| New King James Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until 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." |
| 2And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by 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 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! You are sitting there judging me according to the law, and in violation of the law are you ordering me to be struck?" |
| 4And those who stood by said, “Do you revile God’s high priest?” | 4And those standing nearby said, "Do you dare 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.’ ” | 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 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!” | 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!" |
| 7And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the 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 Sadducees say that there is no resurrection—and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both. | 8For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection, and no angel or spirit, but the Pharisees affirm 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.” | 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?" |
| 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. | 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 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, "Have courage! For as you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify 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 formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under a curse: neither to eat nor to drink until they had killed Paul. |
| 13Now there were more than forty who had formed this conspiracy. | 13There were more than 40 who had formed this plot. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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.” | 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." |
| 16So when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their ambush, he went 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. |
| 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.” | 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 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, 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." |
| 19Then the commander took him by the hand, went aside, and asked privately, “What is it that you have to tell 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 that you bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire more fully 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. |
| 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.” | 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 depart, and commanded him, “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.” | 22So the commander dismissed the young man and instructed him, "Don't tell anyone that you have informed me about this." |
| 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; | 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. |
| 24and provide mounts to set 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." |
| 25He wrote a letter in the following manner: | 25He wrote a letter of this kind: |
| 26Claudius Lysias, To the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings. | 26Claudius Lysias, To the most excellent 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. | 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. |
| 28And when I wanted to know the reason they accused him, I brought him before their council. | 28Wanting to know the charge they were accusing him of, I brought him down before their Sanhedrin. |
| 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 out that the accusations were about disputed matters in their law, and that there was no charge that merited death or chains. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 31Then the soldiers, as they were commanded, 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. |
| 32The next day they left the horsemen to go on with him, and returned to the barracks. | 32The next day, they returned to the barracks, allowing the cavalry to go on with him. |
| 33When they came to Caesarea and had 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. |
| 34And when the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. And when he understood 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 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 whenever your accusers get here too." And he ordered that he be kept under guard in Herod's palace. |
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