Acts 23:1-15 ▼

1 And having looked intently at the Council, Paul said, “Men, brothers, I have conducted myself in all good conscience to God up to this day.”

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

3 Then Paul said to him, “God is about to strike you, whitewashed wall! And you, do you sit judging me according to the law, and violating the law, command me to be struck?”

4 But those who stood by said, “Do you insult the high priest of God?”

5 And Paul was saying, “I was not aware, brothers, that he is high priest; for it has been written: ‘You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people.’”

6 And Paul, having known that the one part consists of Sadducees, but the other of Pharisees, was crying out in the Council, “Men, brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning hope and resurrection of the dead I am judged.”

7 And on his saying this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the multitude was divided.

8 For indeed Sadducees say there is no resurrection nor angel nor spirit, but Pharisees confess both.

9 Then a great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the party of the Pharisees, having risen up, were contending, saying, “We find nothing evil in this man. And what if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”

10 And a great dissension arising, the commander, having feared, lest Paul should be torn to pieces by them, commanded the troop, having gone down, to take him by force from their midst and to bring him into the barracks.

11 But the following night the Lord, having stood by him, said, “Take courage, for as you have fully testified about Me at Jerusalem, so also it is necessary for you to testify at Rome.”

12 And day having come, the Jews, having made a conspiracy, put themselves under an oath, declaring neither to eat nor to drink until they should kill Paul.

13 Now there were more than forty having made this sworn conspiracy,

14 who, having come to the chief priests and the elders, said, “We have bound ourselves with an oath to eat nothing until we should kill Paul.

15 Now therefore, you?, with the Council, make a report to the commander, so that he might bring him down to you? as being about to examine more accurately the things about him. And we are ready to kill him before his drawing near.”