Acts 23:1-18 ▼

1 Paul (humble) looked directly at the Sanhedrin (the Council) and said, “Brothers, I have conducted myself before God {Theō} in all good conscience to this day.

2 At this, the high priest Ananias (YHWH is gracious) ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.

3 Then Paul (humble) said to him, “God {Theos} will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit here to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck.

4 But those standing nearby said, “How dare you insult the high priest of God {Theou}!

5 “Brothers, Paul (humble) replied, “I was not aware that he was the high priest, for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people .’

6 Then Paul (humble), knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin (the Council), “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. It is because of my hope in the resurrection (rising again) of the dead that I am on trial.

7 As soon as he had said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.

8 For the Sadducees say that there is neither a resurrection (rising again) nor angels (messengers) nor spirits {pneuma}, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.

9 A great clamor arose, and some scribes from the party of the Pharisees got up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit {pneuma} or an angel (messenger) has spoken to him?

10 The dispute grew so violent that the commander (of a thousand men) was afraid they would tear Paul to pieces. He ordered the soldiers to go down and remove him by force and bring him into the barracks.

11 The following night the Lord {Kyrios} stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem (city of peace), so also you must testify in Rome.

12 When daylight came, the Jews (people of praise) formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul (humble).

13 More than forty of them were involved in this plot.

14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul (humble).

15 Now then, you⁺ and the Sanhedrin (the Council) petition the commander (of a thousand men) to bring him down to you⁺ on the pretext of examining his case more carefully. We are ready to kill him on the way.

16 But when the son of Paul’s sister heard about the plot (the ambush), he went into the barracks and told Paul (humble).

17 Then Paul (humble) called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander (of a thousand men); he has something to tell him.

18 So the centurion took him to the commander (of a thousand men) and said, “Paul (humble) the prisoner sent and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.