themselves by an oath that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him; and now they are ready, waiting for the promise from you.”

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.”

22So the commander let the young man depart, and commanded him, “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.”

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

23And he called for two centurions, saying, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at the third hour of the night;

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.

24and provide mounts to set Paul on, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.”

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

25He wrote a letter in the following manner:

25And he wrote a letter to this effect:

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

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

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

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.

28And when I wanted to know the reason they accused him, I brought him before their council.

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

29I found out that he was accused concerning questions of their law, but had nothing charged against him deserving of death or chains.

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

30And when it was told me that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him immediately to you, and also commanded his accusers to state before you the charges against him. Farewell.

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.”

31Then the soldiers, as they were commanded, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.

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

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

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

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

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

34And when the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. And when he understood that he was from Cilicia,

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

35he said, “I will hear you when your accusers also have come.” And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s Praetorium.

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

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.