Acts 23 NKJV ISV Parallel

◄ Acts 23 ►

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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 straight at the Council and said, "Brothers, with a clear conscience I have done my duty before God up to this very day."

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

2Then the high priest Ananias ordered the men standing near 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?”

3At this Paul told him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! How can you sit there and judge me according to the Law, and yet in violation of the Law order me to be struck?"

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

4The men standing near him asked, "Do you mean to insult 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.’ ”

5Paul answered, "I didn't realize, brothers, that he is the high priest. After all, it is written, 'You must not speak evil about 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 saw that some of them were Sadducees and others were Pharisees, he shouted in the Council, "Brothers, I'm a Pharisee and a descendant of Pharisees. I'm on trial concerning the hope that the dead will be resurrected."

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

7After he said that, an angry quarrel 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.

8because the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection and that there is no such thing as an angel or spirit, but the Pharisees believe in all those things.

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.”

9There was a great deal of shouting until some of the scribes who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and argued forcefully, "We find nothing wrong with 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.

10The quarrel was becoming violent, and the tribune was afraid that they would tear Paul to pieces. So he ordered the soldiers to go down, take him away from 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.”

11That night the Lord stood near Paul and said, "Have courage! For just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, you must testify in Rome, too."

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.

12In the morning, the Jewish leaders formed a conspiracy and took an oath not to eat or drink anything before they had killed Paul.

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

13More than 40 men formed 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 high priests and elders and said, "We have taken a solemn oath not to taste any food before 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 then, you and the Council must notify the tribune to bring him down to you on the pretext that you want to look into his case more carefully, but before he arrives we'll be 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 heard about the ambush, so he came and got into 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.”

17Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, "Take this young man to the tribune, because 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 the centurion took him, brought him to the tribune, and said, "The prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this young man to you. 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?”

19The tribune took him by the hand, stepped aside to be alone with him, and asked, "What have you got 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.

20He answered, "The Jewish leaders have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the Council tomorrow as though they were going to examine his case more carefully.

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 believe them, because more than 40 of them are planning to ambush him. They've taken an oath not to eat or drink before they've killed him. They are ready now, just 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.”

22The tribune dismissed the young man and ordered him not to tell anyone that he had notified him.

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 summoned two centurions and ordered, "Get 200 soldiers ready to leave for Caesarea at nine o'clock tonight, along with 70 mounted soldiers and 200 soldiers with spears.

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

24Provide a mount for Paul to ride, and take him safely to Governor Felix."

25He wrote a letter in the following manner:

25He wrote a letter with this message:

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

26"From: Claudius Lysias To: Governor Felix Greetings, Your Excellency:

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 had been seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them when I went with the guard 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.

28I wanted to know the exact charge they were making against him, so I had him brought before 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, although he was charged with questions about their Law, there was no charge against him 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.

30Since a plot against the man has been reported to me, I'm sending him to you at once, and I've also ordered his accusers to present their charges against him before you."

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

31So the soldiers, in keeping with their orders, 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.

32The next day, they let the horsemen ride with Paul while they returned to their barracks.

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

33When these men came to Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and handed Paul over 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 reading the letter, the governor asked which province Paul was from. On learning 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 hear your case when your accusers arrive." Then he ordered Paul to be kept in custody in Herod's palace.

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