Acts 23 Parallel Bible Translations

Acts 23 ▼
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1 Then Paul, looking intently at the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court), said, “Kinsmen, I have lived my life before God with a perfectly good conscience until this very day.” And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.” Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.”
2 [At this] the high priest Ananias ordered those who stood beside him to strike Paul on the mouth. And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.
3 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you actually sit to judge me according to the Law, and yet in violation of the Law order me to be struck?” Then 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?” Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!”
4 But those who stood near Paul said, “Are you insulting the high priest of God?” Those who stood by said, “Would you revile God’s high priest?” Those who were standing near Paul said, “How dare you insult God’s high priest!”
5 Paul said, “I was not aware, brothers, that he was high priest; for it is written, ‘YOU SHALL NOT SPEAK EVIL OF A RULER OF YOUR PEOPLE.’” And 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.’” Paul replied, “Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’”
6 But recognizing that one group were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, Paul began affirming loudly in the Council chamber, “Kinsmen, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!” Now 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.” Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead.”
7 When he said this, an angry dispute erupted between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the [whole crowded] assembly was divided [into two factions]. And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.
8 For the Sadducees say that there is no [such thing as a] resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees [speak out freely and] acknowledge [their belief in] them all. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe all these things.)
9 Then a great uproar occurred, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ party stood up and began to argue heatedly [in Paul’s favor], saying, “We find nothing wrong with this man; suppose a spirit or an angel has [really] spoken to him?” Then 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?” There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. “We find nothing wrong with this man,” they said. “What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”
10 And as the dissension became even greater, the commander, fearing that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, ordered the troops to go down and forcibly take him from them, and bring him to the barracks. And 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. The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.
11 On the following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Be brave; for as you have solemnly and faithfully witnessed about Me at Jerusalem, so you must also testify at Rome.” The 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.” The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”
12 Now when day came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under an oath (curse), saying that they would not eat or drink until they had killed Paul. When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. The next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
13 There were more than forty [men] who formed this plot [and swore this oath]. There were more than forty who made this conspiracy. More than forty men were involved in this plot.
14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves under a solemn oath not to taste anything [neither food nor drink] until we have killed Paul. They 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. They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.
15 So now you, along with the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court), notify the commander to bring Paul down to you, as if you were going to investigate his case more thoroughly. But we are ready to kill him before he comes near [the place].” Now 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.” Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.”
16 But the son of Paul’s sister heard of their [planned] ambush, and he went to the barracks and told Paul. Now the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush, so he went and entered the barracks and told Paul. But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.
17 Then Paul, calling in one of the centurions, said, “Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to tell him.” Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to tell him.” Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.”
18 So he took him and led him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner called for me and asked me to bring this young man to you, because he has something to tell you.” So 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.” So he took him to the commander. The centurion said, “Paul, the prisoner, sent for me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.”
19 The commander took him by the hand and stepping aside, began to ask him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?” The tribune took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?” The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside and asked, “What is it you want to tell me?”
20 And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) tomorrow, as if they were going to interrogate him more thoroughly. And 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. He said: “Some Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about him.
21 But do not listen to them, for more than forty of them are lying in wait for him, and they have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. Even now they are ready, just waiting for your promise.” But 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.” Don’t give in to them, because more than forty of them are waiting in ambush for him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are ready now, waiting for your consent to their request.”
22 So the commander let the young man leave, instructing him, “Do not tell anyone that you have given me this information.” So the tribune dismissed the young man, charging him, “Tell no one that you have informed me of these things.” The commander dismissed the young man with this warning: “Don’t tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”
23 Then summoning two of the centurions, he said, “Have two hundred soldiers ready by the third hour of the night (9:00 p.m.) to go as far as Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen; Then 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. Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, “Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight.
24 also provide mounts for Paul to ride, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.” Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to Felix the governor.” Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”
25 And [after instructing the centurions] he wrote a letter to this effect: And he wrote a letter to this effect: He wrote a letter as follows:
26 “Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix, greetings. “Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency the governor Felix, greetings. Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings.
27 This man was seized [as a prisoner] by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, when I came upon him with the troops and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman citizen. This 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. This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him, but I came with my troops and rescued him, for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen.
28 And wanting to know the exact charge which they were making against him, I brought him down to their Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court); And desiring to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their council. I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin.
29 and I discovered that he was accused in regard to questions and issues in their Law, but [he was] under no accusation that would call for the penalty of death or [even] for imprisonment. I found that he was being accused about questions of their law, but charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment. I found that the accusation had to do with questions about their law, but there was no charge against him that deserved death or imprisonment.
30 When I was told that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you immediately, also directing his accusers to bring their charges against him before you.” And 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.” When I was informed of a plot to be carried out against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also ordered his accusers to present to you their case against him.
31 So the soldiers, in compliance with their orders, took Paul and brought him to Antipatris during the night. So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul with them during the night and brought him as far as Antipatris.
32 And the next day, leaving the horsemen to go on with him, they returned to the barracks. And on the next day they returned to the barracks, letting the horsemen go on with him. The next day they let the cavalry go on with him, while they returned to the barracks.
33 When these [horsemen] reached Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor, and also presented Paul to him. When they had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him. When the cavalry arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and handed Paul over to him.
34 After reading the letter, he asked which province Paul was from, and when he learned that he was from Cilicia [an imperial province], On reading the letter, he asked what province he was from. And when he learned that he was from Cilicia, The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,
35 he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers have arrived,” giving orders that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s Praetorium (the governor’s official residence). he said, “I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive.” And he commanded him to be guarded in Herod’s praetorium. he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers get here.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s palace.
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