Acts 23 NKJV NLT 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.”

1Gazing intently at the high council, Paul began: “Brothers, I have always lived before God with a clear conscience!”

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

2Instantly Ananias the high priest commanded those close to Paul to slap 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?”

3But Paul said to him, “God will slap you, you corrupt hypocrite! What kind of judge are you to break the law yourself by ordering me struck like that?”

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

4Those standing near Paul said to him, “Do you dare 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.’ ”

5“I’m sorry, brothers. I didn’t realize he was the high priest,” Paul replied, “for the Scriptures say, ‘You must not speak evil of any of your rulers.’ ”

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!”

6Paul realized that some members of the high council were Sadducees and some were Pharisees, so he shouted, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, as were my ancestors! And I am on trial because my hope is in 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.

7This divided the council—the Pharisees against the Sadducees—

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 or angels or spirits, but the Pharisees believe in all of these.

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.”

9So there was a great uproar. Some of the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees jumped up and began to argue forcefully. “We see nothing wrong with him,” they shouted. “Perhaps 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.

10As the conflict grew more violent, the commander was afraid they would tear Paul apart. So he ordered his soldiers to go and rescue him by force and take him back to the fortress.

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 appeared to Paul and said, “Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have been a witness to me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome as well.” The Plan to Kill Paul

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.

12The next morning a group of Jews got together and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.

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

13There were more than forty of them in the 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 leading priests and elders and told them, “We have bound ourselves with an oath to eat nothing 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 you and the high council should ask the commander to bring Paul back to the council again. Pretend you want to examine his case more fully. We will kill him on the way.”

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

16But Paul’s nephew—his sister’s son—heard of their plan and went to the fortress 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 for one of the Roman officers and said, “Take this young man to the commander. He has something important 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 officer did, explaining, “Paul, the prisoner, called me over 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?”

19The commander took his hand, led him aside, and asked, “What is it you want 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.

20Paul’s nephew told him, “Some Jews are going to ask you to bring Paul before the high council tomorrow, pretending they want to get some more information.

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 don’t do it! There are more than forty men hiding along the way ready to ambush him. They have vowed not to eat or drink anything until they have 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.”

22“Don’t let anyone know you told me this,” the commander warned the young man. Paul Is Sent to Caesarea

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 the commander called two of his officers and ordered, “Get 200 soldiers ready to leave for Caesarea at nine o’clock tonight. Also take 200 spearmen and 70 mounted troops.

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

24Provide horses for Paul to ride, and get him safely to Governor Felix.”

25He wrote a letter in the following manner:

25Then he wrote this letter to the governor:

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

26“From Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency, 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.

27“This man was seized by some Jews, and they were about to kill him when I arrived with the troops. When I learned that he was a Roman citizen, I removed him to safety.

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

28Then I took him to their high council to try to learn the basis of the accusations against him.

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

29I soon discovered the charge was something regarding their religious law—certainly nothing worthy of imprisonment or death.

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.

30But when I was informed of a plot to kill him, I immediately sent him on to you. I have told his accusers to bring their charges before you.”

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

31So that night, as ordered, the soldiers took Paul as far as Antipatris.

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

32They returned to the fortress the next morning, while the mounted troops took him on to Caesarea.

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

33When they arrived in Caesarea, they presented Paul and the letter to Governor Felix.

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

34He read it and then asked Paul what province he was from. “Cilicia,” Paul answered.

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

35“I will hear your case myself when your accusers arrive,” the governor told him. Then the governor ordered him kept in the prison at Herod’s headquarters.

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